What are the most urgent data needs of the astronomy and astrophysics community? What key questions about our Universe are being left unanswered because of a lack of accurate atomic and molecular data?

The analysis of astronomical spectra underpins key areas of astrophysical research including stellar structure, exoplanet properties, nucleosynthesis, the variation of fundamental constants and galactic formation and evolution. However, despite the large investment of time, money and resources in recording spectra of astrophysical objects at unprecedented resolutions, the quantity and quality of the existing laboratory data critical for their interpretation lies far from the current needs of the astronomers. The lack of accurate atomic and molecular data remains the Achilles' heel of astrophysics.

This session will further discussion between astronomers with requirements for atomic and molecular data and experimentalists and theoreticians who can provide that data. Closer integration and knowledge transfer between the astronomy and laboratory astrophysics communities are essential for the continued development of both fields. As a result of this special session, we hope to foster new collaborations for the future, which, through targeted measurements and calculations, will accelerate the rate at which data needs can be met and the most exciting questions about our Universe will be answered.

Programme

• Urgent atomic and molecular data needs of astronomers
• Laboratory-measured atomic and molecular data
• Theoretical calculations
• Databases
• Knowledge transfer between data producers and users

Invited speakers

Scientific organisers

Maria Teresa Belmonte (Chair, University of Valladolid, Spain), Christian Clear (Chair, Imperial College London, UK), Carlos Allende Prieto (Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias IAC, Spain), Henrik Hartman (Malmö University, Sweden), Gillian Nave (National Institute of Standards and Technology, USA) and Patrick Palmeri (University of Mons, Belgium)

Contact

For any queries, please contact the session chairs: mariateresa.belmonte @ uva.es and christian.clear @ imperial.ac.uk