Dust Formation in Astrophysical Environments: The Importance of Kinetics

Astronomical observations and analysis of stardust isolated from meteorites have revealed a highly diverse interstellar circumstellar grain inventory, including wide range amorphous materials crystalline compounds (silicates carbon). This diversity reflects the stellar sources injecting solids into medium each with its own physical characteristics such as density, temperature elemental composition highlights importance kinetics rather than thermodynamics in formation these compounds. Based upon extensive literature on soot terrestrial settings, detailed kinetic pathways been identified for carbon dust C-rich ejecta. These incorporated astronomical models environments. In recent years, chemical routes nucleation oxides silicates focus much research. aspects will be reviewed “lessons” planetary atmospheres drawn emphasis influence structure