Abstract
Progress of modern astrophysics requires the access to the electromagnetic spectrum in the broadest energy range. The Ultraviolet is a fundamental energy domain since it is one of the most powerful tool to study plasmas at temperatures in the 3,000–300,000 K range as well as electronic transitions of the most abundant molecules in the Universe. Moreover, the UV radiation field is a powerful astrochemical and photoionizing agent.
The objective of this review is to describe the crucial issues that require access to the UV range. A summary has been added to the end with a more classic view of UV needs by astronomical object type; this approach is followed at length in the rest of the contributions of this issue.
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de Castro, A.I.G., Wamsteker, W., Barstow, M. et al. Fundamental Problems in Astrophysics. Astrophys Space Sci 303, 133–145 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10509-006-9057-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10509-006-9057-4