Formation of molecules on dust grains in simulated interstellar conditions.
Gianfranco VIDALI
Syracuse University, NY
Résumé :
Certain key interstellar molecules form efficiently only on grains of interstellar dust.
The extreme conditions under which they form in space are not the ones that are ordinarily
explored in experimental or theoretical studies. In this presentation I will show how
experiments designed to reproduce as technically feasible interstellar space environments
can yield not only information that is useful to astronomers and modelers of the cloud chemical
evolution, but also a few surprises as well. The talk is particularized to the formation of
molecular hydrogen on dust grain analogues. I am grateful to NASA (APRA and Origins of Solar Systems)
and NSF (Astronomy) for financial support of this research over the years.
