Interstellar Astrochemistry

杜克大学的埃里克·赫布斯特博士将继续他在气相星际天体化学方面的三管齐下的研究工作。这项工作将包括：模拟研究，计算各种来源的星际分子丰度，并与观测数据进行比较；难以在实验室研究的重要反应速率的计算；并与实验研究者合作确定各种反应速率系数。在过去的二十年里，天文学家已经成功地在星际和星周云中探测到大约80种不同分子的存在。这些分子的存在刺激了大量的研究，旨在了解这些分子为什么存在以及它们是如何产生的。根据过去的研究，可以肯定地说，云中检测到的许多分子（如果不是大多数的话）可以通过气相过程由前体原子合成。赫布斯特博士的研究将加深我们对致密星际云的化学性质的理解。

Dr. Eric Herbst at Duke University will continue his three-pronged research effort into gas phase interstellar astrochemistry. This effort will include: modeling studies in which interstellar abundances of molecules in assorted sources are calculated and compared with observational data; calculations of the rates of important reactions difficult to study in the laboratory; and collaborations with experimental investigators in the determination of sundry reaction rate coefficients. During the past twenty years, astronomers have managed to detect the presence of about eighty different molecules in interstellar and circumstellar clouds. The existence of these molecules has stimulated a large amount of research directed towards an understanding of why the molecules are present and how they are produced. Based on past research, it is safe to sayu that many if not most of the molecules detected in clouds can be synthesized from precursor atoms via gas phase processes. Dr. Herbst's research will add to our understanding of the chemistry of dense interstellar clouds.