Chemistry revealed by the James Web Space Telescope

The focus session presents the state-of-the-art in astrochemistry, showcasing the exotic chemistry that occurs during star- and planet formation. The session is dedicated to work characterizing the chemical processes in stellar nurseries, inspired by the recent observations with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and studied within the NWO Dutch Astrochemistry Network. JWST is able to probe both the gas phase around forming stars and the ice layers on dust grains that eventually are the building blocks for planets and comets. The gas-phase observations show the ubiquitous presence of carbonaceous species, such as Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and fullerenes, whose cosmic lifecycle so far is poorly understood. The ice observations show the presence of molecules with multiple carbon atoms, in line with experiments showing the conversion of simple species into, e.g., sugars and amino acids in the ice under dark and cold conditions.
Both routes, gas-phase and ice, contribute to the molecular reservoir in the birthplaces stars that is thought to be part of the material from which planets and ultimately their atmospheres can form, bridging simple molecule chemistry to prebiotic chemistry. The speakers will present recent laboratory studies, along with JWST observations and/or computational chemical results.