Astrochemistry: an unfinished symphony
Kapitel i bok, 2009

Alex Dalgarno has introduced many of the themes that define current research in astrochemistry. Variations on these themes will continue to be played out well into the future. Clear and unambiguous tests of theories of formation of interstellar molecules remain elusive; however, the understanding of fluorine chemistry appears to offer one success story. The predicted chemical activity in X-ray dominated regions and in shock waves is being studied with increasingly sensitive observations. Molecules whose chemistry and internal excitation are strongly coupled are especially valuable. In some cases, observations of these reactive species can provide probes of specific chemical rates in interstellar gas. Superthermal OH observed in a shock front appears to offer special diagnostic value. Even cosmologists have recognized that chemistry plays an important role in the early evolution of matter in the Universe around the epoch of recombination. The hydrogen molecule is being used to test cosmological theories of dark matter.

interstellar matter

cosmology

astrochemistry

Författare

John H Black

Chalmers, Institutionen för radio- och rymdvetenskap, Radioastronomi och astrofysik

Proceedings of the Dalgarno Celebratory Symposium. Contributions to Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, Astrophysics, and Atmospheric Sciences; edited by James F. Babb, Kate Kirby, and Hossein Sadeghpour (London: Imperial College Press)

117-124
978-1-84816-469-7 (ISBN)

Ämneskategorier

Meteorologi och atmosfärforskning

Astronomi, astrofysik och kosmologi

Atom- och molekylfysik och optik

ISBN

978-1-84816-469-7

Mer information

Skapat

2017-10-08