The fundamental role that Astrochemistry plays into regulating the processes that in interstellar clouds lead to the formation of stars, and how these processes concur into affecting the shape and the dynamics of galaxies and hence into showing the Universe in the way it appears to us is well established. Together with those occurring in the gas phase a special relevance is recognized to processes that involve interstellar dust grains, the solid component of matter diffused among stars. The school on "Solid State Astrochemistry", held at the Ettore Majorana Centre for Scientific Culture in Erice (Sicily) from the 5th to the 15th of June 2000, was the fifth course of the International School of Space Chemistry. In spite of its very focused aim it was attended by 66 participants from 17 different countries, that in the very special environment provided by the Majorana Centre, discussed in great details the various aspects of the subject.

Inhalt

Preface. The interstellar medium: an overview; D.A. Williams. Important open questions in astrochemistry: how can dust help? D.A. Williams. In dust we trust: an overview of observations and theories of interstellar dust; A.Li, J.M. Greenberg. Cosmic silicates: a review; T. Henning. Interstellar chemistry in the gas and on the surfaces of dust particles; E, Herbst. How to identify diffuse band carriers; J. Krelowski. Matrix and gas-phase spectroscopic studies of possible DIB carriers; J. Fulara. Chemical reactions on solid surfaces of astrophysical interest; O. Biham, V. Pirronello, G. Vidali. From interstellar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and ice to astrobiology; L.J. Allamandola, D.M. Hudgins. Ice chemistry in space; P. Ehrenfreund, H. Fraser. Ion interactions with solids: astrophysical applications; E.M. Bringa, R.E. Johnson. Trans-Neptunian objects; M.A. Barucci, J. Romon. Chemical models: where to start from? O.M. Shalabiea. The chemical evolution of TMC-1; M.S. El-Nawawy. The model of chemical composition of Halley dust particles; B.M. Andreichikov, G.G. Dolnikov, Yu.P. Dikov. List of participants. Index.