During his PhD studies, Niels Munch Mikkelsen investigated the structure and dynamics of H₂O and CO₂ ice on interstellar dust grains. H₂O and CO₂ are among the most abundant ice species in the interstellar medium. These ices have catalyzing abilities that are strongly dependent on their morphology, which makes ice nucleation and dynamics an important study in astrochemistry. Interactions between molecules in the ice are modelled primarily using machine learning, allowing for more ambitious studies. The results achieved contribute to a deeper understanding of the role H₂O and CO₂ ices play in an astronomical context.

The PhD study was completed at Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Tuesday, 9 September 2025 at 13:00
Place: Building 1525, room 626, Det Skæve Rum, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 120, 8000 Aarhus C
Title of PhD thesis: Understanding astrochemically relevant H₂O and CO₂ ices using machine learning
Contact information: Niels Munch Mikkelsen, e-mail: nielslektier@gmail.com, tel.: +45 52409438
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Céline Toubin, Department of Physics, Lille University, Frankrig
Associate Professor Volker Deringer, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, UK
Associate Professor Jill Miwa (chair), Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, Danmark
Main supervisor: Associate Professor Mie Andersen, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, Danmark
Co-supervisor: Professor Bjørk Hammer, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus Universitet, Danmark
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Natural Sciences/GSNS, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C