Written in stone: dust formation in the Universe
 
Dr Ciska Kemper (Institute of Astronomy &  Astrophysics, Academia Sinica)

Abstract
========

In this talk I will discuss the infrared properties of dust in our own
and external galaxies. Specific minerals can be identified from their
spectroscopic signature, and the presence of these minerals puts
constraints on the formation and processing history of grains. I will
discuss the main sources of dust in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Due to
its vicinity and its face-on view it is possible to study the
individual components, such as stars and molecular clouds. The SAGE
and HERITAGE projects have used the Spitzer and Herschel space
telescopes respectively to survey the entire LMC, and here I will
report on findings from these surveys. I will also discuss potential
origins of dust in the early universe, to explain the high dust masses
observed in quasars at redshifts of ~6.