The Interstellar Medium and Star Formation

The aim of the course is to provide the students with a description of our current knowledge about the physics and chemistry of the interstellar medium and the processes by which stars and planets form. Some of the items that will be discussed in detail are:

• Overview of interstellar matter across the electromagnetic spectrum
• Multi-phase interstellar medium. Gas and dust content of the Galaxy
• Nebular spectra of active galactic nuclei and quasars
• Photoionized nebulae
• Sophisticated nebular modelling, including computer models
• Molecular clouds: physics of H2 and CO molecules, interstellar chemistry
• Initial conditions for the formation of stars
• Formation of stars: Protostellar collapse, formation of disks, outflows, chemical evolution of protostars and young stellar objects
• Interstellar gas dynamics