Interstellar environment

Interstellar medium: physico-chemical processes - phases - radio astronomy.

This course covers the physico-chemical processes that are important for the interstellar medium (dynamic, thermal and chemical processes), as well as the associated observational diagnostics (molecular spectroscopy, radio astronomy). The main phases of the interstellar medium (ionized, atomic and molecular phases) are also presented.

Knowledge of important physico-chemical processes in highly diluted media

Knowledge of the different phases of the interstellar medium

Introduction to radio astronomy

Atomic physics (Atoms, Molecules and Radiation)

Hydrodynamics

Recommended prerequisites:

Astrophysics

Fluid dynamics in astrophysics and cosmology

Final written exam

Introduction: general characteristics of the interstellar medium

Fundamental processes in atomic and molecular physics for astrophysics: Einstein coefficients - collisional excitation (inelastic collisions) - statistical equilibrium - molecular rotation and vibration

Phases of the interstellar medium: H II region - cold atomic medium - molecular clouds

Interstellar chemistry: Astrochemistry: General - Introduction to reaction dynamics - Chemistry in the gas phase (neutral-neutral bimolecular reactions, ion-molecule, etc.) - Chemistry at the surface of solids (grains, ices) - Prebiotic chemistry  

Interstellar dust

Photodissociation regions: thermal and dynamic processes

Radio astronomy