Understand the emergence, transfer and destruction of molecular complexity during star formation via deuterium astrochemistry studies

• Applicant: Dr. Bérengère Parise
• Subject Area: Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Term: from 2008 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 60413320

Astrochemistry addresses some of the most important questions of modern astrophysics, and has a huge relevance to human society as it may ultimately help us to understand the emergence of life in the solar system. The field is entering a new, interdisciplinary era, with close interactions between laboratory science, observational astronomy and theoretical modeling. I propose here to investigate the chemical processes leading to molecular complexity during low-mass star formation. The longterm ultimate goal of this project is to study the formation of complex molecules, and their survival or destruction in each step of the formation of a solar-type star, from the dark cloud to the protostellar phase and the formation of a planetary system similar to our own, and comets. Studying deuterium astrochemistry can provide key insights into these processes, and is chosen as a manageable first step.This research is strongly interdisciplinary as it requires laboratory studies (both for spectroscopy and study of chemical reactions), astronomical observations and modeling. This project will make use of facilities of the Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie (APEX telescope, SOFIA instruments...), as well as German and European funded instruments (e.g. the IRAM facilities and the Herschel satellite), participating in enhancing the scientific output from these facilities, and will pave the way for exploiting this area of research with the ALMA interferometer. It may have impacts on extragalactic astronomy and studies of the early universe by providing new methods of investigation.

• DFG Programme: Emmy Noether Independent Junior Research Groups
• International Connection: United Kingdom