“LInking ice, gas, and dust: Laboratory AstroChemistry” Team
The collaboration includes the following research groups:
Three laboratories are involved in this proposal, Dr. I.Tanarro (plasmas), Dr. J. L. Doménech (gas, ions), and Dr. B. Maté (ices-IEM). The IEM group has a strong Molecular Physics background and has been involved in astrophysics-related projects for more than 15 years. They currently participate in an ERC Synergy project (Nanocosmos).
The research group "Interstellar and Circumstellar Medium" (Dr. G. M. Caro) is dedicated to the observation of solid matter (ice and dust grains) in the space, and to the experimental simulation of primary photon- and ion-induced processes in ice analogs of astrophysical relevance, leading to formation of organic matter. The astronomical observations to test the lab/theoretical results will be carried out by the CAB group (Dr. I. Jiménez-Serra) by using mid-IR and mm/sub-mm telescopes (JWST, ALMA, IRAM).
| Experimental Team | Observational Team |
|---|---|
| Guillermo Muñoz-Caro | Izaskun Jiménez-Serra |
| Hector Carrascosa | Jesús Martín-Pintado |
Molecular clouds in the interstellar medium can contract and form young stellar objects that evolve into planetary systems. At the end of the star’s life, processed The goal of the group is to understand how stars and planets form, how organic material forms and evolves and how life originates. The group performs theoretical work, experiments and astronomical observations. The group has developed first class lab equipment, including a cryogenic chamber and various gas-phase spectroscopic apparatus, to study the properties of neutrals and ions via IR, Raman, mm-wave and THz spectroscopy. The group is involved in several networks and it is part of large national and international projects (CRC, Origins).
The group focuses on the study of the physical and chemical processes involved in the formation of Solar-type systems. To achieve this goal, they use state-of-the-art instrumentation such as the ALMA array. They have also developed a spectroscopy lab to measure microwave spectra of molecular species of prebiotic interest.
The group is world renowned by its expertise in molecular spectroscopy and in the development of novel laboratory tools to hunt for new molecules in space. Of particular interest for this proposal is the development of cryogenic ion traps coupled to high spectral resolution radiation sources and their application to the study of molecular ions of astrophysical relevance.
The group simulates chemical and astrochemical reactivity using quantum chemistry, QM/MM (a combination of quantum chemistry and force fields) and machine learning techniques. Building on Kästner’s ERC Consolidator Grant TUNNELCHEM they can investigate aspects of quantum tunneling astrochemistry with unprecedented accuracy and efficiency.
Dr. Kalvāns is an expert in astrochemical modeling. His models will allow employing laboratory results for determining their effects on the observable chemistry of different astrophysical environments.
The group has decades of experience in plasma diagnosis and modeling. The group is currently involved in plasma generation of interstellar dust analogues.
