Experimental Capabilities of The Laboratory Apparatus for Simulation of Solid-state Astrochemical Reactions

Formation of complex organic molecules (COM) in the interstellar medium is a fundamental scientific problem, the solution of which requires an integrated interdisciplinary approach based on a combination of laboratory experiments, theoretical calculations of the electronic structure, modeling of conditions and processes of the interstellar medium, and astronomical observations. A unique new generation scientific apparatus for the study of cryogenic surface processes (CSP) in the interstellar medium has been built at the Center for Laboratory Astrophysics (CLA) of the Samara Branch of Lebedev Physical Institute. The products of the reactions are detected using photoionization mass spectrometry (PIMS). COM isomers can be identified by their ionization energies using tunable vacuum ultraviolet radiation. The report will present the main directions and results of the CLA - the experimental tests of the apparatus, calculations of ionization energies and potential energy surfaces of reactions and joint experimental results on the model astrochemical reactions in ice films.