Organic dust in the interstellar medium

Abstract

The possibility that complex organics are a major component of interstellar dust is discussed. Comparison between astronomical infrared spectra and laboratory spectra of amorphous carbonaceous materials suggests that organics of mixed aromatic-aliphatic structures are widely present in circumstellar, interstellar, and galactic environments. Scenarios for the synthesis of these compounds in the late stages of stellar evolution is presented. We also explore the relationship between interstellar organic dust and complex organics found in the Solar System.