Energetic Processing of Astrophysical Solids

Titolo: “Energetic Processing of Astrophysical Solids”

Relatore: D. Fulvio - Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, RJ,
Brazil

Coordinate: Martedì 19 gennaio 2016, ore 11:30, aula Ovest, Osservatorio Astrofisico di Catania

Abstract:
Energetic radiation (photons, ions, …) passing through a solid
releases its energy to the target material. As a consequence, molecular
bonds are broken along the irradiation track and the molecular fragments
recombine, giving rise to new molecules (originally not present in the
solid) and/or a rearrangement in the chemical and lattice structure of
the target. The experimental study of the effects induced by energetic
radiation in solids of astrophysical interest is part of a 30-years old
discipline known as Laboratory Astrophysics, an interdisciplinary
research activity which borders on Astrophysics, Surface Physics, Atomic
and Molecular Physics, Chemistry, and Mineralogy. 

In this talk, I will summarize the main goals and recent achievements of
my research activity in the field of Laboratory Astrophysics. In
particular, I will talk about:

(1) ion/photon irradiation experiments on meteorites and astrophysical
“ices” (i.e., volatile species or mixtures frozen out from the gas
phase at T < 273 K);

(2) the study of chemical reactions induced by energetic radiation on
“dust grains” (i.e., carbonaceous and siliceous species analogues of
planetary surfaces and cosmic dust grains) and at the interface
ice/grains;

(3) the detection of molecules in space and the study of their formation
pathways, abundances, and spectral features. 

Data: 
Martedì, 19 Gennaio, 2016