Astrochemistry : from astronomy to astrobiology / Andrew M. Shaw.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Shaw, Andrew M.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Cosmochemistry--Textbooks.

Cosmochemistry.

Genre:

Textbooks.

Physical Description:

xi, 339 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 26 cm

Place of Publication:

Chichester, England ; Hoboken, NJ : John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., [2006]

Summary:

The dynamic field of astrochemistry brings together ideas of physics, astrophysics, biology and chemistry to the study of molecules between stars, around stars and on planets. Astrochemistry: from Astronomy to Astrobiology provides a clear and concise introduction to this rapidly evolving multidisciplinary subject. Starting with the molecular universe, the text covers the formation of the elements, simple models of stars and their classification. It then moves on to draw on the theme of the origins of life to study interstellar chemistry, meteorite and comet chemistry as well as the chemistry of planets. Prebiotic chemistry and astrobiology are explored by examining the extremes of the biosphere on Earth, seeing how this may be applied to life in other solar systems.

Contents:

1 The molecular universe 1

1.1 The Standard Model - Big Bang theory 1

1.2 Galaxies, stars and planets 3

1.3 Origins of life 4

1.4 Other intelligent life 9

1.5 Theories of the origin of life 10

2 Starlight, galaxies and clusters 15

2.1 Simple stellar models - black body radiation 15

2.2 2.725 K - cosmic microwave background radiation 20

2.3 Stellar classification 21

2.4 Constellations 26

2.5 Galaxies 31

2.6 Cosmology 36

3 Atomic and molecular astronomy 41

3.1 Spectroscopy and the structure of matter 41

3.2 Line shape 46

3.3 Telescopes 52

3.4 Atomic spectroscopy 56

3.5 Molecular astronomy 59

3.6 Molecular masers 77

3.7 Detection of hydrogen 79

3.8 Diffuse interstellar bands 80

3.9 Spectral mapping 81

4 Stellar chemistry 85

4.1 Classes of stars 86

4.2 Herzprung-Russell diagram 88

4.3 Stellar evolution 89

4.4 Stellar spectra 98

4.5 Exotic stars 102

4.6 Cycle of star formation 108

5 The interstellar medium 113

5.1 Mapping clouds of molecules 114

5.2 Molecules in the interstellar and circumstellar medium 117

5.3 Physical conditions in the interstellar medium 120

5.4 Rates of chemical reactions 123

5.5 Chemical reactions in the interstellar medium 130

5.6 Photochemistry 133

5.7 Charged particle chemistry 136

5.8 Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons 136

5.9 Dust grains 140

5.10 Chemical models of molecular clouds 145

5.11 Prebiotic molecules in the interstellar medium 151

6 Meteorite and comet chemistry 157

6.1 Formation of the solar system 158

6.2 Classification of meteorites 161

6.3 Meteorite mineralogy 162

6.4 Geological time 165

6.5 Chemical analysis of meteorites by [mu]L[superscript 2]MS 168

6.6 The Murchison meteorite - kerogen 171

6.7 Meteorite ALH84001 173

6.8 Comet chemistry 180

6.9 Structure of a comet 180

6.10 Physicochemical conditions in a cometary coma 181

6.11 Chemical composition of comets 183

6.12 Cometary collisions 185

6.13 The Rosetta mission - origin of the solar system 187

7 Planetary chemistry 193

7.1 Structure of a star-planet system 194

7.2 Surface gravity 195

7.3 Formation of the Earth 197

7.4 Earth-Moon system 199

7.5 Geological periods 200

7.6 Radiative heating 202

7.7 The habitable zone 204

7.8 Extrasolar planets 206

7.9 Planetary atmospheres 209

7.10 Atmospheric photochemistry 215

7.11 Biomarkers in the atmosphere 219

8 Prebiotic chemistry 225

8.1 Carbon- and water-based life forms 225

8.2 Spontaneous chemical reactions 227

8.3 Rates of chemical reactions 236

8.4 Endogenous production of organic molecules 237

8.5 Exogenous delivery of organic molecules 245

8.6 Homochirality 246

8.7 Surface Metabolism - 'clay organisms' 249

8.8 Geothermal Vents - 'black smokers' 251

8.9 RNA World hypothesis 253

9 Primitive life forms 259

9.1 Self-assembly and encapsulation 261

9.2 Protocells 264

9.3 Universal tree of life 273

9.4 Astrobiology 274

9.5 Microbial Mars 281

10 Titan 287

10.1 Physical properties 289

10.2 The atmosphere 291

10.3 Temperature-dependent chemistry 294

10.4 Energy balance and the greenhouse effect 296

10.5 Atmospheric chemistry 297

10.6 Astrobiology on Titan 302

Appendix A Constants and units 319

Appendix B Astronomical data 321

Appendix C Thermodynamic properties of selected compounds 323.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [329]-333) and index.

ISBN:

0470091363

0470091371

OCLC:

63171065

Publisher Number:

9780470091364 (hbk. : alk. paper)

9780470091371 (pbk. : alk. paper)