In recent years the number of molecules that have been observed in interstellar space has grown rapidly. The observational success goes hand-in-hand with the need for accurate laboratory data on molecular formation and destruction processes to understand interstellar reaction networks. An important class of reactions for the formation of interstellar molecules are ion-molecule reactions, as they are known to proceed efficiently even at low temperatures. On the other hand, dissociative recombination with free electrons often terminates an ionic reaction chain and determines which neutral products are being formed. In order to model the abundance of individual species reliably, energy-resolved rate coefficients for all competing processes are needed.At the Max-Planck-Institute for Nuclear Physics (MPIK) we aim to combine experimental techniques to yield a comprehensive description of the relevant processes for chosen important species. The new Cryogenic Storage Ring (CSR) -- currently under development at MPIK -- will be equipped with a low-energy electron cooler and a neutral-atom beamline. These facilities will allow for absolute rate coefficient measurements of electron recombination and ion-atom collision processes, involving cold molecular ions.The topics that we intend to study in the near future include deuterium fractionation reactions, the formation of water in space, and the onset of organic chemistry.

Combining experimental techniques for comprehensive astrophysical case studies

247th National Meeting (2014)

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