Coffee Chat

Interview with Adam Ginsburg

The Grab & GO

1. Bias versus variance when fitting multi-species molecular lines with a non-LTE radiative transfer model

Roueff et al. arXiv (A&A)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.20057

2. First detection in space of the high-energy isomer of cyanomethanimine: H2CNCN

Andrés et al. arXiv (ApJ)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2404.03334

3. CN and CCH derivatives of ethylene and ethane: Confirmation of the detection of CH3CH2CCH in TMC-1

Cernicharo et al. arXiv (A&A)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2404.07585

4. Role of Acetylene in the Chemical Evolution of Carbon Complexity

Pentsak et al. ACS Earth & Space Chemistry
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.3c00223

5. Sublimation and infrared spectral properties of ammonium cyanide

Gerakines et al. Icarus
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0019103524000654?via%3Dihub

6. A Low-Temperature Kinetic Study of the C(3P) + dimethyl ether Reaction: Rate Constants, H Atom Product Yields, and Astrochemical Implications

Hickson et al. ACS Earth & Space Chemistry
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.4c00014

7. JWST MIRI MRS Images of Disk Winds, Water, and CO in an Edge-on Protoplanetary Disk

Arulanantham et al. ApJL
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ad35c9

8. Correlations among complex organic molecules around protostars: Effects of physical structure

Nazari et al. arXiv (ApJ)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2404.10045

9. Gas-Phase Preparation of the 14π Hückel Polycyclic Aromatic Anthracene and Phenanthrene Isomers (C14H10) via the Propargyl Addition–BenzAnnulation (PABA) Mechanism

Wang et al. ChemPhysChem
https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cphc.202400151?af=R

10. Maser Activity of Organic Molecules toward Sgr B2(N)

Xue et al. arXiv (ApJ)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2404.12622

Double Shot

Interview with Adam Ginsburg

• Adam's paper on the discovery of the MUBLO

  • https://arxiv.org/abs/2404.07808

• Adam's Research Website

  • https://www.adamgginsburg.com/

Interview with Bryan Changala

• Bryan's paper on the laboratory spectroscopy of MgC4H and MgC3N

  • https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022285224000316?dgcid=rss_sd_all

Percolator

History of VY Canis Majoris

Excerpt from the Histoire Celeste Francaise by Jerome Lalande

(Google) Translation

I finish here, on 16 Ventôse year 9 [March 7, 1801] the printing of the fifty thousand stars, which have occupied us for eleven years; the last zones are repetitions, as will be seen below in the zone table; the C.en LEFRANÇAIS LALANDE and BURCKHARDT having undertaken to go over them all, I hope to publish them in the following volumes of our Celestial History : there would already be a larger number at the end of this volume, if for two months the the sky would not have been perpetually contrary, which sometimes happens in Paris, in mild and rainy winters.

Chalkboard

• PhD, Postdoc, and Job Opportunities

  • PhD Position Joint between Rennes (France) and Leuven (Belgium) on Reactive Collisions of Interest for Astrophysics with Lique and Loreau.
    One of the keys to determine the physical conditions prevailing in astrophysical environments as well as their chemical evolution is the knowledge of the excitation conditions and chemistry of astrophysical molecules. Despite significant progresses made over the last decades, there is still a huge lack of collisional and reactive data for these species, which prevents to make the most of nowadays highly resolved observations performed with ground-based telescopes such as ALMA or space-based telescope such as JWST. In addition, recent astrochemical models have highlighted the need of using state-to-state rate coefficients for molecular collisions and reactions in order to fully exploit recent observations of highly excited molecules. The calculations of such data using exact quantum methods are not possible mainly because of their computational cost. Hence, important methodological developments remain to be done in order to provide astronomers with reliable data. This thesis subject fits into this context and is dedicated to the study of the collisional excitation and reactivity of astrophysical ions (e.g. CH+, CH2+, H2O+, HeH+, …) detected in astrophysical and atmospherical environments. In particular, the development and the use of statistical methods should enable the possibility to obtain precise state-to-state data for the study of media of astrophysical and atmospherical interest. Participation in the interpretation of observations will be a natural extension of this project and will allow the candidate to investigate the impact of these new data on the astrophysical / atmospherical modeling.
    
    The joint PhD project will be co-supervised by François Lique (Rennes, France) and Jérôme Loreau (Leuven, Belgium). The PhD candidate is expected to spend ~75% of his research time at the University of Rennes and 25% of his research time in KU Leuven. Possibility of participating to teaching activities will be offered to the PhD candidate. 
    
    Application requires a CV, Motivation Letter, Names of Two References, and an Interview to Follow Review of Application.  Application should be sent to both François LIQUE (francois.lique@univ-rennes.fr) and Jerome Loreau (jerome.loreau@kuleuven.be).

  • There is a Postdoctoral Position in Star Formation with ALMA at the University of St. Andrews working with Claudia Cyganowski for a period of three years.  Applications close June 3rd with interviews scheduled later that month for a nominal July start date.  Link to the position details and application are on our website.

https://www.vacancies.st-andrews.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/1052/0/427062/889/post-doctoral-research-fellow-in-star-formation-with-alma-ar2986sb

• Upcoming Meetings

  • QuantumGrain Workshop: Emerging Horizons in the Chemistry of the Universe
    June 9-12, 2024
    Barcelona, Spain

  • International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy
    June 17-21, 2024
    Urbana, Illinois

  • The Promises and Challenges of the ALMA Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade
    June 24-28, 2024
    ESO Garching, Germany 

  • Once Upon a Time, Our Astrochemical History
    July 3-4
    ESA Meeting, Padova

  • The 27th International Conference on High Resolution Molecular Spectroscopy
    September 2-6
    Bologna, Italy

  • Born in Fire: Eruptive Stars and Planet Formation
    September 24-27
    Santiago, Chile

  • Cosmic Rays: The Salt of the Star Formation Recipe Vol 3
    October 22-24
    Florence, Italy