During the last decades the development of millimeter-wave and infrared astronomy has enabled a detailed exploration of the cold universe. Spectral lines of over 170 molecules and radicals have been assigned which allow to probe the physics and chemistry of interstellar clouds and regions of star formation. The unprecedented sensitivity of current observations raised a new problem, i.e., the detection of many unidentified signals, which represent a large fraction of the detected lines. This means that precious pieces of information still need to be disclosed. In order to assign these unidentified features, laboratory studies are required.Measurements carried out in Bologna with a source-modulation microwave spectrometer equipped either with a cell coupled to a pyrolysis apparatus or a DC-discharge cell will be presented. The molecular species investigated include imines, molecular ions, deuterated diacetylene, substituted acetylene.In addition, after the laboratory detection of the submillimeter-wave spectrum of the 15N-containing isotopologues of N2H+, the 15NNH+ (1-0) and N15NH+ (1-0) lines were detected in the starless cloud core L1544. This allows to discuss the 15N fractionation of N2H+in the interstellar gas.

Millimeter- and submillimeter-wave spectroscopy of species of astrophysical importance

246th National Meeting (2013)

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