Room 101, School of Arts and Sciences
Central Campus
Molecules are found in various astronomical conditions, ranging from star-forming regions to the outer envelopes of carbon stars and from objects in our solar system to distant metal-poor galaxies. The complexity of these molecules ranges from simple diatomic molecules to amino acids such as glycine. Their association with various phases of star and planet formation are of particular interest; they can serve as building blocks of more complex molecules and provide an insight into the primordial composition of our planet Earth, thereby addressing the issue of "how life originated on Earth". Besides, they are valuable probes of the physical conditions of their environment and are related to the lifetime of the sources. Many molecules not found in terrestrial conditions are of interest for what they tell about the build-up of molecular complexity throughout the Universe. Therefore, the study of these molecules' formation is paramount. In this talk, I will discuss how the formation of these molecules can be studied using numerical simulations in diverse astrophysical sources, emphasising star-forming regions, comets, and exoplanets. Finally, I will briefly mention our group's efforts to develop science payloads for future planetary exploration programmes.
Kinsuk Acharyya is an Associate Professor in the Planetary Science Division at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad. His expertise is in astrochemistry, and his research focuses on the formation of complex molecules in various astrophysical environments, such as star-forming regions, comets, exoplanet atmospheres, and the early Universe. His work involves using numerical simulations to model molecular formation and conducting laboratory experiments on interstellar ice analogues to explore how organic molecules form in space. Dr Acharyya's research earned him the prestigious G. Mayo Greenberg Award. He has worked at various international institutions, like the Leiden Observatory (Netherlands) and the University of Virginia (USA). In recent years, he has expanded his focus to astrobiology, developing hydrological and water activity models to evaluate the potential for life on Mars. These works aim to understand how the conditions on Mars have supported microbial life in the past and the possibility of future habitability. He is a co-investigator on several planetary missions. Through his interdisciplinary work, Dr Acharyya continues making significant contributions to astrochemistry, planetary science, and astrobiology.
