Formation and Evolution of Solids in Space, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1999
Nato Science Series C: Series, Vol. 523

Interstellar dust, meteorites, interplanetary dust particles (IDP's), the zodiacal light, comets, comet dust. Where do they come from, what are they made of, how do they evolve, and finally, are there connections between them? These are the questions discussed in this volume by some of the world's outstanding experts in their respective fields. The techniques used for studying the `small' solid objects of space are thoroughly discussed. Some of the methods involve a synthetic approach using the laboratory to create analog environments and materials which are believed to resemble those in space. Others use direct laboratory methods with state-of-the-art analytical tools to study the material of the objects themselves - meteorites, IDP'S. And others apply the latest in astronomical facilities to provide quantitative data on the material properties of the solids which can only be deduced from remote observations, These are compared with the laboratory results. In one instance there was a possibility to study a solar system body in situ and that was the case of comet Halley and some of the results of these studies obtained from space `laboratories' launched to meet it are discussed here. Finally, there are theoretical papers which are aimed at bridging the results of observational and laboratory methods.
This book is recommended to senior scientists as well as graduate students who wish to pursue research in interstellar and solar system astronomy and their connections.

Observational constraints on interstellar dust composition.- The nature and evolution of interstellar organics.- Tracking the organic refractory component of interstellar dust.- MID — infrared spectropolarimetry and the composition of cosmic dust.- Method of regularization and models of interstellar dust.- Models and observations of gas-grain interactions in star-forming regions.- Modified models of gas/grain interactions.- The organic chemistry of TMC-1 revisited.- Molecular gas phase counterparts to solid state grain mantle features: Implication for gas/grain chemistry.- Diffuse interstellar bands - The 75th anniversary.- Observational constraints on the carriers of the Diffuse Interstellar Bands (DIBs).- Laboratory simulation of processes in interstellar ices.- Cosmic dust and laboratory simulation: Wishes, results and open problems.- Stardust mineralogy: The laboratory approach.- Infrared spectroscopy of cosmic dust analogues at low temperatures.- Matrix isolation of amorphous carbon grains in boron-oxide glass: Far UV spectroscopy.- Matrix-isolated nano-sized soot grains and their relation to solid carbon in space.- Temperature dependence of the FIR absorption coefficient for carbon and silicate grains.- Morphology, composition and MIR-FIR spectroscopy of silicates of astrophysical interest.- IR reflectance spectroscopy of Martian analogues.- Properties of dust producing stars.- Dust formation in supernovae.- The destruction of interstellar dust.- Dust coagulation and the structure of dust aggregates in space.- Solids and volatiles in comets: From cometary nuclei to cometary atmospheres.- In situ measurements of evolved solids in space with emphasis on cometary particles.- Interstellar material in meteorites.- Interstellar Dust - Evidence from interplanetary dustparticles.- The Dust around Vega-like stars: A bridge from YSOs to comets.- Accreting gas and dust in pre-main sequence disk systems.- Observations of dust and molecules in the disks and envelopes of young stellar objects.- Release mechanisms of volatile molecules in amorphous H2O ice.- Scattering by complex systems I: Methods.- Scattering by complex systems II: Results from microwave measurements.- Dynamical structure of the Zodiacal cloud.- List of contributors.- List of participants.