Following Refractory Elements from Circumstellar Ejecta to the Interstellar Medium: A Combined Laboratory and Observational Study

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。根据该奖项，博士。Lucy Ziurys和DeWayne Halfen（亚利桑那大学）将通过正在进行的联合实验室/观测项目继续他们对难熔元素化学的研究。实验室研究将集中于新的金属氧化物、碳化物、氮化物和氰化物，如KO、AlO+、HMgNC和MgC。Ziurys小组已经记录了许多氧化物、碳化物和氰化物的光谱，这项新工作将是对人们熟知的技术的延伸。此外，实验室研究将扩大到包括可能的新的含磷物种。为此，Ziurys小组开发了一种新的磷源，并已成功应用。感兴趣的分子包括C3P， PCO, PNH+， NiP和FeP。后两种物质可能是星周磷的固态载体[Fe，Ni]3P的前体。提出的观测将需要在星周中寻找这些可能的新物种，在某些情况下（例如，对于PNH+），通过它们的纯旋转光谱来寻找星际气体。离子和中性的测量对于确定致密材料中难熔元素的主要载体是必不可少的，并且将有助于建立化学形成机制。这些研究还将有助于绘制气相分子和尘埃颗粒之间的联系，并允许对元素消耗进行更定量的评估。目标源列表将包括渐近巨星分支和超巨星包层（富含氧和碳）、行星状星云和精选的分子云。这项研究是高度跨学科的，将涉及观察和实验方法的相互作用。大部分研究将由研究生和本科生进行，其中大多数是女性，她们将接受非常独特的教育，掌握多种技能，使她们能够更好地作为科学家为社会做出贡献。Ziurys博士积极参与跨学科课程的开发和基础分子光谱学网站的建设。高灵敏度气相实验室光谱仪的发展也与国防和国土安全有关，特别是在太赫兹频率下。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). Under this award Drs. Lucy Ziurys and DeWayne Halfen (University of Arizona) will continue their investigation of the chemistry of the refractory elements through the ongoing joint laboratory/observational program. The laboratory investigations will focus on new metal oxide, carbide, nitride, and cyanide species such as KO, AlO+, HMgNC, and MgC. The Ziurys group has already recorded spectra of numerous oxides, carbides, and cyanide species, and this new work will be an extension of well-understood techniques. In addition, the laboratory studies will be expanded to include possible new phosphorus-bearing species. A new phosphorus source has been developed in the Ziurys group for this purpose, which has already been successfully employed. Molecules of interest include C3P, PCO, PNH+, NiP, and FeP. The latter two species are likely precursors to schreibersite, [Fe,Ni]3P, the proposed solid-state carrier of circumstellar phosphorus. The proposed observations will entail searching for these possible new species in circumstellar and, in certain cases (i.e., for PNH+), interstellar gas via their pure rotational spectra. Measurements of both ions and neutrals are essential in identifying the major carriers of the refractory elements in dense material, and will aid in establishing chemical formation mechanisms. These studies will also help draw the connection between gas-phase molecules and dust grains, and allow for a more quantitative evaluation of elemental depletions. The target source list will include asymptotic giant branch and supergiant envelopes (both oxygen- and carbon-rich), planetary nebulae, and select molecular clouds.This research is highly interdisciplinary and will involve the interplay of observational and experimental methods. The bulk of the research will be carried out by graduate and undergraduate students, the majority of which are female, who will receive a very unique education with diverse skills, enabling them to better contribute as scientists to society. Dr. Ziurys is actively involved in the development of interdisciplinary courses and a website for basic molecular spectroscopy. The development of highly sensitive gas-phase laboratory spectrometers is also relevant to defense and homeland security, particularly in the terahertz frequency regime.