Discovery of SiCSi in IRC +10216: A missing link between gas and dust carriers of Si-C bonds

We report the discovery in space of a disilicon species, SiCSi, from observations between 80 and 350 GHz with the IRAM 30m radio telescope. Owing to the close coordination between laboratory experiments and astrophysics, 112 lines have now been detected in the carbon-rich star CW Leo. The derived frequencies yield improved rotational and centrifugal distortion constants up to sixth order. From the line profiles and interferometric maps with the Submillimeter Array, the bulk of the SiCSi emission arises from a region of 6″ in radius. The derived abundance is comparable to that of SiC2. As expected from chemical equilibrium calculations, SiCSi and SiC2 are the most abundant species harboring a Si-C bond in the dust formation zone and certainly both play a key role in the formation of SiC dust grains.

A continuous-wave optical parametric oscillator around 5-μm wavelength for high-resolution spectroscopy

We present a continuous-wave optical parametric oscillator (OPO) capable of high resolution spectroscopy at wavelengths between 4.8 μm and 5.4 μm. It is based on periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) and is singly resonant for the signal radiation around 1.35 μm. Because of the strong absorption of PPLN at wavelengths longer than 4.5 μm, the OPO threshold rises to the scale of several watts, while it produces idler powers of more than 1 mW and offers continuous tuning over 15 GHz. A supersonic jet spectrometer is used in combination with the OPO to perform measurements of the transient linear molecule Si(2)C(3) at 1968.2 cm(-1). Fifty rovibrational transition frequencies of the ν(3) antisymmetric stretching mode have been determined with an accuracy on the order of 10(-4) cm(-1), and molecular parameters for the ground and the v(3) = 1 state have been determined most precisely.

Rotational spectroscopy and equilibrium structures of S3 and S4

The sulfur molecules thiozone S3 and tetrasulfur S4 have been observed in a supersonic molecular beam in the centimeter-wave band by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy, and in the millimeter- and submillimeter-wave bands in a low-pressure glow discharge. For S3 over 150 rotational transitions between 10 and 458 GHz were measured, and for S4 a comparable number between 6 and 271 GHz. The spectrum of S3 is reproduced to within the measurement uncertainties by an asymmetric top Hamiltonian with three rotational and 12 centrifugal distortion constants; ten distortion constants, but an additional term to account for very small level shifts caused by interchange tunneling, are required to reproduce to comparable accuracy the spectrum of S4. Empirical equilibrium (r(e)(emp)) structures of S3 and S4 were derived from experimental rotational constants of the normal and sulfur-34 species and vibrational corrections from coupled-cluster theory calculations. Quantum chemical calculations show that interchange tunneling occurs because S4 automerizes through a transition state with D2h symmetry which lies about 500 cm(-1) above the two equivalent C2upsilon minima on the potential energy surface.

Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy of vinyldiacetylene, vinyltriacetylene, and vinylcyanodiacetylene

The rotational spectra of the three carbon chain molecules vinyldiacetylene (hex-1-ene-3,5-diyne, C(6)H(4)), vinyltriacetylene (oct-1-ene-3,5,7-triyne, C8H4), and its cyano analog vinylcyanodiacetylene (1-cyanohex-5-ene-1,3-diyne, C7H3N) have been observed for the first time by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy of a supersonic molecular beam. The molecules were observed as products of an electrical discharge through selected precursor mixtures: ethylene/diacetylene and vinylacetylene/diacetylene for the pure hydrocarbon molecules and vinylacetylene/cyanoacetylene for vinylcyanodiacetylene. The measurements yield precise sets of rotational constants that compare very well with theoretical constants obtained by quantum chemical calculations at the B3LYP/cc-pVTZ level of theory. Since these three carbon chains are similar in structure and composition to known astronomical molecules and because of their significant polarity, all three are candidates for radio astronomical detection.

