A new instrument is described that employs buffer gas cooling with mm-wave rotational spectroscopy (60 – 90 GHz) to probe molecules desorbed from interstellar ice analogues. The design and performance of the buffer gas cell, mm-wave spectrometer and data acquisition system are reported. The effective temperature of the neon-cooled buffer gas cell is determined by monitoring a range of rotational lines of propyl cyanide introduced into the cell. In addition to these gas-phase studies, the coupling of buffer gas cooling with molecules desorbed from interstellar ice analogues and broadband rotational spectroscopic detection is also reported. Here, ices are generated at 4 K, exposed to ionizing radiation, and slowly warmed to their sublimation temperature after which time they enter the buffer gas cell for detection. The performance of the instrument and recent results will be presented.

Rotational spectroscopic detection of buffer gas cooled molecules desorbed from interstellar ice analogues

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