Projektbeschreibung
Hochpräzise Spektroskopie von molekularen Ionen
Die Entstehung von Sternen und Planeten hängt eng mit dem Vorkommen und der Menge verschiedener Ionenspezies ab. Die Ionenspektroskopie eignet sich, um verschiedene astrophysikalische Umgebungen zu untersuchen und zu erforschen, wie diese sich im Laufe der Zeit entwickeln. Die molekularen Spektren der meisten Ionen im Weltraum sind der Wissenschaft jedoch noch nicht bekannt. Das EU-finanzierte Projekt MissIons wird fortschrittliche Methoden für lichtinduzierte Reaktionen in Ionenfallen anwenden, um Ionenspektren vom Mikrowellenbereich bis zum sichtbaren Spektrum mit hoher Auflösung aufzuzeichnen. Dank Puffergaskühlung sind diese Methoden um mehrere Größenordnungen empfindlicher und zugleich weniger komplex als herkömmliche Methoden.
Ziel
Ions play a key role in the chemical evolution of our universe. The process of star and planet formation is
tightly connected to the presence and abundance of these species. Their spectra turn into diagnostic tools for
various astrophysical environments and their temporal evolution. However, laboratory spectra of most ions
relevant to astrophysics are not available. Moreover, predicted spectra from ab-initio theory are not nearly
accurate enough to guide astrophysical searches. Therefore, corner stones for our understanding of chemistry
in the interstellar medium are missing. In sharp contrast, highly sensitive telescopes with large collection
areas are ready to find these species in space.
In order to make this important next step in molecular astrophysics I propose to record high-resolution
spectra from the microwave to visible range using our unique and innovative light induced reactions (LIR)
methods in ion traps. It is molecule specific through mass selection, many orders of magnitude more
sensitive and less complex due to buffer gas cooling as compared to conventional methods.
High-resolution spectroscopy is the most accurate discipline in quantitative sciences and for molecules it is
linked to highly accurate molecular structures, bond lengths and angles. But this fundamental concept is put
into question for very floppy molecules, e.g. protonated methane, one of the key missing ions in space.
Therefore, also new models describing the structure and internal dynamics of molecules shall be developed
in this interdisciplinary project.
Based on the laboratory spectroscopy in this project new molecules will be found in space. We shall unravel
the role of the most important missing ions which will have great impact on the interpretation of
astrophysical observations. At the same time understanding the spectra of the missing ions will challenge the
current concept of molecular structure and thus lead to an advancement of molecular physics as a whole.
Wissenschaftliches Gebiet
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyplanetary sciencesplanets
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyastrophysics
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesmolecular and chemical physics
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyplanetary sciencescelestial mechanics
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsspectroscopy
Schlüsselbegriffe
Programm/Programme
Thema/Themen
Finanzierungsplan
ERC-ADG - Advanced GrantGastgebende Einrichtung
50931 Koln
Deutschland