Formation of complex chemical species in astrochemistry (a review)

• Published in: Solar system research Vol. 46; no. 6; pp. 391 - 407
• Main Author: Shematovich, V. I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht SP MAIK Nauka/Interperiodica 01.11.2012; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Astrochemistry; Astronomical instruments; Astronomical research; Astronomy; Astrophysics and Astroparticles; Astrophysics and Cosmology; Celestial bodies; Chemical elements; Chemical evolution; Chemical reactions; Chemical speciation; Chemists; Interstellar; Interstellar chemistry; Interstellar gas; Interstellar matter; Interstellar medium; Molecular chemistry; Observations and Techniques; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Planetology; Spectra; Star formation; Stars & galaxies; Universe; Interstellar Medium; Molecular Cloud; Solar System Research; Star Formation Region; Star Formation
• ISSN: 0038-0946; 1608-3423
• DOI: 10.1134/S0038094612060068

In recent years, a rapid growth in a new area of space studies—astrochemistry—has been observed. Its subject is the chemical evolution and chemical diversity of interstellar matter. Molecules yield unique information concerning physical conditions in the interstellar medium and, in particular, in the star-formation regions, through spectral observations of the matter in the gas-phase and dust fractions via rotational and vibrational transitions of interstellar molecules. Moreover, an understanding of the chemistry of molecules can tell us about the lifetime and history of the observed objects. Such an understanding, however, requires detailed chemical knowledge of the gas-phase reactions and grain-surface chemical processes that very often take place under rather exotic conditions strongly differing from those for chemical reactions in the laboratory. Note that the interests of chemists and astronomers in this new area are different: chemists are more likely to be interested in chemical diversity throughout the Universe, whereas astronomers are more likely to use molecules as probes of physical processes.