Energetic particles, dubbed cosmic rays, with a wide range of compositions, are important in driving chemical and thermodynamic processes in the molecular interstellar medium. Cosmic ray protons and electrons are important regulators of gas-phase chemistry through non-thermal ionizations and excitations. Heavy fast ions play a vital role in the radiation chemistry in interstellar ices and the build of chemical complexity in ices to prebiotic molecules. In the dense, shielded regions, the cosmic ray-driven ionization sets the electron fraction, controlling the strength of non-ideal magneto-hydrodynamic processes.
The physics and chemistry of cosmic ray irradiation is naturally an inter- and multidisciplinary problem. Their acceleration and transport exist in the realm of high-energy astrophysics and plasma physics. Understanding their role in interstellar molecular chemistry requires investigations into fundamental microphysics, such as electron-molecular interactions, and laboratory and computational chemistry. Finally, placing the role of these small-scale processes in the larger astrophysical picture requires macroscopic chemical models and observations across a wide range of photon energies.
The conference aims to bring together an interdisciplinary group of experts, from astronomy, chemistry, and physics, to improve our understanding of radiation chemistry from the microscopic (nanometer) to macroscopic (parsec) scales. The conference will include a range of talks across different specializations, and discussion sections to bring these diverse communities together under a common goal and set of curiosities.
Note: To avoid conference fees, the conference is limited to about 50 participants. Therefore, we urge all participants that if they cannot make it to the conference to inform the SOC with sufficient notice.
Themes:
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Astronomical observations in a range of cosmic ray environments
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Cosmic-ray astrochemical modeling
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Cosmic-ray acceleration and transport through the interstellar medium
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Theoretical chemistry investigations into radiation chemistry
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Laboratory investigations into the radiation chemistry of ices
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Material and surface physics investigations of ion irradiation
Timetable:
Start: 13:00 Monday, March 15, 2027
End: 13:00 Friday, March 19, 2027
Registration and abstract submission open
Abstract deadline: Nov 30, 2026
Abstract decision: Mid Jan, 2027
Registration deadline: Feb 1, 2027
Invited speakers: TBA
SOC:
- Brandt Gaches (Universität Duisburg-Essen, DE, chair)
- Thomas Bisbas (Zhejiang Laboratory, CN)
- Emmanuel Dartois (Univ. Paris-Saclay, FR)
- Elena Redaelli (European Southern Observatory, DE)
- Marika Schleberger (Universität Duisburg-Essen, DE)
- Julia Tjus (Ruhr-Universität Bochum, DE)
LOC:
- Brandt Gaches
- Manuela Adam-Skowranek
- Abubakar Fadul