Expertise in Research and Complementarity
The Meudon team is lead by Dr E. Roueff (ER). ER has an
interdisciplinary expertise, covering the study of atomic and molecular
processes and astrophysical modelling. She chairs (with Boulanger,
IAS-Orsay) the French National Program ''Physico-Chimie du Milieu
Interstellaire'' supported by three scientific departments of the
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique: Sciences de l'Univers,
Sciences Physiques et de la Matière, and Sciences Chimiques (SC)
and the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES). ER was also the team
leader of the astrophysical groups involved in the successful TMR
network on Astrophysical Chemistry (1998-2002), led by Professor Ian
Smith (Birmingham now at Rennes). She has in addition an active
participation in the "Ecole Doctorale d'Astronomie et d'Astrophysique
d'Ile de France". The team covers 4 specific expertises within the
proposed network: quantum chemistry, collisional excitation,
astrophysical modelling and databases. The Meudon team has collaborated
previously with Durham on the collisional excitation of H2.
Complementary work has also been performed with the Grenoble group on
collision and modelling studies. The team is engaged with the Madrid
team both on modelling of carbon chains in various interstellar
environments and on computation of potential surfaces prior to
collisional excitation studies. A fruitful collaboration with Durham
has resulted in the development of unique chemical interstellar models.
The team takes part in the international effort to compare Photon
Dominated Regions model predictions with groups in Leiden and Cologne.
The database project on collisional excitation led by Dubernet is an
active collaboration between Meudon, Grenoble, and Bordeaux.
Expertise in Training and Knowledge Transfer
The early stage researchers (ESR) will be integrated in the teams of
the Observatoire de Paris. ESRs are expected to attend the programme of
research seminars, which include (at least) a seminar every week in
astrophysics (many more seminars are available in the universities of
the Paris environment). Furthermore, the Meudon is the official node of
the Ecole Doctorale d'Astronomie et d'Astrophysique d'Ile de France.
Numerous courses are available, for example 'The Interstellar Medium'
and 'Atomic and Molecular Physics', which are relevant for the proposed
topics within the network. N. Feautrier and A. Spielfiedel are part of
a collaborative program dedicated to the training of Tunisian students.
Members of the team regularly attend and present work at national and
international meetings. Over the past four years, the Meudon team has
supervised 6 PhD students (3M, 3F), of whom 4 have graduated and 2 are
current students. ER and JLB have also supervised 2 PDFs (2M).
Involvement of Key Scientific Staff.
| Name | Position | M/F | Expertise |
| E. Roueff | Astronomer | F | molecular physics, astrophysical modelling |
| N. Moreau | Engineer | M | database |
| G. Damien | Engineer | M | software |
| M.L.Dubernet | Assistant Astronomer | F | collision dynamics, Data bases |
| N. Feautrier | Directeur de Recherches | F | molecular physics |
| F. Dayou | ATER | M | Interaction/reactive dynamics |
| M. Gerin | Chargée de recherches | F | astrophysical modelling |
| A. Grosjean | Associated Professor | M | collision and database |
| J. Le Bourlot | Professor U. P7 | M | astrophysical modelling |
| F. Le Petit | Assistant Astronomer | M | astrophysical modelling, database |
| A. Spielfiedel | Chargée de recherches | F | Quantum chemistry |
Significant References
1. Collisional excitation
rates of H2O with para-H2 :I. Pure
rotational excitation rates at very low temperature. M.L. Dubernet
and A. Grosjean, A & A, 390, 793 (2002)
2. D/HD transition in Photon Dominated Regions,F. Le Petit, E. Roueff,
J. Le Bourlot, A & A, 390, 369 (2002)