Title:  Prebiotic Molecules in the Interstellar Medium: Our Work on Chemical Modeling and AI-Enabled Tools

Speaker: 全冬晖

Institute: 之江实验室

Host: 冯思轶

Time: 2025.5.22 周四 14:30

Location: 物理楼 552

Abstract:

The interstellar medium (ISM) is a physically extreme but chemically active environment, characterized by low temperatures and densities that typically inhibit reactions. Despite these conditions, about 330 molecular species have been detected in the ISM to date, including a variety of complex organic molecules (COMs), some of which are considered potential precursors to biological compounds such as amino acids and nucleic acid bases—collectively referred to as prebiotic molecules.

In this talk, I will present our recent progress in modeling the chemistry of several classes of interstellar prebiotic molecules. We have developed and applied astrochemical models to simulate the physical and chemical environments of star-forming regions and quiescent clouds, explored reaction networks governing the formation and destruction of these molecules, and compared model predictions with observational data to identify key formation pathways and environmental conditions. In addition, we have begun incorporating AI tools into our workflow—specifically testing AI-assisted methods for reaction network expansion and for the identification of molecular lines in astronomical spectra. These efforts aim to improve both the completeness of our chemical models and the efficiency of spectral analysis.

Together, our work contributes to a deeper understanding of prebiotic chemistry in space and its implications for the origins of life, the habitability of planetary systems, and the broader search for biosignatures in the universe.

Bio:

Professor Donghui Quan is the deputy director and PI at the Research Center for Astronomical Computing of Zhejiang Laboratory. He obtained B.S. and M.S. degrees from University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) and Ph.D. from The Ohio State University (OSU). Following his doctoral studies, he held positions in University of Kentucky (UK), Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), and Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), before he moved to Zhejiang Laboratory. He has been awarded professorships in both chemistry and astronomy. His research primarily focuses on astrophysics and astrochemistry, with a particular emphasis on the theoretical study of interstellar molecules. He has developed multiple reaction network models based on chemical reaction kinetics to investigate the complex and diverse environments of astronomical systems. His work encompasses approximately 90% of the interstellar molecules and ions detected to date, elucidating their formation and destruction mechanisms. His contributions have been widely recognized in the global scientific community.