Spectroscopic Investigations of Exotic Carbon, Silicon and Sulfur Molecules

在这个奖项中，由实验物理化学计划与银河天文学计划的部分共同资助，史密森学会天体物理天文台的帕特里克撒迪厄斯和迈克尔麦卡锡将研究假设的碳和硅分子的旋转和电子光谱，使用傅里叶变换微波光谱结合超声分子束，长路径毫米波光谱和激光光谱。许多新分子的转动光谱，包括较大的纯碳簇，类似的半导体和混合金属簇，反应性六元碳环及其衍生物，以及其他含有杂原子，如N，O，S或P的分子，将被检测到可用的仪器。 随着计划中的仪器改进，将检测和研究更大的活性物质。要检查的分子在工业过程中的活性中间体中起着重要作用，包括燃烧和半导体生长，并且与天文学相关，因为它们在组成和结构上与已经在致密分子云或从演化恒星流出的气体中检测到的分子相似。 这项研究预计将影响科学研究和技术创新的许多领域，因为碳和硅化学在燃烧，材料科学和天文学等领域发挥着重要作用。 许多待研究的活性分子到目前为止还鲜为人知;事实上，在光谱的任何区域都很少有人被识别。学生和合作者将受益于他们在这个研究项目的积极参与。

In this award, supported by the Experimental Physical Chemistry Program with partial cofunding from the Galactic Astronomy Program, Patrick Thaddeus and Michael McCarthy of the Smithsonian Institution Astrophysical Observatory will study the rotational and electronic spectra of postulated carbon and silicon molecules using Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy in combination with supersonic molecular beam, long-path millimeter-wave spectroscopy, and laser spectroscopy. The rotational spectra of many new molecules, including larger pure carbon clusters, similar semiconductor and mixed-metal clusters, reactive six-member carbon rings and their derivatives, and other molecules containing heteroatoms such as N, O, S, or P, will be detected with available instrumentation. With planned instrument refinements, even larger reactive species will be detected and studied. The molecules to be examined play important roles in reactive intermediates in industrial processes, including combustion and semiconductor growth, and are astronomically relevant because they are similar in composition and structure to molecules that have already been detected in dense molecular clouds or in the gas streaming away from evolved stars. This research is expected to impact a number of areas of scientific research and technological innovation, because of the important role that carbon and silicon chemistry play in fields as diverse as combustion, materials science, and astronomy. Many of the reactive molecules to be studied are little known so far; in fact, few of them have been identified in any region of the spectrum. Students and collaborators will benefit from their active involvement in this research project.