Spectroscopy of molecules relevant to astrophysics and the atmosphere

我们对天体--彗星、恒星、星云--的分子组成以及恒星之间空间的了解，完全来自这些环境中的分子发出的光，以及它们从背景光源吸收的光。 该研究计划涉及在地球上的实验室中研究这些分子，通过使用激光和光谱仪记录其发射和吸收光的模式来详细确定其物理特性。其中一些分子是化学稳定的，我们可以直接研究它们。 另一些则非常活泼，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，因为那里几乎没有什么物质可以与之反应）。 我们通过放电和特别准备的气体喷射来制造这些分子。 由于它们只在少量中形成，我们必须设计谨慎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.