Physics and chemistry of the interstellar medium

Olivier Pirali, Marie-Aline Martin-Drumel
Last updated on Jun 12, 2021

Our knowledge of the chemical composition of various objects in the interstellar medium is based on spectroscopic observations. In particular, laboratory spectroscopy obtained at high spectral resolution and allowing the precise characterization of the rotational levels of given molecular species has enabled the detection (or confirmation of detection) of more than 200 molecules in the interstellar medium to date. Interstellar spectra currently recorded using instruments such ALMA contain many transitions which remain unassigned mainly because the molecules at the origin of these transitions have not been studied in the laboratory to date. We investigate in the laboratory various species, both stable and reactive, of astrophysical interest.

This work is supported by the Programme National Physique et Chimie du Milieu Interstellaire (PCMI) of CNRS/INSU with INC/INP co-funded by CEA and CNES.

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Olivier Pirali
Olivier Pirali
Director of Research

My research interests includes high resolution molecular spectroscopy, laboratory astrophysics, and THz generation.

Marie-Aline Martin-Drumel
Marie-Aline Martin-Drumel
Researcher

My research interests focus on molecular spectroscopy of stable molecules and reactive species, and its applications for astrophysics and physical-chemistry.

Publications

Astronomical CH$_3^+$ rovibrational assignments. A combined theoretical and experimental study validating observational findings in the d203-506 UV-irradiated protoplanetary disky
We report a comprehensive rovibrational assignments of the 7 µm features of CH3+, guided by theoretical and experimental laboratory techniques.
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Astronomical CH$_3^+$ rovibrational assignments. A combined theoretical and experimental study validating observational findings in the d203-506 UV-irradiated protoplanetary disky
Searches for bridged bicyclic molecules in Space - Norbornadiene and its cyano derivatives
We report a spectroscopic investigation and interstellar searches of norbornadiene and its cyano derivatives.
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Searches for bridged bicyclic molecules in Space - Norbornadiene and its cyano derivatives
Formation of the Methyl Cation by Photochemistry in a Protoplanetary Disk
We report on the interstellar discovery of CH3+ toward a protoplanetary disk in the Orion star-forming region using JWST observations.
Olivier Berné, Marie-Aline Martin-Drumel, Ilane Schroetter, Javier R. Goicoechea, Ugo Jacovella, Bérenger Gans, Emmanuel Dartois, Laurent H. Coudert, Edwin Bergin, Felipe Alarcon, Jan Cami, Evelyne Roueff, John H. Black, Oskar Asvany, Emilie Habart, Els Peeters, Amelie Canin, Boris Trahin, Christine Joblin, Stephan Schlemmer, Sven Thorwirth, Jose Cernicharo, Maryvonne Gerin, Alexander Tielens, Marion Zannese, Alain Abergel, Jeronimo Bernard-Salas, Christiaan Boersma, Emeric Bron, Ryan Chown, Sara Cuadrado, Daniel Dicken, Meriem Elyajouri, Asunción Fuente, Karl D. Gordon, Lina Issa, Olga Kannavou, Baria Khan, Ozan Lacinbala, David Languignon, Romane Le Gal, Alexandros Maragkoudakis, Raphael Meshaka, Yoko Okada, Takashi Onaka, Sofia Pasquini, Marc W. Pound, Massimo Robberto, Markus Röllig, Bethany Schefter, Thiébaut Schirmer, Ameek Sidhu, Benoit Tabone, Dries Van De Putte, Sílvia Vicente, Mark G. Wolfire
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Formation of the Methyl Cation by Photochemistry in a Protoplanetary Disk
A rotational investigation of the three isomeric forms of cyanoethynylbenzene (HCC-C$_6$H$_4$-CN): benchmarking experiments and calculations using the ''Lego brick'' approach
We report a joint experimental and theoretical study of three structural isomers of phenylpropiolonitrile, namely ortho-, meta-, and para-cyanoethynylbenzene.
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A rotational investigation of the three isomeric forms of cyanoethynylbenzene (HCC-C$_6$H$_4$-CN): benchmarking experiments and calculations using the ''Lego brick'' approach
The bending of C$_3$: Experimentally probing the $l$-type doubling and resonance
We report a joint rovibronic and rovibrational study of C3.
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The bending of C$_3$: Experimentally probing the $l$-type doubling and resonance
Pure rotational spectroscopy of the CH$_2$CN radical extended to the sub-millimeter wave spectral region
We present a thorough pure rotational investigation of the CH2CN radical in its ground vibrational state.
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Pure rotational spectroscopy of the CH$_2$CN radical extended to the sub-millimeter wave spectral region
Tunneling motion and splitting in the CH$_2$OH radical: (Sub-)millimeter wave spectrum analysis
We report on the theoretical and experimental investigation of the CH2OH radical pure rotational spectrum in the (sub-)millimeter wave domain.
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Tunneling motion and splitting in the CH$_2$OH radical: (Sub-)millimeter wave spectrum analysis
The eight lowest-energy vibrational states of benzonitrile: analysis of Coriolis and Darling-Dennison couplings by millimeter-wave and far-infrared spectroscopy
We report a joint pure rotational and ro-vibrational investigation of the lowest energy vibrational states of benzonitrile.
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The eight lowest-energy vibrational states of benzonitrile: analysis of Coriolis and Darling-Dennison couplings by millimeter-wave and far-infrared spectroscopy
Hunting the relatives of benzonitrile: Rotational spectroscopy of dicyanobenzenes
We report the rotational investigation and interstellar searches towards TMC-1 of ortho- and meta-dicyanobenzene.
