PROJECT

Multi-material dust astrochemistry 

Project title: Multi-material dust astrochemistry (DACE)

 

Project No. lzp-2025/1-0065


Project abbreviation: DACE


Programme: Fundamental and applied research projects of Latvian Council of Sciences


Project implementer:  Ventspils University of Applied Sciences


Project funding: 300000 euro.


Project time span: January 1, 2026 – December 29, 2028


Project abstract

Interstellar dust comes in a variety of sizes, shapes, and materials. The diversity of dust composition has been long-known to astronomers but its role in interstellar and circumstellar chemistry has been poorly explored. In particular, dust grains serve as the surfaces for the build-up of interstellar ices, which provided a medium for prebiotic organic synthesis in the Presolar nebula. Grain materials - carbon and various silicates - have different temperatures, molecular surface binding energies, and other properties. Recent results indicate that these properties determine the onset of ice accumulation onto grains as well as the rate of chemical reactions between surface species. Thus, dust made of different materials likely carries varying amounts of ice with different compositions.


The aim of this Project  is to create an understanding about ices on different grain populations in the interstellar medium and star-forming regions. For this aim, we will develop the necessary methodology and investigate a few most important aspects for multi-material dust-ice chemistry with numerical simulations. This will help interpreting astrochemical observations of molecules originating in ices and understanding chemical transformation and transport of ices in the inner regions of star-forming cloud cores.


Scientific group

Project scientific coordinator Dr. phys. Juris Kalvāns, leading researcher Dr. phys. Juris Freimanis, and students: scientific assistant, PhD student Kristaps Veitners, Deivis Brakšs, Nikita Muhaņko.


Expected results: four scientific papers and a submitted research project proposal. Additionally, presentations in scientific conferences and popular scientific articles are planned.


Project activities

1.      Radiative transfer: interactions between radiation and multi-material dust grains (1–36 project months).

2.      Astrochemical methods: adapting and upgrading the numerical model (1–18 project months).

3.      Advanced astrochemical modelling studies (19–36 project months).


Contacts

Project scientific manager: Dr. phys. Juris Kalvāns,  juris.kalvans@venta.lv

Project administrative manager: Santa Kalvāne,  santa.kalvane@venta.lv

Project news

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences starts project “Multi-material Dust Astrochemistry (DACE)”

By Rota Rulle • February 23, 2026
As of January 2026, the Fundamental and Applied Research Programme of the Latvian Council of Science project No. lzp-2025/1-0065 “Multi-material Dust Astrochemistry (DACE)” has commenced. The research is being carried out by staff of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Department at the Engineering Research Institute “Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre” (VIRAC) of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. The scientific significance of DACE lies in its novelty. It has long been known that within the Solar System and in the wider cosmic space of our Galaxy and beyond there exist tiny solid grains – interstellar dust. They have a varied chemical composition, albeit two classes of materials dominate: silicate minerals (rock) and carbon (soot). This diversity of dust is taken into account in several subfields of astrophysics, such as physics of the interstellar medium physics and cosmochemistry (the science of the origin of the compounds and elements that formed the Solar System). However, in astrochemistry – which studies molecular transformations in the interstellar medium – the varied composition of dust has so far been largely ignored. Nevertheless, it may be significant, as many important chemical transformations in space occur on dust grain surfaces. Within DACE, we will investigate how differences in interstellar dust materials – including temperature, surface adsorption (molecular sticking) properties, and other parameters – affect the chemical composition of interstellar nebulae. Starting in January, leading researchers J. Kalvāns and J. Freimanis began work on the DACE project, conducting preliminary studies as well as initial scientific and administrative planning and preparation. Full, coordinated, and active research began in February with the formal involvement of students. On February 18, the project’s opening seminar was held, during which two key research directions were defined: calculating temperatures for dust grains in interstellar clouds embedded in cosmic radiation fields, and adapting a new reaction database for astrochemical calculations. After the seminar, project participants visited VIRAC radio telescope complex in Irbene (see photo).