Heterodyne receiver for laboratory spectrosocpy of molecules of astrophysical importance

Hermanns, Marius

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/91173 Copy

Description

Title

Heterodyne receiver for laboratory spectrosocpy of molecules of astrophysical importance

Author(s)

Hermanns, Marius

Contributor(s)

• Schlemmer, Stephan
• Endres, Christian
• Lewen, Frank
• Wehres, Nadine

Issue Date

2016-06-24

Keyword(s)

Instrument/Technique Demonstration

Abstract

We present first results of a heterodyne receiver built for high-resolution emission laboratory spectroscopy of molecules of astrophysical interest. The room-temperature receiver operates at frequencies between 80 and 110 GHz, consistent with ALMA band 3. Many molecules have been identified in the interstellar and circumstellar medium at exactly these frequencies by comparing emission spectra obtained from telescopes to high-resolution laboratory absorption spectra. Taking advantage of the recent progresses in the field of mm/submm technology in the astronomy community, we have built a room-temperature emission spectrometer making use of heterodyne receiver technology at an instantaneous bandwidth of currently 2.5~GHz. The system performance, in particular the noise temperature and systematic errors, is presented. The proof-of-concept is demonstrated by comparing the emission spectrum of methyl cyanide to respective absorption spectra and to the literature. Future prospects as well as limitations of the new laboratory receiver for the spectroscopy of complex organic molecules or transient species in discharges will be discussed.

Publisher

International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy

Type of Resource

text

Language

En

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/91173

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2016 by the authors

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