Laboratory Astrophysics and Radio Astronomy: Some Recent Successes
- Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA 02138 (United States)
This paper presents several examples illustrating how the close coordination of laboratory astrophysics and radio astronomy can lead to an improved understanding of the rich chemistry of circumstellar shells which surround evolved carbon stars and dense molecular clouds. State-of-the-art microwave techniques in combination with supersonic molecular beam techniques and long path absorption spectroscopy at millimeter-wave wavelengths are used here to determine precise rest frequencies of known or postulated reactive molecules of astrophysical interest. Because the astronomically most interesting lines either have been measured or can be calculated to better than 1 km/sec in equivalent radial velocity, dedicated astronomical searches can be undertaken with confidence, and the carriers of unidentified series of astronomical lines can be established with certainty.
- OSTI ID:
- 20888218
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 855, Issue 1; Conference: International conference on astrochemistry: From laboratory studies to astronomical observations, Honolulu, HI (United States), 18-20 Dec 2005; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2359558; (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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