SPACE PHYSICS

1 – The Interstellar Medium (ISM)

Observational evidences of the presence of the ISM – Distribution of the ISM in the Galaxy – Multiphase strutture of the ISM – Dense and molecular clouds – Diffuse clouds – Intercloud Medium – Coronal gas – Cooling and heating processes in clouds.

2 – Interstellar Gas

Observational evidences – Composition – Atomic and molecular components – The most important species: H, H₂, H₂O, CO, CO₂ ecc. – Polyciclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) – Fullerens.

3 – Interstellar Dust

Observational evidences of the presence of interstellar dust grains – Abundance of dust – Composition – Size distribution of interstellar grains – Morphology – Icy mantles on grains - Importance of the presence of dust – Formation sites of interstellar grains.

4 – Molecule formation in the gas phase

Taxonomy of gas phase reactions according to their rate constants - Dissociation processes induced by UV photons in the diffuse medium and by energetic particles in the dense one – Numerical modeling of the chemical enrichment of clouds.

5 – Gas-dust interaction

Physisorption and chemisorption - Mobility of adsorbed species - Dust grains as catalysts – Mechanisms of heterogeneous catalysis - Experimental techniques of investigation of reactions catalyzed on grain surfaces - Main results.

6 – Interaction between cosmic rays and interstellar dust grains

Short description of cosmic rays – Propagation inside the Heliosphere – Interaction of fas ions with solids – Experimental techniques for the investigation of physico-chemical processes induced by cosmic rays.

7 – Interaction among stars and the ISM

Stroemgren spheres – Generation and propagation of shock waves in the ISM. A case study.

1. A.G.G.M. Tielens: The Physics and Chemistry of the Interstellar Medium, Cambridge Acad Press (2005)

2. D.C.B. Whittet: Dust in the Galactic Environment, 2nd ed., IOP, London (2002)

3. V. Pirronello, J. Krelowski, G. Manicò (eds): Solid State Astrochemistry, Kluwer, Dordrecht (2003)