Chirped-pulse Fourier transform millimeterwave spectroscopy on transient molecules of astrophysical relevance (CP-FTMM Astro)

• Applicants: Dr. Guido Fuchs; Professor Dr. Thomas Giesen
• Subject Area: Astrophysics and Astronomy ; Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas ; Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry
• Term: from 2019 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 417719177

Modern telescopes like the ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter Array) observatory in Chile, allow for a yet unprecedented view onto complex astronomical objects like late-type stars and their chemical environment. Dying stars eject huge parts of their mass into outer space in form of gas-phase species and dust, thus being the major driver of cosmic chemical renewal. New observational data have shown how little we know about the molecular inventory of these objects as it became apparent that the carriers of a substantial part of the emission lines cannot yet be identified. This is mainly due to the lack of laboratory data, i.e. specifically that of high resolution spectra in the submm range of small molecules. To improve the situation and thus fully exploit the capabilities of large facilities like ALMA, APEX, and IRAM30m, dedicated experiments in the 100-500 GHz region on transient, mostly refractory materials (C, Si, metals, …) bearing molecules, are required. New developments in the microwave and submm wavelength region utilizing powerful chirped pulses now enable high resolution emission experiments around 100 GHz that are perfectly suited to satisfy the above mentioned spectroscopic needs. It is our goal to introduce, improve and use the full potential of this new method in the laboratory and to apply it to astrophysical quests related to small reactive molecules by building up a new experimental setup fully dedicated to spectroscopically identify new molecular species of small to medium size (3-15 atoms). In addition, a combined Millimeter-infrared (two photon) experiment on the same class of species is planned to investigate vibrationally excited molecules via their rotational spectra.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants