Holger Kreckel (MPIK), and Dmitry Semenov (MPIA)

Summer Semester 2025, Wednesday 14:15, Seminarraum ARI

This lecture is an introduction to molecular astrophysics.

The detection of molecules in space is at the forefront of observational astronomy, which also drives extensive laboratory and theoretical studies. New instruments like the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) examine the molecular composition of the Universe from Big Bang to present days. Our understanding of the formation and destruction of molecules in interstellar star- and planet-forming regions is interwoven with such questions as the origin of Earth’s water and the seeding of life by organic molecules.

In this lecture we will address molecules in a variety of extraterrestrial environments, ranging from the diffuse interstellar medium to planetary atmospheres. We will introduce basic spectroscopic properties of molecules and show how these are used to probe the underlying physics and kinematics. Furthermore, we will describe the major formation and destruction processes for molecules in space and the interplay between gas phase and surface reactions will be discussed, both from experimental and theoretical points of view.

A general knowledge of atomic physics and basic physical chemistry will be helpful for attending this course

Preliminary Outline

1) Introduction: Molecules in Space
2) Molecular Properties and Spectroscopy                         
3) Observation: Different ways to detect Molecules        
4) Gas Phase Processes
5) Early Universe: the first molecules
6) Stellar nucleosynthesis and origin of elements             
7) Laboratory Astrophysics: Gas phase experiments
8) Diffuse and dense interstellar medium
9) Laboratory astrophysics: dust and surface experiments
10) Dust evolution and surface chemistry
11) Protoplanetary disks                            
12) Planetary atmospheres, exoplanets,  water, life
→ Seminars on selected topics / Excursion MPIK