Spectroscopy of molecules relevant to astrophysics and the atmosphere

我们对天体物理体——彗星、恒星、星云——以及恒星之间空间的分子组成的了解，完全来自于这些环境中的分子发出的光，以及它们从背景源吸收的光。这项研究计划包括在地球上的实验室里对这些分子进行研究，通过使用激光和光谱仪记录它们发射和吸收光的模式，详细地确定它们的物理特性。其中一些分子在化学上是稳定的，我们可以直接研究它们。另一些则反应性很强，因此一旦在陆地环境中被创造出来，它们只能存活很短的时间（尽管它们可以在太空中存活很长时间，因为那里几乎没有可以与之发生反应的物质）。我们通过放电和特别准备的气体射流来制造这些分子。由于它们形成的量很小，我们必须设计出细致的方法，以高灵敏度探测它们。

Our knowledge of the molecular composition of astrophysical bodies - comets, stars, nebulae - and of the space between the stars comes exclusively from the light that molecules in these environment emit, and from the light that they absorb from background sources. This research program involves the study of these molecules in laboratories on Earth to determine their physical properties in great detail by recording the patterns of their emission and absorption of light using lasers and spectrometers. Some of these molecules are chemically stable, and we can study them directly. Others are very reactive, and therefore live only a short time once created in a terrestrial environment (although they can survive for a long time in space, since there is very little matter there with which to react). We make these molecules via electrical discharges and in specially prepared jets of gas. Since they form only in small quantitites, we have to devise careful means to probe them with high sensitivity.