Tracing the evolution of the interstellar medium from molecular clouds to stars

The aim of this proposal is to study how the interstellar medium (ISM) changes due to the process of star formation. To do this we intend to perform a spectral survey with PACS and HIFI, scanning along gradients of increasing temperature, density and star formation activity e.g. from the edge of a star forming region to its centre, making sure to include regions of different levels of star formation activity and different clump/core density. In this way we will be able to directly relate the changes in the ISM to star formation activity.This proposal is complementary to a GT1 proposal ongoing on the same regions with the SPIRE FTS. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]