Molecules from clouds to planets: Sweet results from ALMA

van Dishoeck, Ewine

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/96838 Copy

Description

Title

Molecules from clouds to planets: Sweet results from ALMA

Author(s)

van Dishoeck, Ewine

Issue Date

2017-06-19

Keyword(s)

Plenary

Abstract

begin{wrapfigure}{l}{0pt}_x000d_ includegraphics[scale=0.3]{n7129_h2o.eps}_x000d_ end{wrapfigure}_x000d_ _x000d_ _x000d_ One of the most exciting developments in astronomy is the discovery of thousands of planets around stars other than our Sun. But how do these_x000d_ exo-planets form, and which chemical ingredients are available to_x000d_ build them? Thanks to powerful new telescopes, especially the Atacama_x000d_ Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), astronomers are starting_x000d_ to address these age-old questions scientifically. Stars and planets_x000d_ are born in the cold and tenuous clouds between the stars in the Milky_x000d_ Way. In spite of the extremely low temperatures and densities, a_x000d_ surprisingly rich and interesting chemistry occurs in these_x000d_ interstellar clouds, as evidenced by the detection of more than 180_x000d_ different molecules. Highly accurate spectroscopic data are key to_x000d_ their identification, and examples of the continued need and close_x000d_ interaction between laboratory work and astronomical observations will_x000d_ be given._x000d_ _x000d_ ALMA now allows us to zoom in on solar system construction for the_x000d_ first time. Spectral scans of the birth sites of young stars contain_x000d_ tens of thousands of rotational lines. Water and a surprisingly rich_x000d_ variety of organic materials are found, including simple sugars and_x000d_ high abundances of deuterated species. How are these molecules_x000d_ formed? Can these pre-biotic molecules end up on new planets and form_x000d_ the basis for life elsewhere in the universe? Stay tuned for the_x000d_ latest analyses and also a comparison with recent results from the_x000d_ Rosetta mission to comet 67 P/C-G in our own Solar System._x000d_

Publisher

International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy

Type of Resource

text

Language

eng

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/96838

DOI

https://doi.org/10.15278/isms.2017.MA01

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2017 Ewine van Dishoeck

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