Fundamental problems in modern astrophysics requiring access to the ultraviolet range

Ana I. Gómez de Castro; Alain Lecavelier des Étangs; Dieter Reimers

doi:10.1117/12.672868

26 July 2006 Fundamental problems in modern astrophysics requiring access to the ultraviolet range

Ana I. Gómez de Castro, Alain Lecavelier des Étangs, Dieter Reimers

Proceedings Volume 6266, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation II: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray; 626608 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.672868
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2006, Orlando, Florida , United States

Abstract

Progress of modern astrophysics requires the access to the electromagnetic spectrum in the broadest energy range. The ultraviolet is a fundamental energy domain; warm plasmas at temperatures of 3,000-300,000 K radiate in this range, also the electronic transitions of the most abundant molecules in the Universe are in the UV. Moreover, the UV radiation field is a powerful astrochemical and photoionizing agent. Some of the most relevant problems in modern astrophysical research are related with the properties and abundance of this warm plasma in the Universe, e.g. the chemical enrichment of the Universe, the formation of the galaxies or the contribution of the InterGalactic Medium (IGM) to the total mass of the Universe. Also, this plasma is the primary tracer of some very important processes for the generation of life in our planet like the onset and stabilization of the Solar dynamo or the acceleration of organic chemistry processes in young planetary disks. This contribution represents a brief accounting of the BIG science to be carried out if new UV instrumentation becomes, eventually, available.

Citation Download Citation

Ana I. Gómez de Castro, Alain Lecavelier des Étangs, and Dieter Reimers "Fundamental problems in modern astrophysics requiring access to the ultraviolet range", Proc. SPIE 6266, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation II: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, 626608 (26 July 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.672868

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