Infrared Emission Spectroscopy and Molecular Astronomy
Peter Bernath
Depts. of Chemistry and Physics, Univ. of Waterloo, Canada
Résumé :
Our recent laboratory and astronomical work on a variety of molecules
including VCl, CrH, SO, BeH2, hot CH4, and hot H2O as well as on
hydrogenated amorphous carbon thin films will be presented. The main theme
of the talk is the interaction of laboratory spectroscopy and observational
infrared and near infrared astronomy. Laboratory infrared emission spectra
were recorded with a Fourier transform spectrometer. A number of molecular
sources were utilized including a new source that combines a high temperature
furnace with an electrical discharge. Astronomical spectra of sun spots,
cool dwarf stars, brown dwarfs, protoplanetary nebulae and the Jovian moon Io
were recorded with a variety of telescopes and spectrographs. For example,
high resolution infrared spectra of brown dwarfs were just recorded with
the Phoenix instrument at the 8 meter Gemini South telescope in Chile.
