NANOCOSMOS is a synergetic project, funded by the European Research Council (ERC), involving astronomers, physicists, chemists and engineers to understand the complex processes leading to the formation of cosmic dust. The project began in August 2014 and will end in July 2020.
Category: Dust
The project
Cosmic dust is made in evolved stars. However, the processes involved in the formation and evolution of dust remain so far unknown. NANOCOSMOS will take advantage of the new observational capabilities (increased angular resolution) of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to unveil the physical and chemical conditions in the dust formation zone of evolved stars. These observations in combination with novel top-level ultra-high vacuum experiments and astrophysical modelling will provide a cutting-edge view of cosmic dust.