Laboratory astrophysics: key to understanding the Universe

TL;DR

Laboratory astrophysics provides essential data and understanding of physical and chemical processes crucial for interpreting astronomical observations and unraveling the origins of cosmic structures and life-building molecules.

Contribution

This overview highlights the vital role of laboratory data and experiments in advancing astrophysics, emphasizing recent progress and future needs.

Findings

Laboratory collision experiments elucidate planetesimal formation processes.

Advanced laboratory techniques improve analysis of extraterrestrial materials.

Prioritization of data needs is essential for future astronomical research.

Abstract

This brief overview stresses the importance of laboratory data and theory in analyzing astronomical observations and understanding the physical and chemical processes that drive the astrophysical phenomena in our Universe. This includes basic atomic and molecular data such as spectroscopy and collisional rate coefficients, but also an improved understanding of nuclear, plasma and particle physics, as well as reactions and photoprocesses in the gaseous and solid state that lead to chemical complexity and building blocks for life. Systematic laboratory collision experiments have provided detailed insight into the steps that produce pebbles, bricks and ultimately planetesimals starting from sub-$\mu$m-sized grains. Sample return missions and meteoritic studies benefit from increasingly sophisticated laboratory machines to analyze materials and provide compositional images on nanometer scales. Prioritization of future data requirements will be needed to cope with the increasing data streams from a diverse range of future astronomical facilities within a constrained laboratory astrophysics budget.