Chemical complexity in nearby galaxies: the case of NGC 253

par Mathilde Bouvier (Observatoire de Leiden, Université de Leiden) – Salle Lyot

Abstract : A key topic in astrochemistry is to understand how complex species can form and survive under the harsh conditions of the interstellar medium (ISM). Of particular interest are the interstellar complex organic molecules (iCOMs), which are carbon-bearing molecules with at least six atoms and are believed to be relevant for prebiotic chemistry. In external galaxies, although the first iCOMs have been detected about three decades ago, their study in extragalactic regions are limited to a few sources and a handful of iCOMs. In this talk, I will present a broad overview of iCOMs in external galaxies and how they can provide us with crucial information about the star-forming gas in these galaxies. In particular, I will present the first study of iCOMs towards the starburst nuclei of the nearby galaxy NGC 253 performed in the context of the ALMA Comprehensive High-resolution Extragalactic Molecular Inventory (ALCHEMI) large program.