1. The chemistry of the early universe -- 1.1. Cosmological background -- 1.2. Big bang nucleosynthesis -- 1.3. The recombination era -- 1.4. Chemistry -- 1.5. Conclusions 2. Nucleosynthesis : the origin of the chemical elements -- 2.1. Introduction -- 2.2. Nuclei in the cosmos -- 2.3. Primordial nucleosynthesis : from h to he -- 2.4. Stars : from the main sequence to red giants -- 2.5. Advanced evolution of massive stars -- 2.6. Explosive nucleosynthesis in supernovae -- 2.7. The heavier-than-Fe nuclei -- 2.8. Summary 3. Gas-phase chemistry : reactive bimolecular collisions -- 3.1. Introduction -- 3.2. Basics in bimolecular reaction kinetics -- 3.3. Experimental methods -- 3.4. Theoretical methods -- 3.5. Some perspectives 4. Radiative processes in astrophysical molecules -- 4.1. Introduction -- 4.2. Radiative transitions -- 4.3. Non-radiative transitions -- 4.4. Methods -- 4.5. Electronic structure calculations -- 4.6. Examples -- 4.7. Appendix : matrix elements of the G(E) operator -- 4.8. Appendix : numerical method for close coupling equations 5. Electron collision processes -- 5.1. Introduction -- 5.2. Fundamental processes -- 5.3. Methodology -- 5.4. Astrophysical examples -- 5.5. Sources of data 6. Molecular spectroscopy of astrophysical molecules -- 6.1. Introduction -- 6.2. Molecular spectroscopy in a nutshell : diatomic molecules -- 6.3. Laboratory rotational absorption spectroscopy -- 6.4. The symmetric rotor -- 6.5. Laboratory rotational emission spectroscopy -- 6.6. Molecular symmetry--group theory in a nutshell -- 6.7. Vibrational spectroscopy -- 6.8. Large amplitude motion : tunneling and internal rotation -- 6.9. Astrophysical spectra 7. Excitation of astrophysical molecules -- 7.1. Radiative transitions -- 7.2. Non-LTE situations -- 7.3. Collisional transitions -- 7.4. Excitation of interstellar molecules 8. Applications : the molecular viewpoint of interstellar observations -- 8.1. Introduction -- 8.2. Importance of accurate molecular data -- 8.3. Success and limitations of gas-phase chemistry -- 8.4. The importance of surface chemistry -- 8.5. Conclusions.
Gas-Phase Chemistry in Space: From elementary particles to complex organic molecules is written by a collection of experts in the field of astrochemistry. The book introduces essential concepts that govern the formation, excitation and destruction of molecules at a postgraduate and research level. A broad range of topics are covered; from early universe chemistry and stellar nucleosynthesis, to the study of bimolecular reaction kinetics. Detailed description of the gas-phase process is provided and recent examples of the interplay between observational and laboratory astrophysics are examined. Using more than 100 figures, as well as examples, this work reveals, in detail, both theoretical and experimental perspectives that can be implemented in future discoveries.
Graduate students and researchers in the field of interstellar matter.
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Fran�cois Lique studied and received his PhD in physics in 2006 and is currently a professor at the Universit�e Le Havre Normandie. His expertise lies in the use of quantum chemistry methods, the study of quantum dynamics of nuclei and astrophysical modelling. Alexandre Faure obtained his PhD in 1999 and has since become an academic at CNRS in Grenoble. His research focuses on molecular processes of astrophysical relevance, and mainly concerns quantum aspects.