Physics Colloquium: Chemistry in the Cosmos: From Simplicity to Complexity

Abstract: 

I will present an overview of chemistry in the cosmos, from the formation of the first stars in the early Universe, to present-day galaxies and the stellar and planetary systems that they contain.  The chemical composition of the interstellar medium in galaxies, including the Milky Way, plays an essential role in the thermal and dynamical evolution of turbulent star-forming molecular clouds, the gravitational collapse of protostellar cores, and the formation of protoplanetary disks and systems. A rich interstellar inventory, from simple diatomics to an array of multi-atom organic molecules traces the growth of complexity in the Universe, including the habitable zones required for the emergence of Life.

Event Organizer: Dr. Liron Barak