Desorption of ice molecules in the interstellar medium

PROJECT

Desorption of ice molecules in the interstellar medium (DIMD)

Project title: "Desorption of ice molecules in the interstellar medium (DIMD)"/„Ledus molekulu desorbcija starpzvaigžņu vidē (DIMD)”


Project No:. lzp-2021/1-0076


Project acronym: DIMD


Funder: Latvian Science Council, Fundamental and Applied Research Projects


Project applicant: Ventspils University of Applied Sciences


Project scientific supervisor: Ventspils University of Applied Sciences leading researcher Dr. phys. Juris Kalvāns


Duration: 01.01.2022. - 31.12.2024. (36 months, 3 reference periods)


Brief Qualitative Description and Aim of the Project:

In cosmic nebulae, specific molecules, including organic ones, are formed in icy mantles on the surface of interstellar dust grains. The observation of such species in the nebulae testifies that there are processes that eject (desorb) molecules from dust grain surface into the gas phase. The aim of the project is to create an astrochemical numerical model that fully describes the various desorption processes in interstellar clouds. The model is to be applied for solving relevant pressing problems in astrochemistry.


Project tasks:

The Project consists of four primary tasks.

1.     Development of numerical descriptions for desorption mechanisms

2.     Advancing the astrochemical model.

3.     Solving astrochemical problems.

4.     Project coordination, administration, and dissemination.


Project results:

The primary planned results are six scientific publications, including at least four in high-impact astronomical scientific journals. In addition, two science popularizing papers and two press releases are planned.


Project funding: 299 927.10 EUR


Contacts:

Project scientific head - Dr. phys. Juris Kalvāns, juris.kalvans@venta.lv

Project administrative head - Ieva Kozlova, ieva.kozlova@venta.lv

Projekta aktualitātes

By Rota Rulle August 15, 2024
For thousands of years, processes on tiny dust grains in star-forming cosmic nebulae have allowed the formation of substances that, in the case of the Solar System, were important for the origin of life and can be useful as resources for civilization. The formation of such organic and inorganic substances in the darkness of the universe has been influenced by many factors, including the temperature of various dust particles and the ability of molecules to attach, vibrate and detach from the surface of the dust particles. Many of these processes are now combined in one scientific numerical model, allowing astrochemistry simulations to provide unprecedented results.
By Lāsma Lubāne August 2, 2022
The 44th Scientific Assembly of Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) took place in Athens, Greece, on July 16-24, 2022. The aims of COSPAR include promoting research by providing platforms for free exchange of scientific thought. The Assembly is a large annual conference that combined 151 sections within 10 scientific commissions in 2022. Thematically, COSPAR encompasses various aspects of astronomical research – from materials in space to astrobiology, supermassive black holes and elementary particles. COSPAR 2022 combined in-person and remote participation. VUAS ERI VIRAC leading researcher Juris Kalvāns participated in COSPAR 2022 Commission F “Life Sciences as Related to Space” Section F3.5 “Simple and Complex Molecules in Star-forming Regions” with a solicited talk “Collisional desorption of ices in interstellar clouds”. J. Kalvāns is also the head of VIRAC Astronomy and astrophysics department. The talk was done remotely by sending a previously prepared presentation in video format. In the talk, his recent theoretical computer modelling research on the collisions between icy interstellar dust grains in dense clouds, which are also the birth sites of stars. As a result of such collisions, molecules that can be synthesized only on the surface of the grains can appear in the gas phase of the cloud. Thus, grain collisions may help explaining the observations of such molecules in the gas. Such phenomena are especially relevant for organic molecules, similar to those Earth inherited from interstellar dust during the formation of the Solar system. The participation in COSPAR 2022 was made possible thanks to the Latvian Council of Sciences project “Desorption of icy molecules in the interstellar medium (DIMD)”, No. lzp-2021/1-0076 under the programme of Fundamental and Applied Research Projects.
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