Objective
Molecules are an important component of the universe which dominate the cooling and degree of ionization of interstellar gas clouds and, hence, regulate star and planet formation. The exploration of paths towards chemical complexity in space has direct bea ring on the origin and evolution of life. Moreover, molecular transitions provide a sensitive probe of the dynamics and the physical and chemical conditions in a wide range of objects at scales ranging from newly formed planetary systems to galactic and ex tragalactic sizes. Near-future large scale observatories by the European Space Agency and the European Southern Observatory - in partnership with American and Far-East organizations - will open up the universe to high spatial and spectral resolution studie s of molecules and, hence, the study of the key astrophysical and astrochemical processes involved in the formation and evolution of planets, stars, and galaxies. These new missions will lead to a multitude of molecular line data in a variety of astrophysi cal environments. Identification, analysis, and interpretation of this data in terms of the physical and chemical characteristics of the astronomical sources and the origin and evolution of the molecular universe will require a concerted effort by physicis ts, chemists, and astronomers in the areas of molecular spectroscopy, collisional excitation processes, chemical reactions, and astronomical modelling on species of astrophysical relevance. The results of this expert effort need to be made easly accessible to the scientific community through web-based data archives. The Research and Training Network on the Molecular Universe provides a cohesive framework for the training and development of researchers in the early stages of their career, combining European researchers in the areas of laboratory spectroscopy, laboratory astrochemistry, molecular quantum mechanical studies, astronomical modellers, and experts on data bases and web interfaces.
Field of science
- /natural sciences/chemical sciences/analytical chemistry/spectroscopy
- /natural sciences/physical sciences/astronomy/planetary science/planets
- /natural sciences/physical sciences/astronomy/astrochemistry
- /natural sciences/physical sciences/astronomy/observational astronomy/infrared astronomy
- /natural sciences/physical sciences/molecular and chemical physics
Call for proposal
FP6-2002-MOBILITY-1
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
RTN - Marie Curie actions-Research Training NetworksCoordinator
Groningen
Netherlands
Participants (20)
Paris
Madrid
Gã¶ttingen
Gã¶teborg
Meudon
Nijmegen
Oxford
9500, 2300 RA Leiden
Basel
Durham
Manchester
Perugia
Talence
Rennes
Villeneuve D'ascq
Grenoble
Orsay Cedex
Toulouse
Cologne
Warsaw
