Description du projet
Spectroscopie de haute précision des ions moléculaires
La formation d’étoiles et de planètes est étroitement liée à la présence et à l’abondance d’espèces ioniques. La spectroscopie ionique sert de sonde pour étudier divers environnements astrophysiques et leur évolution dans le temps. Cependant, les spectres moléculaires de la plupart des ions dans l’espace sont inconnus. Le projet MissIons, financé par l’UE, utilisera des méthodes avancées de réactions induites par la lumière dans des pièges à ions pour enregistrer les spectres ioniques allant des micro-ondes au visible à haute résolution. Les méthodes seront de plusieurs ordres de grandeur plus sensibles et moins complexes par rapport aux méthodes conventionnelles, en raison du refroidissement du gaz tampon.
Objectif
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.
Champ scientifique
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyplanetary sciencesplanets
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyastrophysics
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesmolecular and chemical physics
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyplanetary sciencescelestial mechanics
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsspectroscopy
Mots‑clés
Programme(s)
Thème(s)
Régime de financement
ERC-ADG - Advanced GrantInstitution d’accueil
50931 Koln
Allemagne