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Broad-band high-resolution rotational spectroscopy for laboratory astrophysics

Abstract: We present a new experimental set-up devoted to the study of gas phase molecules and processes using broad-band high spectral resolution rotational spectroscopy. A reactor chamber is equipped with radio receivers similar to those used by radio astronomers to search for molecular emission in space. The whole range of the Q (31.5-50 GHz) and W bands (72-116.5 GHz) is available for rotational spectroscopy observations. The receivers are equipped with 16 × 2.5 GHz fast Fourier transform spectrometers with a spectral resolution of 38.14 kHz allowing the simultaneous observation of the complete Q band and one-third of the W band. The whole W band can be observed in three settings in which the Q band is always observed. Species such as CH3CN, OCS, and SO2 are detected, together with many of their isotopologues and vibrationally excited states, in very short observing times. The system permits automatic overnight observations, and integration times as long as 2.4 × 105 s have been reached. The chamber is equipped with a radiofrequency source to produce cold plasmas, and with four ultraviolet lamps to study photochemical processes. Plasmas of CH4, N2, CH3CN, NH3, O2, and H2, among other species, have been generated and the molecular products easily identified by the rotational spectrum, and via mass spectrometry and optical spectroscopy. Finally, the rotational spectrum of the lowest energy conformer of CH3CH2NHCHO (N-ethylformamide), a molecule previously characterized in microwave rotational spectroscopy, has been measured up to 116.5 GHz, allowing the accurate determination of its rotational and distortion constants and its search in space

 Authorship: Cernicharo J., Gallego J., López-Pérez J., Tercero F., Tanarro I., Beltrán F., De Vicente P., Lauwaet K., Alemán B., Moreno E., Herrero V., Doménech J., Ramírez S., Bermúdez C., Peláez R., Patino-Esteban M., López-Fernández I., García-Álvaro S., García-Carreño P., Cabezas C., Malo I., Amils R., Sobrado J., Diez-González C., Hernandéz J., Tercero B., Santoro G., Martínez L., Castellanos M., Jiménez B., Pardo J., Barbas L., López-Fernández, J.A., Aja, B., Leuther, A., Martín-Gago, J.A.

 Fuente: Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2019, 626, A34

 Publisher: EDP Sciences

 Publication date: 01/06/2019

 No. of pages: 29

 Publication type: Article

 DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201935197

 ISSN: 0004-6361,1432-0746

 Spanish project: FIS2016-77726-C3-1-P

 Publication Url: https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201935197

Authorship

CERNICHARO QUINTANILLA, JOSÉ

JUAN DANIEL GALLEGO PUYOL

LÓPEZ PÉREZ, JOSÉ ANTONIO

TERCERO MARTÍNEZ, FÉLIX

TANARRO ONRUBIA, ISABEL

BELTRÁN MARTÍNEZ, FRANCISCO JAVIER

VICENTE ABAD, PABLO DE

LAUWAET, KOEN

ALEMÁN LLORENTE, BELÉN

MORENO ATAHONERO, MARÍA ELENA

HERRERO RUIZ DE LOIZAGA, VÍCTOR JOSÉ

DOMÉNECH MARTÍNEZ, JOSÉ LUIS

RAMÍREZ JIMÉNEZ, SANDRA I.

BERMÚDEZ ARIAS, CELINA

PELÁEZ DE FUENTES, RAMÓN JAVIER

PATINO ESTEBAN, MARÍA

LÓPEZ FERNÁNDEZ, ISAAC

GARCÍA ÁLVARO, SONIA

GARCÍA CARREÑO, PABLO