Untitled - Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de l'Observatoire de Grenoble

Chapter 4
Perspectives
4.1 Overview
Astrochemistry is going to be the keyword of our research in the incoming years. Astrochemistry in its two
major aspects: the molecular composition of the extra-terrestrial matter (§4.2.1) and the basic physical processes
(§4.2.2) that govern it. In a more general context, our activity will expand to “touch” the new emerging research
field of Exobiology, meant as the general study of life in the Universe. On this, our contribution will evidently
be on the Astrochemistry side.
The major new challenge that the Astromol team will face is the study of the molecular complexity in the
interstellar space, and the basic processes linked to it: molecule identification, formation, and evolution, with
emphasis on during the star formation process, from the pre-collapse to the proto-planetary disk phase. This
study will require substantial observational and theoretical progresses, and, consequently, a coordinated effort
at the French, European and world level. Two new instruments, involving world wide consortia, will allow
those major observational leaps and are at the 2007-2010 horizon: Herschel and ALMA (§4.3). Besides, a large
European coordinated effort is on progress to exploit at best the potentialities of both instruments: the EC
FP6 network “The Molecular Universe” (§4.4). Astromol is heavily involved in those three large international
projects, and our activity in the next 2007-2010 will be scientifically and practically dominated by that.
Indeed, the Astromol scientific involvement in these three large projects is heavy, ambitious and important
at the same time. It will require a substantial enlargement of the group to fulfill the engagements and, most
important, to fully exploit all the potentiality of this involvement, which should allow to keep a leading position
of Astromol in the relevant studies (§4.6).
4.2 Scientific goals
In the last four years, substantial progresses have been obtained in our understanding of how stars, notably solar
type stars, form. New signatures and processes of the early formation of solar type stars have been discovered:
e.g. the extreme molecular deuteration, which accompanies the freezeout of the heavy-bearing molecules, and
the birth of hot corinos in the interiors of the envelopes. However, many questions remain open. Here we
mention what we consider some major open questions which Astromol can help to answer in the next years to
come.
From a chemical point of view, it is totally unclear what is the ultimate molecular complexity reached during
the proto-stellar phase. Do pre-biotic or even biotic molecules form? In what quantity? How? From a chemical
and evolutionary point of view, it is even less clear what is the fate of these and any other molecules formed
during the protostellar phase. Do they survive the proto-planetary disk phase? Are they incorporated into the
forming and/or formed planets, via for example bombardment by comets and asteroids? In what quantity?
How?
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