Advanced seminar, WS12/13

Abstract

Abstract

Complex organic molecules (COM's) are partially saturated molecules with six or more atoms found in the gas phase of assorted interstellar sources such as hot cores and corinos, infra-red dark clouds, and even cold cores. Although these species are detected in the gas, their formation involves both grain surface and gas-phasechemistry. In hot cores and corinos, COM's are most likely formed during the warm-up phase of protostellar sources as gas and dust collapse towards the central protostar or towards a growing protoplanetary disk.In cold cores, the mechanism of formation of COM's is still a mystery although itmay involve transitory heating of grains.In protoplanetary disks, our models predict that COMs can be formed even on cold icy grains although they likely remain there. In infrared dark clouds, the mechanism for formation of these species, which have been newly detected, is unclear although one possibility is shock desorption from grain surfaces, as has also been posited for the galactic center.