Buffer gas cooling for sensitive rotational spectroscopy of ice chemistry: A proposal

Conformer Distributions of n-Propyl Cyanide in the Gas Phase and Following Ice Sublimation Measured by Broadband Rotational Spectroscopy

“…While cold, these molecules are subjected to broadband excitation pulses resulting in the detection of highly resolved molecular signals via rotational transitions immediately following desorption. 37 In previous work, we showed the successful application of this technique for the gas-phase injection of n-PrCN, where we examined anti-n-PrCN and gauche-n-PrCN to determine the rotational temperature of molecules within a 25 K cell. 38 In our most recent work with normal-and iso-propanol (PrOH), we applied CPICE to study molecules desorbing from an ice surface over the course of temperature-programmed desorption (TPD).…”

“…This new approach incorporates a buffer gas cell to cool molecules desorbing from an ice to ∼25 K for sensitive detection by chirped-pulse spectroscopy in the mm-wave regime. While cold, these molecules are subjected to broadband excitation pulses resulting in the detection of highly resolved molecular signals via rotational transitions immediately following desorption . In previous work, we showed the successful application of this technique for the gas-phase injection of n -PrCN, where we examined anti-n -PrCN and gauche - n -PrCN to determine the rotational temperature of molecules within a 25 K cell .…”

Unraveling the complex inventory of biorelevant organics in the plumes of icy moons

“…Those species resemble vital molecular building blocks in contemporary biochemistry connected to genetic information, cellular energy storage, cell membranes, and metabolisms, thus representing the critical prerequisite to life on the molecular level as we know it. This is achieved through the design of laboratory simulation experiments which replicate chemical and physical conditions and initiate chemical reactions in, e.g., hydrocarbon-rich atmospheres of planets and their moons (gas phase) ( 6 , 7 ) and on icy planetary bodies (condensed phase) ( 8 – 10 ) often through ionizing radiation in the form of charged particles (solar wind, magnetospheres, and galactic cosmic rays) or solar photons. Critical progress in this field of astrochemistry and astrobiology and in untangling the underlying processes to synthesize biologically relevant molecules connected to the Origins of Life theme requires novel technology and next-generation experimental setups capable of mimicking the extreme physical and often nonequilibrium conditions under which chemical reactions operate in our Solar System.…”