The quest to understand interstellar sulfur and metal chemistry through synergetic laboratory and radio telescope observations

The fellowship AstroSsearch addresses open questions related to the abundance of sulfur and metals in the interstellar medium.

While some species have been detected in astronomical environments, their abundance and complexity is quite low, thereby preventing a full understanding of the chemistry occurring in these environments.

We will attack this problem with a synergic approach exploiting new laboratory microwave spectroscopy developments and radio astronomy observations.

The key objectives include the generation of high-resolution rotational spectra of previously undetected sulfur/metal containing compounds and ions by mating broadband (chirped-pulse Fourier transform) microwave spectroscopy techniques with electrical discharge and laser ablation sources.

Additionally, a novel discharge source will be developed in which the chemistry can be controlled to reveal likely reaction pathways that produce the observed species. This will allow for the postulation of viable astronomical formation mechanisms.

The expected results are: (1) Development of a new controlled reactive chemistry source that can be paired with laser ablation. (2) High-resolution, rotational spectra of complex sulfur and metal containing species leading to their unambiguous identification in interstellar environments and their inclusion in theoretical models.(3) Elucidation of viable reaction pathways in astronomical environments for targeted and detected species and the insertion of these pathways into existing models.

These results will facilitate radio astronomy detections, expanding our comprehension of astronomical chemistry.

The synergy of laboratory spectroscopy and observational astrophysics will bring together all facets of the multidisciplinary field of astrochemistry, broadening our understanding of the chemistry that is occurring in interstellar and circumstellar environments and shedding light on the chemical complexity of the universe.