Tetrasulfur, S4: Rotational spectrum, interchange tunneling, and geometrical structure

The rotational spectrum of S4 has been observed for the first time in an electrical discharge through sulfur vapor. Two techniques have been used: Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy and long-path millimeter-wave absorption spectroscopy. Small, but systematic shifts of the measured transition frequencies of the normal isotopic species indicate that S4 has C2v symmetry but with a low-lying transition state of D2h symmetry, yielding interchange tunneling at 14.1(2) kHz in its ground vibrational state. From the rotational constants of the normal and the single 34S isotopic species, an experimental (r0) structure has been derived: S4 is a singlet planar trapezoid with a terminal bond length of 1.899(7) A, a central bond of 2.173(32) A, and an S-S-S angle of 103.9(8) degrees. Like thiozone (S3), S4 is a candidate for detection in the atmosphere of the Jovian moon Io and in other astronomical sources.

Searches for new interstellar molecules, including a tentative detection of aziridine and a possible detection of propenal

Rotational spectroscopy at millimeter wavelengths is a powerful means of investigating the chemistry of dense interstellar clouds. These regions can exhibit an interesting complement of gas phase molecules, including relatively complex organics. Here we report the tentative first astronomical detection of aziridine (ethylenimine), the possible detection of propenal (acrolein), and upper limits on the abundances of cyclopropenone, furan, hydroxyethanal (glycolaldehyde), thiohydroxylamine (NH2SH), and ethenol (vinyl alcohol) in various interstellar clouds.

Submillimeter-Wave Spectroscopy of Phosphaalkynes: HCCCP, NCCP, HCP, and DCP

The submillimeter-wave rotational spectra of the unstable phosphorus-bearing molecules HCCCP (phosphabutadiyne) and NCCP (C-cyanophosphaethyne) have been investigated in selected frequency regions between 490 and 815 GHz using the Cologne Terahertz Spectrometer. Both molecules were studied in their ground vibrational states. Additionally, vibrational satellites within the bending states v(4) = 1 and v(5) = 1 were recorded for NCCP. Furthermore, the ground state rotational spectra of the (13)C and (15)N isotopomers of NCCP were detected in natural abundance. The new measurements allowed us to evaluate the sextic centrifugal distortion constants for each isotopomer and vibrational state investigated. The pyrolysis reactions, through which HCCCP and NCCP were produced in situ, also yielded phosphaethyne, HCP, as a by-product. Some transitions of HCP and DCP were recorded in their ground vibrational states along with v(2) = 1 vibrational satellites of the former. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

The Millimeter- and Submillimeter-Wave Spectrum of HC(3)N in the Ground and Vibrationally Excited States

The pure rotational spectrum of the astrophysically very important linear molecule cyanoacetylene, HC(3)N, in the ground and vibrationally excited states has been studied in selected regions from 118 to 814 GHz using the Cologne terahertz spectrometer. Vibrational satellites appendant to the following vibrational states have been recorded and analyzed (v(4), v(5), v(6), v(7)): (0, 0, 0, 1), (0, 0, 0, 2), (0, 0, 1, 0), (0, 0, 1, 1), (1, 0, 0, 0), (1, 0, 0, 1), and the Fermi resonance systems (0, 1, 0, 0)/(0, 0, 0, 3) and (1, 0, 0, 2)/(0, 2, 0, 0)(0e). With the exception of the latter resonance system, all states have been fitted within experimental accuracy. This work provides improved rest frequencies for the astronomical community and may also be beneficial in the improvement of global fits. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

The Millimeter- and Submillimeter-Wave Spectrum and the Dipole Moment of Ethylenimine

The rotational spectrum of ethylenimine (aziridine, c-C(2)H(4)NH) has been investigated in selected regions from 118 to 950 GHz using the Cologne terahertz spectrometer. About 320 lines have been measured spanning the quantum numbers 2 </= J </= 59 and 0 </= K(c) </= 50. All lines have been fit together with previously published data to yield refined ground state constants such as A = 22 736.19294(31) MHz, B = 21 192.46114(31) MHz, and C = 13 383.16401(30) MHz and centrifugal distortion constants that permit accurate frequency predictions. FTMW measurements were performed at the ETH Zürich to redetermine the dipole moment, to improve (14)N-quadrupole-coupling constants, as well as to determine (14)N-spin-rotation coupling constants. The most reliable values for the components of the dipole moment are µ(b) = 0.97(12) D and µ(c) = 1.357(25) D determined by the Stark- and additional intensity measurements of appropriate b- and c-type transitions. Moreover, we performed quantum chemical calculations of the dipole moment of ethylenimine that confirm these experimental results. This three-membered ring molecule is of potential astrophysical interest. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.