Precision Spectroscopy of Fullerenes: Towards Resolving Astrophysical Molecular Complexity

富勒烯的精密光谱学：解决天体物理分子复杂性

• 批准号: 2307443
• 负责人: Marissa Weichman
• 金额: $ 51.9万
• 依托单位: Princeton University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-08-01 至 2026-07-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2307443&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Precision; Spectroscopy; Fullerenes; Towards; Resolving

Fullerenes --- hollow, symmetric carbon cages --- represent the largest molecules identified in astronomical environments and have dramatically altered our understanding of molecular complexity in space. Given the prevalence of the fullerenes C60, C70, and C60+ in astronomical objects, other closely related fullerenes and fullerene derivatives are also expected to be present there, but because they are challenging to study in the laboratory, accurate data required for their astronomical identification are unavailable. Employing novel laboratory techniques, this research project will yield high-resolution measurements of the long-wave infrared (LWIR) spectra of fullerenes and their derivatives that are plausible candidates for astronomical detection and may be responsible for numerous unidentified infrared emission features observed in astronomical objects such as planetary nebulae. The newly acquired spectra will be compared with data from large infrared telescopes with the goal of identifying the molecules responsible for the unidentified features. This project will directly support and train a graduate student and a postdoctoral scholar in methods of advanced laboratory astrophysics, as well as provide research opportunities to undergraduate students.Using a custom-built cavity-enhanced frequency comb spectroscopy apparatus which combines high spectral resolution, high sensitivity, and broadband detection, the research team will measure rovibrationally resolved low-temperature LWIR spectra of fullerenes and fullerene derivatives in the 6.5-10.5 micrometer wavelength region. The measurements will serve as important benchmarks for astronomical observations and quantum calculations of large molecules. Systems for study will include the symmetric fullerene C70, as well as the polar fulleranes C60H2 and C59N, whose successful measurements will pave the way for investigations of yet more complex molecules including metallofullerenes (metal-bearing fullerenes) and endofullerenes (fullerenes encapsulating an atom or a molecule). This project will take advantage of strong academic-industrial partnerships to develop novel light sources, high-resolution spectrometers, and cameras with the potential to greatly advance precision infrared spectroscopy.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

富勒烯---空心，对称碳笼---代表了天文环境中鉴定出的最大分子，并极大地改变了我们对空间分子复杂性的理解。 鉴于天文对象中Fullerenes C60，C70和C60+的患病率，预计其他密切相关的富勒烯和富勒烯衍生物也将存在于此，但是由于它们在实验室中研究的挑战性，因此无法在实验室中研究其天文学识别所需的准确数据。 该研究项目采用新颖的实验室技术，将对富勒烯及其衍生物的长波红外（LWIR）光谱产生高分辨率的测量，这些光谱是可见的候选者，可用于天文学检测，并可能导致许多在星球上的天文学物体中观察到的许多未识别的红外排放特征。 将新获得的光谱与大型红外望远镜的数据进行比较，目的是识别负责身份不明特征的分子。 This project will directly support and train a graduate student and a postdoctoral scholar in methods of advanced laboratory astrophysics, as well as provide research opportunities to undergraduate students.Using a custom-built cavity-enhanced frequency comb spectroscopy apparatus which combines high spectral resolution, high sensitivity, and broadband detection, the research team will measure rovibrationally resolved low-temperature LWIR spectra of fullerenes and fullerene 6.5-10.5微米波长区域中的衍生物。 测量值将作为天文观测和大分子量子计算的重要基准。 研究系统将包括对称的富勒烯C70，以及极地富勒酸C60H2和C59N，其成功的测量结果将为研究更复杂的分子铺平道路，包括金属脂（金属含有金属含量的富勒烯）和内氟烯烯（富勒烯烯）（富勒烯烯（Fullererenes）（富富烯）。 该项目将利用强大的学术工业合作伙伴关系来开发新颖的光源，高分辨率光谱仪和相机，有可能大大提高精确的红外光谱光谱法。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并被认为是通过基金会的智力功能和广泛的影响来评估CRITERIA CRITERIA的评估。