Statistics – Computation
Scientific paper
May 2008
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008aas...212.0318s&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #212, #3.18; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 40, p.187
Statistics
Computation
Scientific paper
The cosmic pathway towards life is thought to begin in molecular clouds when atomic carbon is "fixed" into molecules, initiating organic chemistry and the synthesis of complex organic species. Much of our knowledge of this process is through spectroscopic observations and sophisticated astrochemical models to interpret the collected spectra. However, our understanding of the molecular universe is limited by uncertainties in the underlying chemical data in these models. Of particular importance are data for reactions of neutral atomic carbon with molecular ions. Such reactions are critical in initiating interstellar organic chemistry. Current experimental and theoretical limitations hinder our understanding of these reactions. Previous laboratory work has been difficult to interpret due to the challenge of producing and characterizing atomic carbon beams. Theory has been limited to classical methods as fully quantum mechanical reactions for systems with four or more atoms are beyond current computational capabilities.
To study these first links in the chemical chain leading towards life, we propose to develop a unique instrument which will not suffer from the limitations of previous experimental methods. Starting with a C- beam, we will use laser photodetachment to generate a C beam. The C- will then be removed electrostatically leaving a pure C beam. We will merge a molecular ion beam with the C beam so they are co-propagating. Using beams at keV lab energies allows for ease of beam handling and characterization. Because the beams are co-propagating, we will be able to study reactions down to collision energies of a couple tens of meV ( 140 K) and possibly lower. Reactions will be studied using a charge-to-mass analyzer to separate and detect the charged end products. Measuring all the relevant currents, beam shapes, energies, signal counts, and background rates will allow us to determine absolute reactions cross sections.
Bruhns Hjalmar
Kreckel Holder
Lestinsky Michael
Savin Daniel W.
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