The summerschool will consist of general introductory lectures in the four fields of molecular astrophysics. Below, these are subdivided in smaller topics. All lectures will be centered on the general theme of molecules in regions of star formation. Specifically, besides the general lectures that discuss the techniques relevant for the discipline, we envision lectures on those species and those reactions that regulate the degree of ionization in dark cloud cores (eg., H3+, HCO+, N2H+, ...), driven by cosmic rays and X-rays and the chemistry, excitation, and radiative transfer of those species that regulate the cooling of molecular clouds (eg., CO, H2O).

1) Molecular physics: Laboratory studies. This will include a discussion of laboratory techniques, molecular spectroscopy at submillimeter and millimeter wavelengths, and kinetic studies of gas phase and grain surface chemistry.

2) Molecular physics: Theory. This will include a discussion of quantum mechanical principles (energy levels, selection rules, strength, ...), the spectroscopy of diatomics, symmetric tops, and asymmetric tops, and basic collision theory.

3) Astrochemistry. This will include a discussion of basics of gas phase chemistry, including the types of reactions (ion-molecule, neutral-neutral, photo dissociation, electron recombination, radiative association, ...), In addition, there will be a discussion on the basics of surface chemistry (binding, mobility, hydrogenation, oxidation, ... ). These principles will be applied to the chemistry of molecular clouds and illustrated with some simple examples.

4) Radiative transfer. This will include a discussion of the radiative transfer equations, and their formal integration. This will be illustrated with simple examples, such as the two level system, ... ). In addition, the excitation of molecules in molecular clouds will be described (Boltzmann, subthermal, superthermal, ...). Finally, numerical methods will be described (escape probability, lambda iteration, accelerated lambda iteration, Monte Carlo, ...).

In addition, in order to prepare the students for their future careers, we will include a course on presentation techniques, short presentations by the participants on their own research, a course on ethical issues, intellectual property issues, and enterprise and project management skills.

Lecturers:

• Prof. A.G.G.M. Tielens (Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, Groningen)
• Prof.S. Schlemmer (Physikalisches Institut Universität zu Köln )
• prof. D. Flower (Department of physics, Durham University)
• prof. T. Millar (School of physics and astronomy, the university of Manchester)
• Dr. M. Spaans (Kapoteyn Astronomical Insitute. Rijksuniversiteit Groningen)