ATOMIC DATA NEEDS FOR STUDIES OF THE INTERSTELLAR AND INTERGALACTIC MEDIUM

Modem astrophysical studies rely heavily on atomic data for derivation of physical parameters from observations, as well as for theoretical modeling. In few areas of astronomy is this interplay more lively than studies of interstellar and intergalactic matter. In this review I discuss four areas in which laboratory or theoretical data on atoms, ions, and solids can aid in the interpretation of astrophysical data: (1) Abundances and absorption-line oscillator strengths; (2) Hot plasma ionization and emission; (3) Chemically enriched supernova ejecta; and (4) Solid-state physics of interstellar dust grains.