Interrelations Between Astrochemistry and Galactic Dynamics

Conicet

Abstract

This paper presents a review of ideas that interconnect Astrochemistry and Galactic Dynamics. Since these two areas are vast and not recent, each one has already been covered separately by several reviews. After a general historical introduction, and a needed quick review of processes like the stellar nucleosynthesis which gives the base to understand the interstellar formation of simple chemical compounds (H2, CO, NH3 and H2O), we focus on a number of topics which are at the crossing of the two areas, Dynamics and Astrochemistry. Astrochemistry is a flourishing field which intends to study the presence and formation of molecules as well as the influence of them into the structure, evolution and dynamics of astronomical objects. The progress in the knowledge on the existence of new complex molecules and of their process of formation originates from the observational, experimental and theoretical areas which compose the field. The interfacing areas include star formation, protoplanetary disks, the role of the spiral arms and the chemical abundance gradients in the galactic disk. It often happens that the physical conditions in some regions of the ISM are only revealed by means of molecular observations. To organise a classification of chemical evolution processes, we discuss about how astrochemistry can act in three different contexts: i. the chemistry of the early universe, including external galaxies, ii. star forming regions, and iii. AGB stars and circumstellar envelopes. We mention that our research is stimulated by plans for instruments and projects, such as the on-going LLAMA, which consists in the construction of a 12m sub-mm radio telescope in the Andes. Thus, modern and new facilities can play a key role in new discoveries not only in astrochemistry but also in radio astronomy and related areas. Furthermore, the research of the origin of life is also a stimulating perspective.

Authors 6

1. Edgar Mendoza corresponding

   Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro · Universidade de São Paulo · Valongo Observatory

   Affiliation as printed

   Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas, USP, São Paulo, Brazil

   Observatório do Valongo, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

2. N. U. Duronea

   Instituto de Astrofísica de La Plata

   Affiliation as printed

   Instituto de Astrofísica de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina

3. Daniele Aragão Ronsó da Costa Lima

   Universidade de São Paulo

   Affiliation as printed

   Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas, USP, São Paulo, Brazil

4. Lia C. Corazza

   Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais

   Affiliation as printed

   Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, São José dos Campos, Brazil

5. Floris F. S. van der Tak Aachen SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research

   University of Groningen · Space Research Organisation Netherlands

   Affiliation as printed

   Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands

   SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Utrecht, Netherlands

6. S. Parón

   Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas · Universidad de Buenos Aires · Institute of Astronomy and Space Physics

   Affiliation as printed

   CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio, Buenos Aires, Argentina