High-resolution spectroscopic studies of carbon-containing species
High-resolution spectra of molecules and ions can provide valuable information fundamentally and astrochemically. From the fundamental side, high-resolution rovibrational spectroscopy allows molecular constants to be determined and provides evidence of theoretical assumptions. Work to this end was performed using cavity-ringdown spectroscopy and either a gas phase or supercritical fluid supersonic expansion source. Future work will focus on optimizing the supercritical fluid source, in addition to setting up a positive column for the study of molecular ions. Astrochemically, rovibrational and rovibronic spectroscopy can allow for the column density of species to be determined towards different sightlines in the interstellar medium. This is accomplished by either obtaining laboratory absorption spectra of species of interest to compare to astronomical observations or by using fitting procedures and modeling programs to analyze previously obtained astronomical spectra. Laboratory spectra from gas phase and supercritical phase 1,3,5-trioxane, and fitting and modeling procedures for the analysis of C3 are included. In addition, future goals for each project, including a proposed ion source for cavity ringdown spectroscopy, are described.
spectroscopy, astrochemistry, mid-IR, high-resolution, cavity-ringdown, supercritical fluid
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign