CHEMISTRY AS A DIAGNOSTIC OF STAR FORMATION

21-23 August 2002
University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

 CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS (NEW!)

 List of Participants

 Conference Programme

 


Aims of the conference

An understanding of the microphysics underlying spectral line and continuum observations is essential to most areas of astronomy. In star formation, where optical measurements are often lacking, our dependence on these diagnostics is particularly acute. Improvements in single-dish and interferometer (sub-)millimeter facilities, both ground- and space-based, continue to provide a wealth of new data. These observations reveal a wide range of physical conditions ranging from the cold, pre-collapse stage, where key molecules are depleted onto grains, to warmer, more evolved phases where ices evaporate and drive a rich chemistry. As our only window onto the gas and solid-state composition of star-forming regions, interpretation of these data is critical to many important problems in the field. The aim of the meeting is to forge a synthesis between the different domains of star formation research via the unifying concept of astrochemistry. This should help turn spectroscopy and broadband photometry into even more powerful probes of the physical transformation of gas and dust into stars. By concentrating on the role of dust and gas, we hope to provide a more focussed forum for discussion of the critical problems and directions of progress, while maintaining an informal, workshop environment. Although participants from many nations will be present, we especially invite Canadian researchers interested in present and future collaborative projects (e.g. Herschel Space Observatory, ALMA, NGST, etc.) to attend. The idea is to learn how best to use these next-generation facilities to produce the best star formation research.

Location/date/duration

The conference will be held at the University of Waterloo, approximately one hour's drive from Toronto, from August 21 to 23, 2002. Sessions will take place from Wednesday morning (arrival of the participants Tuesday night) to Friday afternoon. Excursions to local attractions may be arranged on the following weekend, for those who are interested.

Participants/Invited Speakers

The conference now has over 130 participants. The confirmed invited speakers are:

Philippe Andre (CEA, France)
Edwin Bergin (Harvard, USA)
Geoffrey Blake (CalTech, USA)
Ewine van Dishoeck (U. Leiden, Netherlands)
Neal Evans (U. Texas, USA)
Maryvonne Gerin (ENS, France)
Thomas Henning (U. Jena, Germany)
Tom Millar (UMIST, UK)
Tom Phillips (CalTech, USA)
Xander Tielens (Kapteyn Inst., Netherlands)
Malcolm Walmsley (Arcetri, Italy)
David Williams (UCL, UK)

Programme

The conference is divided into six sessions, as follows:

I. Fundamental processes

Gas-grain chemistry, photochemistry, and excitation
Energy balance, heating and cooling
Properties and influence of dust grains
Production/destruction and abundance of key molecules, including H2
New diagnostics from laboratory and theoretical chemistry                                                                                                 Image of S106 c. Subaru Telescope, Nat. Astron. Obs. Japan, 2001

II. Chemistry, physical conditions, and structure of dark clouds

Chemical evolution of molecular clouds
Models vs. observations of molecular cloud structure
Depletion of molecular species
Ionization fraction and magnetic fields
Consequences of turbulence for chemistry

III. Chemical diagnostics of infall, outflow, and disks

Chemical signatures of infall
Chemical signatures of outflow
Comparison of low- and high-mass environments
Production/destruction of molecules/dust in infall/outflows
Chemical and kinematic signatures of disks
Spectral energy distributions

IV. High-mass star formation

Role of photoionization and shocks
Ultracompact HII regions and hot cores
Masers
Dust production and destruction

V. The role of dust continuum observations

Inferred properties of dense cores
Dust-to-gas ratio
Line contamination of continuum observations

VI. The Future of Astrochemistry Instrumentation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Energy-level diagram of water
Primordial star formation
Spectroscopic signatures of brown dwarfs and extrasolar planets
Observatories, telescopes, instrumentation, and future missions

Registration and Call for Contributions

The above topics will be addressed in invited review talks. The program also consists of a limited number of short oral contributions (20 minutes, including questions). Space will be available for posters throughout the meeting. An extended coffee break/poster session is planned. The detailed schedule may be viewed here.

Proceedings

 There will be a self-published proceedings. In addition, we intend to e-publish all contributions to the meeting.

LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

Charles Curry (Chair), Michel Fich, Walt Duley, Peter Bernath (all at Waterloo).

SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

Michel Fich (Chair, Waterloo), Edwin Bergin (CfA), Charles Curry (Waterloo), Ewine van Dishoeck (Leiden), Neal Evans (Texas), Xander Tielens (Kapteyn Inst.), David Williams (UC, London)
 
 

Last modified: Thu Feb 12, 2004