Dr. Paola Caselli
(University of Leeds)

University of Florida Astronomy Colloquium - Oct. 23rd, 2007

Astrochemistry and star formation: a fertile link

Here I will show that, on the one hand, astrochemistry is sorely needed for our understanding of the physical and chemical processes, as well as the kinematics, of star forming regions, from the earliest stages (pre-stellar cores), to the switch-on of the protostar, to the formation and evolution of protoplanetary disks. On the other hand, observations of gas-phase and solid-state species in star forming regions allow us to make progresses in our understanding of astrochemistry and the production of organic molecules in space, possible seeds of life in the Universe. Basic chemical processes will be reviewed and major astrochemical unknowns will be outlined.