Chemistry Weekly Seminar - Ilsa Cooke, University of British Columbia
Ilsa Cooke, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, will present a seminar at 1:30 pm in ARTS 146.
Title:
Star stuff: unravelling the organic chemistry of dense molecular clouds
Abstract:
Molecules are not limited to our solar system but exist in the extreme environments found in interstellar space. Astrochemistry is the study of this rich and diverse chemistry that occurs throughout the universe. Our picture of the molecular universe is becoming increasingly complex with around 250 molecules identified in the interstellar medium, and the rate of new detections still growing. I will discuss the pioneering role the University of Saskatchewan played in the detection of the first interstellar ion, CH+.
Dense molecular clouds are the earliest stage of star formation and provide the molecular material that will make up new planets and solar systems. I will present our recent observations of a particular molecular cloud in Taurus, TMC-1, including the detection of the first interstellar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In order to understand how these molecules can form in TMC-1, laboratory experiments must be conducted down to temperatures below 10 K to measure the kinetics of key reactions. The study of reactions at these low temperatures, including measurements of the reaction rate coefficients and product-branching-ratios, presents substantial experimental challenges. I will discuss the laboratory methods that we use to measure low temperature reaction kinetics relevant to interstellar space.
Date: Friday, December 2
Time: 1:30 pm
Place: ARTS 146