Millimeter-Wave Laboratory and Observational Studies of HighTemperature Interstellar Chemistry

在过去的二十年里，至少从星际气体中检测到了70种不同的化合物。这些分子中的绝大多数是根据它们的旋转光谱确定的，这些光谱大部分是在用射电望远镜观察之前在实验室测量的。因此，通过实验室射电天文学和高分辨率分子光谱学的共生关系，成功地观测和识别了星际分子。Ziurys博士将利用这一奖项启动一个新的研究项目，将她的观测工作与支持实验室的工作结合起来。这项实验室工作将使她能够测量潜在的新星际分子的旋转光谱，从而测量其静止频率。将要研究的物种是那些可能与星际云中的高温有关的物种。其中包括硅、镁、铁、铝和钙分子。该奖项是根据美国国家科学基金会的女性职业发展研究机会奖项目颁发的。

Over the past twenty years at least seventy different chemical compounds have been detected from interstellar gas. The overwhelming majority of these molecules have been identified on the basis of their rotational spectra, which for the most part were measured in the laboratory prior to their observation with radio telescopes. Successful observation and identification of interstellar molecules have therefore been accomplished through the symbiotic relationship of radio astronomy and high resolution molecular spectroscopy in the laboratory. Dr. Ziurys will use this award to initiate a new research program which will combine her observational work with a supporting laboratory effort. The laboratory work will enable her to measure the rotational spectra, and hence rest frequencies, of potential new interstellar molecules. The species to be studied are those likely to be associated with high temperatures in interstellar clouds. These include molecules of silicon, magnesium, iron, aluminum, and calcium. This award is made under the Research Opportunities for Women Career Advancement Award program at the NSF.