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Hunting the relatives of benzonitrile: Rotational spectroscopy of dicyanobenzenes
Rotational and vibrational spectroscopy of 1-cyanoadamantane and 1-isocyanoadamantane
We report the rotational and vibrational investigation of two polar derivatives of adamantane (C10H16), 1-cyanoadamantane (C10H15–CN) and 1-isocyanoadamantane (C10H15–NC), providing all necessary information for an active search of these species in space.
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Rotational and vibrational spectroscopy of 1-cyanoadamantane and 1-isocyanoadamantane
A rotational and vibrational investigation of phenylpropiolonitrile (C$_6$H$_5$C$_3$N)
We report the rotational and vibrational investigation of phenylpropiolonitrile (3-phenyl-2-propynenitrile, C6H5C3N), a ring-chain derivatives of interstellar benzonitrile (C6H5CN).
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A rotational and vibrational investigation of phenylpropiolonitrile (C$_6$H$_5$C$_3$N)
Re-investigation of the rotation-tunneling spectrum of the CH$_2$OH radical - Accurate frequency determination of transitions of astrophysical interest below 330 GHz
In this work, we report a new investigation of the rotation tunneling spectrum of the CH2OH radical in the millimeter-wave region.
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Far-infrared laboratory spectroscopy of aminoacetonitrile and first interstellar detection of its vibrationally excited transitions
We report the laboratory far-infrared investigation of aminoacetonitrile ro-vibrational spectrum and the interstellar detection of the molecule in its $v_{11} = 1$ and $v_{18} = 1$ vibrational states toward Sgr B2(N1), in addition to emission from its vibrational ground state
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Conformational Landscape of Oxygen-Containing Naphthalene Derivatives
We investigated the conformational landscape of four naphthalene-derivative molecules — namely ,1- and 2-hydroxynaphthalene and 1- and 2-naphthaldehyde — by means of rotational and vibrational spectroscopy supported by quantum chemical calculations.
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Conformational Landscape of Oxygen-Containing Naphthalene Derivatives
First detection of NHD and ND$_2$ in the interstellar medium - Amidogen deuteration in IRAS 16293-2422
We report the first detection of interstellar NHD and ND2. Both species are observed in absorption against the continuum of the protostar. From the analysis of their hyperfine structure, accurate excitation temperature and column density values are determined.
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Submillimeter and Far-infrared Spectroscopy of Monodeuterated Amidogen Radical (NHD): Improved Rest Frequencies for Astrophysical Observations
The rotational spectrum of NHD has thoroughly been re-investigated from the submm region to the FIR.
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Generation and structural characterization of Ge carbides GeC$_n$ ($n=4,5,6)$ by laser ablation, broadband rotational spectroscopy, and quantum chemistry
Linear GeC4, GeC5, and GeC6 have been observed using chirped pulse and cavity Fourier trans-form microwave spectroscopy and a laser ablation molecule source, guided by new high-level quantum chemical calculations of their molecular structure.
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Generation and structural characterization of Ge carbides GeC$_n$ ($n=4,5,6)$ by laser ablation, broadband rotational spectroscopy, and quantum chemistry
Far-infrared spectroscopy of heavy protonated noble gas species using synchrotron radiation
In this work, we report new absorption spectra of protonated noble gas species ArH+, KrH+ and XeH+. Both pure rotation transitions and …
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Rotational spectrum of the $β$-cyanovinyl radical: A possible astrophysical N-heterocycle precursor
We present the first theoretical study of all three cyanovinyl isomers at the CCSD(T)/ANO1 level of theory and the experimental rotational spectra of cis-and trans-HCCHCN, as well as those of their 15N isotopologues, from 5 to 75 GHz.
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Rotational spectrum of the $β$-cyanovinyl radical: A possible astrophysical N-heterocycle precursor
Submillimeter spectroscopy and astronomical searches of vinyl mercaptan, C$_2$H$_3$SH
We extended the pure rotational investigation of the two isomers syn and anti vinyl mercaptan to the millimeter domain using a frequency-multiplication spectrometer enabling reliable frequency predictions of the astronomically most interesting millimeter-wave lines.
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Gas phase detection and rotational spectroscopy of ethynethiol, HCCSH
We report the gas-phase detection and spectroscopic characterisation of ethynethiol (HCCSH), a metastable isomer of thioketene (H2C2S) using a combination of Fourier-transform microwave and submillimetre-wave spectroscopies.
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Gas phase detection and rotational spectroscopy of ethynethiol, HCCSH
Searches for Interstellar HCCSH and H$_2$CCS
We report searches for the rotational lines in the microwave, millimeter, and submillimeter regions of the sulfur-containing hydrocarbon HCCSH
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The hunt for elusive molecules: Insights from joint theoretical and experimental investigations
This mini-review illustrates how experimental and theoretical state-of-the-art tools can be used in tandem to investigate the rotational structure of molecules, with particular emphasis on those that have long remained elusive.
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The hunt for elusive molecules: Insights from joint theoretical and experimental investigations