Microwave and synchrotron far infrared spectroscopy of transient molecules

从星际云到遥远卫星大气层的天文来源的分子组成非常令人感兴趣，因为它提供了对我们宇宙演化的洞察。例如，在恒星之间的云层中已知的超过180个分子，包括醇、醛和酮等有机化合物；其中一些被认为是益生菌的组成部分。这些星际云最终形成了新的太阳系，它们的化学成分是用望远镜追踪的，以探测单个分子吸收或发射光线时的不同分子指纹。这些独特的特征通常涉及分子旋转的变化，并在微波(MW)至远红外(FIR)波长发生。每年在偏远来源检测几种新化合物是用来完善它们的化学演化模型，但明确识别新物种需要基于实验室的光谱进行比较。

The molecular composition of astronomical sources, from interstellar clouds to the atmospheres of remote moons, is of great interest as it provides insights into the evolution of our Universe. For example, more than 180 molecules are known in clouds between stars including organic compounds such as alcohols, aldehydes and ketones; some of which are thought to be prebiotic building blocks. These interstellar clouds ultimately form new solar systems and their chemical composition is tracked using telescopes to detect distinct molecular fingerprints as individual molecules absorb or emit light. These unique features most often involve changes in molecular rotation and occur at microwave (MW) through far infrared (FIR) wavelengths. Detection of several new compounds in remote sources each year is used to refine models of their chemical evolution but the unambiguous identification of novel species requires laboratory-based spectra for comparison.