Mikako Matsuura (UCL, London, UK), Thomas Henning (MPIA, Heidelberg, Germany), Eric Lagadec (ESO), Nigel J. Mason (Open University, UK), Tom Millar (University of Belfast, UK), Albert Zijlstra (University of Manchester, UK), Nigel Mason (Open University)

Carbon plays an important ingredient in the formation of cosmic dust and molecules, as well as itself plays a role in the energy balance of gas. The life cycle of carbon starts with atomic synthesis in stellar interiors. During the late stages of stellar evolution, carbon is ejected from stars into the interstellar medium. Many forms of carbonaceous molecules, such as acetylene, fullerenes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and carbonaceous dust grains have been found in evolved stars. Carbon has also been found in the form of molecules and carbonaceous dust in molecular clouds, star-forming regions and in the form of atoms in the interstellar media of nearby galaxies.

Despite carbon being found so commonly in space, the chemistry to form carbonaceous molecules and dust is largely unknown. The goal of this session is to discuss the last finding made by recent space and ground-based telescopes. The interpretation of these new results requires advances in laboratory techniques and modeling studies. We also discuss prospects of studying carbon chemistry with the ALMA.