Towards understanding the astrochemistry of metal-compounds: Laboratory characterization of aluminum-bearing species through rotational spectroscopy and coupled-cluster calculations

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The formation of interstellar dust from molecular precursors plays an important role in the process of star formation and the accompanying interplay with the interstellar medium. From high resolution rotational spectra the molecular seeds of dust particles of late type stars can be identified, given that their spectral signatures are known from laboratory investigations. A recent example is the detection of TiO2 in the shell of giant YV CMa. Another important aspect of radio-astronomical observations is the determination of isotopic abundances form elements formed in the stellar nuclear-synthesis, which can be identified by means of laboratory spectroscopy.These two central questions will be addressed by a combined experimental and quantum chemical approach. The proposed research comprises spectroscopic investigations on small metal-bearing molecules, particularly aluminum- and titanium compounds, which will be produced in a supersonic jet. By means of high resolution spectroscopy precise absorption frequencies will be obtained, which will serve future astrophysical observations as fundamental prerequisite. The experiments will be supported by high level state-of-the-art quantum-chemical calculations.