Mass Assembly and Chemical Complexity in the Milky Way

Abstract

(Sub-)millimeter spectral lines can be used not only to understand the chemical complexity and enrichment history of an observed portion of our Galaxy, but with spectrally resolved lines, they reveal the physical conditions, dynamics, and even the ionisation state and magnetic field strengths of the gas component of our Galaxy. They are prime tracers of mass assembly and structure formation across scales.

This white paper was submitted to ESO Expanding Horizons in support of next generation sub-mm facilities