Ice evolution during low-mass star formation - from atoms to complex organics

by Karin Öberg (Leiden Observatory)

Friday 3 Apr 2009, 15:00 → 16:00 Europe/Stockholm

122:026 (Roslagstullsbacken 17)

In recent years it has become clear that in the densest star-forming regions, up to 90% of all molecules (except for H2) are frozen out on dust grains. These ices are the formation site of simple species like water, methane and methanol, and probably of more complex prebiotic molecules, like organic acids and esters, as well. Understanding the evolution of ices is hence crucial to constrain the chemical evolution at large during star- and planet-formation. This ice evolution can be observed directly through infrared observations and indirectly through millimeter observations of evaporated ices. In this talk such observational results are combined with laboratory studies on different ice processes, especially UV photodesorption and UV induced organic chemistry, to map out the chemical evolution of ices during the pre- and proto-stellar stages of star formation.