LabAstro - Laboratory Astrophysics of Cold Ions

The interstellar medium, the vast space between stars, is a cosmic laboratory with a complex chemistry. It consists of gas and dust, mainly concentrated in clouds and nebulae exposed to cosmic radiation. Here, molecules, atoms, ions, electrons, and photons interact, forming species from simple diatomic to complex organic compounds.

In our laboratory, we recreate these extreme conditions using helium nanodroplets - tiny, ultracold (0.4 K) clusters of helium atoms that act as gentle nanoreactors. Within them, atoms and molecules are trapped and cooled, enabling controlled interactions and the formation of larger species. We employ and develop advanced experimental techniques to study these molecules and their reaction pathways. By mimicking space chemistry at the molecular level, we will identify molecular ions and reveal their reaction pathways, offering insights into the chemical complexity of our Universe.

Address

Institut für Ionenphysik und Angewandte Physik
Universität Innsbruck
Technikerstraße 25/3
6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Contact

Administration: Alice Beck, MA
E-Mail: Alice.Beck(at)uibk.ac.at
Tel.: +43 (0) 512 - 507 52661

Group leader: Ass.-Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Gruber
E-Mail: E.Gruber(at)uibk.ac.at
Tel.: +43 (0) 512 - 507 52670