Research report 2014 - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics

Molecules in Space

Authors
Grussie, Florian; O’Connor, Aodh P.; Kreckel, Holger
Departments

Forschungsgruppe Astrolab (ERC Starting Grant, Holger Kreckel)
Abteilung Gespeicherte und gekühlte Ionen (Klaus Blaum)

Summary
The space between the stars is filled with a dilute mixture of atoms and molecules with a small fraction of macroscopic dust. In the denser parts, the interstellar clouds, where stars and planets are being born, modern telescopes have revealed a surprisingly rich molecular chemistry, and even complex organic molecules have been found recently. At the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics a unique laboratory is being developed, aiming to shed light on the formation of interstellar molecules under truly extreme conditions.

For the full text, see the German version.

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