Interstellar physics from milli to Mega parsec
The Interstellar Institute was created as an answer to the inherent difficulty of studying the utterly complex and diverse physics of the evolution of diffuse baryonic matter. The I2 sessions are designed as opportunities to bring together numerical, theoretical, methodological, and observational perspectives through close interaction among researchers across the field. The goal is to identify and discuss key interstellar problems at all scales, examining the physical processes that govern the global evolution of gas and dust. The Interstellar Institute will reconvene in 2026 to continue its exploration.
Diffuse baryons in the Universe reside in the interstellar, circumgalactic, intergalactic, and intracluster media. Across these environments, baryonic matter evolves over many orders of magnitude in temperature, density, and velocity. Observational diagnostics and numerical approaches vary widely in order to characterize matter from the warm–hot intergalactic medium (WHIM) down to dense gravitationally bound cores. Comparing techniques, questions, and results across scales and environments is profoundly enriching, providing critical insight into the physical channels through which matter and energy flow along the astrophysical cascade.
At II8, we return to the vision outlined in The Grand Cascade: to juxtapose expertise across diffuse environments and reveal the hidden coherence of the “great power law in the sky.” By connecting scales, methods, and communities, we seek to refine our broader picture of cosmic structure formation.
Scientific Organizing Committee
Susan Clark | Stanford University, USA
Naomi McClure-Griffiths | Australian National University, Australia
Marc-Antoine Miville-Deschênes | Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France
Josh Peek | Space Telescope Science Institute, USA
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