High-resolution Infrared Spectroscopy of small refractory molecules in the laboratory and in space

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This proposal is concerned with the molecular content around oxygen rich late-type stars and aims for a better understanding of the early formation processes of cosmic dust. Our contribution in the field is to provide high-resolution spectra of small transient molecules of refractory materials like titanium-, aluminium- or other metal oxides by performing laboratory experiments. We analyse the experimental data and provide accurate line lists for astrophysical detections of molecules. With international partners, but also on own initiative, we search for these molecules in stellar envelopes using high-resolution instruments on infrared telescopes like TEXES/IRTF or EXES/SOFIA. The observations are analysed in cooperation with astrochemical modelers and specialized astronomers for this kind of sources. Many species that are predicted to be existent in close vicinity of late-type stars have no permanent dipole moment and therefore cannot be observed at radio wavelengths, like linear AlO2, or lin-TiO2. The investigation of these, or related, molecules at infrared wavelengths in our laboratory will be the main topic of this work. This task will require the purchase of new tuneable mid-IR lasers. In addition, accompanying high-resolution infrared astrophysical observations will be performed.