Handbook of Astrochemistry

Astrochemistry is an interdisciplinary field centered on the study and the understanding of the chemistry that occurs in space; in the gas phase, on dust grain surfaces and in solid state materials (the grain themselves and icy mantles that grow on them). It focuses on the role that chemistry plays in the matter cycle and the influence it has on the chemical evolution of the Universe. The Handbook of Astrochemistry provides a comprehensive overview of Astrochemistry as a series of tutorial reviews by leading experts on all experimental, theoretical, computational and astronomical aspects of this field.Starting from an overview of the observational molecular Universe, it then moves on to describe the state-of-the-art knowledge in the fields of gas-phase and solid-phase laboratory and computational astrochemistry; its use in astrochemical modelling; and finally how observations of molecules shape our understanding of how stars and planets form and of the chemical origins of biology.Combining the knowledge and experience of an international team of experts, the Handbook of Astrochemistry is an authoritative, accessible guide for all those working in related fields.