GATE 2014 for IITs and PSUs: Astrophysical Chemistry

Astrophysical Chemistry

Lecture 1
Introduction: Overview of the Universe, its component parts e.g. galaxies, stars, planets etc.
Provided by The Vega Science Trust.
Lecture 2
Introduction to atomic and molecular spectroscopy, particularly rotational spectroscopy. Spectra from space.
Provided by The Vega Science Trust.
Lecture 3
The spectra of the interstellar medium: From nebulae, interstellar species, H 21cm radiation and the structure of our Milky Way Galaxy.
Provided by The Vega Science Trust.
Lecture 4
Origin of the elements and the formation of molecules in the interstellar medium: Big Bang synthesis, stellar synthesis of He and C and other elements, interstellar scattering, interstellar species such as carbon monoxide and more complex molecules.
Provided by The Vega Science Trust.

Lecture 5
The development of molecular radio astronomy and infra red techniques and the information they yield on the composition of the interstellar medium: interstellar clouds, stellar envelopes etc.
Provided by The Vega Science Trust.

Lecture 6
Optical (electronic) spectra from space: comets. The detection of the pulsar in the Crab Nebula. The Three Degree Background. The detection by spectroscopy of the birth of stars.
Provided by The Vega Science Trust.

Lecture 7
Electronic spectroscopy and Franck Condon factors. The discovery of the spectrum of H3+ in the laboratory and in the atmosphere of Jupiter. Interstellar chemistry: Ion molecule reactions in space, grain surface catalysed processes and reactions in circumstellar shell. Interstellar masers.
Provided by The Vega Science Trust.

Lecture 8
Radio astronomy - resolution issues. The detection of long carbon chain molecules by radio astronomy. The conjectures on the origin of the chains in space and their possible relationship with the Diffuse Interstellar Bands that initiated the experiments that uncovered the existence of the C60 molecule. C60 extraction and interstellar dust.
Provided by The Vega Science Trust.

A series of lectures on astrophysical chemistry delivered to undergrate students at Florida State University in 2004