From Scaling Relations to Physical Laws: Constraining the Physics of Star Formation Across Local Galaxies
Empirical scaling relations link molecular gas to star formation, but their physical origins are unclear due to competing theories like gravity, turbulence, and feedback. New flagship interferometers will provide high-resolution, multi-line observations across many galaxies. This will allow scientists to move beyond empirical descriptions toward a quantitative theory explaining how cold dense gas actually converts into stars.