1st Edition

Dust and Chemistry in Astronomy

Edited By T.J Millar, D.A Williams Copyright 1993

    Dust is widespread in the galaxy. To astronomers studying stars it may be just an irritating fog, but it is becoming widely recognized that cosmic dust plays an active role in astrochemistry. Without dust, the galaxy would have evolved differently, and planetary systems like ours would not have occurred.

    To explore and consolidate this active area of research, Dust and Chemistry in Astronomy covers the role of dust in the formation of molecules in the interstellar medium, with the exception of dust in the solar system. Each chapter provides thorough coverage of our understanding of interstellar dust, particularly its interaction with interstellar gas. Aimed at postgraduate researchers, the book also serves as a thorough review of this significant area of astrophysics for practicing astronomers and graduate students.

    DUST AND ASTROCHEMISTRY: AN INTRODUCTION by T.J. Millar and D.A. Williams
    The Past. The Present. The Future. The Astronomical Background. Further Reading.

    OBSERVATIONS OF MOLECULAR ICES by D.C.B. Whittet
    Infrared Spectroscopy. The Observed Features. Conclusions and Future Research.

    OBSERVATIONS OF HOT MOLECULAR CORES by C.M. Walmsley and P. Schilke
    Observations of the Orion Hot Core. HCN Isotopomers Toward the Orion Hot Core. Observations of Other Hot Cores. Determining Physical Parameters of Hot Cores. Prospects.

    MOLECULAR HYDROGEN EMISSION FROM STAR-FORMING REGIONS by P.W.J.L. Brand
    Star-Forming Regions. Shocks. Photodissociation Regions.

    CARBONACEOUS GRAINS by W.W. Duley
    Bonding in Carbon Compounds. Structure of Solids. Formation of Carbon Solids. Constraints on Bonding in HAC. Electronic Transitions. Luminescence. Infrared Spectra. Comparison with Astronomical Spectra. What Is Carbonaceous Dust. Conclusions.

    PAHS AND ASTROCHEMISTRY by A.G.G.M. Tielens
    The IR Emission Features. PAHs and C-Stardust Formation. Photochemistry of PAHs. PAHs and Ion-Molecule Chemistry. Surface Chemistry of PAHs.

    PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROCESSES ON DUST by D.A. Williams
    The Nature of Interstellar Dust and its Interaction with Gaseous Species. Sticking Probabilities. Mobility of Adsorbed Species. Reactions between Adsorbed Species. Ejection or Retention of Reaction Products. Mantle Processing. Desorption Processes on Interstellar Dust. Conclusion.

    INTERSTELLAR DUST AND THE CHEMISTRY OF DIFFUSE CLOUDS by R. Wagenblast and D.A. Williams
    The Role of Dust in Diffuse Cloud Chemistry. HO2 (IJ) Formation on Dust. Chemical Modeling of Diffuse Clouds: Hydrides from Dust. Hydrocarbons from Shocked Dust.

    GAS-GRAIN CHEMISTRY IN QUIESCENT DENSE INTERSTELLAR CLOUDS by E. Herbst
    Why Grain Chemistry Is Needed. Previous Models with Grain Reactions. Surface Processes: More Detail. A New Gas-Grain Chemical Model. Future Work.

    THE CHEMISTRY IN LOW MASS STAR FORMATION by T.W. Hartquist et al.
    Clusters of Star-Forming Cores. The Initial State Clumps. The Collapse of Initial State Clumps. Chemistry in a Core Cluster with Low Mass Stars. Core Collapse. Relating the Core Cluster and Collapsing Core Chemistries to the Composition of Comet Halley's Ices. A Wish List of Observations.

    CLUMP COLLAPSE AND STAR FORMATION by J.M.C. Rawlings
    The Environment and Identification of Low Mass Star-Forming Regions. Observations of Dense Cores. A Dynamical Model of the Chemistry in Star-Forming Regions. Concluding Remarks.

    THE CHEMISTRY OF HOT MOLECULAR CORES by T.J. Millar
    General Considerations. Models of Orion Sources. Chemical Differentiation in the Orion Hot Cores. Other Issues. Conclusions.

    LABORATORY DUST STUDIES AND GAS-GRAIN CHEMISTRY by J.M. Greenberg et al.
    Basic Experimental Set-Up. Some Examples of Photochemical Evolution in Dust. Molecule Desorption. Dust and Gas in Diffuse (Translucent) and Dense Clouds. PAH Survival and Destruction. Concluding Remarks.

    IRRADIATION OF MOLECULAR ICES by V. Pirronello
    Energy Deposition by Particles in Matter. Chemical Effects. Mechanisms of Chemical Effects. Erosion. Applications to Cosmic Dust.

    Biography

    T J Millar Department of Mathematics, UMIST, PO Box 88, Manchester M60 1QD, UK. D A Williams Department of Mathematics, UMIST, PO Box 88, Manchester M60 1QD, UK.

    "I recommend this book to those who want to catch up with the latest findings about chemical reactions occurring under conditions difficult or impossible to simulate here on Earth."
    -John Mathis, Science, Vol. 264, 20 May 1994

    "I recommend the volume to graduate students and people entering the field."
    -Il Nuovo Cimento