Skip to main content
European Commission logo
français français
CORDIS - Résultats de la recherche de l’UE
CORDIS
CORDIS Web 30th anniversary CORDIS Web 30th anniversary

The quest to understand interstellar sulfur and metal chemistry through synergetic laboratory and radio telescope observations

Description du projet

La tête dans (entre) les étoiles

Le nombre d’étoiles présentes dans l’Univers a été comparé au nombre de grains de sable de toutes les plages de la Terre. Cependant, contrairement au sable, les étoiles sont très éloignées les unes des autres. Le milieu interstellaire (ISM pour interstellar medium), composé approximativement de 99 % de gaz et de 1 % de poussière, occupe l’espace qui les sépare. Il est crucial de connaître les propriétés physiques et les comportements chimiques des constituants de l’ISM pour comprendre la formation et l’évolution des étoiles et des galaxies, la formation des planètes ainsi que les origines de la vie. Toutefois, on sait relativement peu de choses sur la structure et l’évolution de l’ISM, en grande partie à cause de la très faible abondance des éléments qui le composent. Le projet AstroSsearch, financé par l’UE, prévoit de renforcer nos connaissances sur les gouffres séparant les étoiles en combinant des expériences de laboratoire et des observations astronomiques.

Objectif

The fellowship AstroSsearch addresses open questions related to the abundance of sulfur and metals in the interstellar medium. While some species have been detected in astronomical environments, their abundance and complexity is quite low, thereby preventing a full understanding of the chemistry occurring in these environments. We will attack this problem with a synergic approach exploiting new laboratory microwave spectroscopy developments and radio astronomy observations. The key objectives include the generation of high-resolution rotational spectra of previously undetected sulfur/metal containing compounds and ions by mating broadband (chirped-pulse Fourier transform) microwave spectroscopy techniques with electrical discharge and laser ablation sources. Additionally, a novel discharge source will be developed in which the chemistry can be controlled to reveal likely reaction pathways that produce the observed species. This will allow for the postulation of viable astronomical formation mechanisms. The expected results are:
(1) Development of a new controlled reactive chemistry source that can be paired with laser ablation.
(2) High-resolution, rotational spectra of complex sulfur and metal containing species leading to their unambiguous identification in interstellar environments and their inclusion in theoretical models.
(3) Elucidation of viable reaction pathways in astronomical environments for targeted and detected species and the insertion of these pathways into existing models.
These results will facilitate radio astronomy detections, expanding our comprehension of astronomical chemistry. The synergy of laboratory spectroscopy and observational astrophysics will bring together all facets of the multidisciplinary field of astrochemistry, broadening our understanding of the chemistry that is occurring in interstellar and circumstellar environments and shedding light on the chemical complexity of the universe.

Coordinateur

UNIVERSIDAD DE VALLADOLID
Contribution nette de l'UE
€ 172 932,48
Adresse
PLAZA SANTA CRUZ 8 PALACIO DE SANTA CRUZ
47002 VALLADOLID
Espagne

Voir sur la carte

Région
Centro (ES) Castilla y León Valladolid
Type d’activité
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Liens
Coût total
€ 172 932,48