280227 VO Cosmic Matter Circuit. I (2009S)

In the Universe the baryonic matter exists in various states, caused by energetic and dynamical processes and mainly determined by gravitation and energy release of massive stars. These drive matter cycles on different spatial and temporal scales. This lecture is focussing on the matter cycle on small scales of stars with their direct interstellar environment. It comprises star formation in the cool cores of molecular clouds, stellar evolution and the element production during the lives of stars, stellar mass loss and the final stages of stellar evolution. The tight coupling of stars with their surrounding interstellar medium, their influence on the chemical, dynamical and energetic state of the interstellar medium and the interstellar matter cycle are comprehensively considered.