The Surprising Chemical Richness of the Disk Around L2 Pup

Learn about the groundbreaking chemical analysis of the disk surrounding L2 Puppis in this 19-minute astronomy lecture. Explore the unique characteristics of this O-rich AGB star's disk structure, which represents the most thoroughly studied example of its kind. Delve into the complex chemical modeling that reveals unexpected abundances of carbon-bearing molecules within an oxygen-rich environment. Understand how the disk's physical structure influences its chemical composition, creating distinct zones where cosmic-ray induced chemistry produces complex organic molecules in the midplane while photoinduced chemistry generates carbon chains in outer regions. Discover how these findings can be applied as molecular tracers to identify and study disks around other AGB (Asymptotic Giant Branch) stars, advancing our understanding of stellar evolution and circumstellar chemistry.