9418803 Herbst This project is concerned with the chemistry that occurs in interstellar clouds and other cool astronomical objects. Most of the molecules are organic in nature although the most abundant molecule is simple molecular hydrogen. In addition to the gas phase molecules, astronomers are also able to detect condensed phase molecules that are located on mantles surrounding the cores of dust particles. Dr. Herbst will employ new and improved chemical models for a variety of astronomical regions ranging from interstellar clouds to circumstellar envelopes to planetary nebulae. The development of molecular complexity is one of several problems that will be investigated because of the presence of relatively large carbonaceous molecules.
