3-p7
A. A. Breier, T. F. Giesen
Universität Kassel
Radioactive Molecules in Space
Astrophysical observations of radioactive isotopes, like 26Al, 44Ti, or 60Fe, provide insight into the nucleosynthesis of stellar cores. Recently, the radioactive molecule 26AlF was unambiguously astronomically identified towards the object CK Vul using the radio-telescope facilities, like ALMA. The vibrational motion of the radioactive molecules also enables the possibility of stellar object identification through the instruments on board of SOFIA. While accurate spectra of diatomic molecules can be derived from laboratory measurements of their stable isotopologues, this indirect method fails for triatomic species such as 26AlOH and for all larger species and requires in situ spectroscopic measurements on radioactive molecules. Facilities such as ISOLDE/CERN and TRIUMF in Canada are excellent for producing radioactive molecules in supersonic beams. Spectroscopic studies of radioactive species will enable future astronomical observations that will provide more detailed information about the processes in the interiors of massive stars. In this talk, astrophysically relevant molecules for studies using vibrational spec- troscopy will be discussed.
