ISMO

Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d'Orsay


Partenaires

CNRS UPS




vendredi 29 mars


Mise à jour
mardi 26 mars


Accueil > Équipes scientifiques > Systèmes Moléculaires, Astrophysique et Environnement (SYSTEMAE) > Offres de stages, thèses et post-docs > Unraveling the Mysteries of Cationic Species in Space : Bridging the Gap Between Astrophysical observations and Laboratory Experiments

M2 internship

Unraveling the Mysteries of Cationic Species in Space : Bridging the Gap Between Astrophysical observations and Laboratory Experiments

M2 or PhD thesis

Scientific description :
In 2023, the James Webb Space Telescope identified the presence of the methyl radical cation (CH3+) in a protoplanetary disk within the Orion star-forming region [1]. This discovery was made possible by observing rovibrational transitions in the infrared spectrum. While the detection was clear, there was a lack of experimental data regarding the rovibrational structure of CH3+ in existing literature, which was essential for fully validating the detection. Two months later, we successfully conducted the first experimental measurements that definitively confirmed the JWST’s detection [2]. To achieve this, we employed the VULCAIM setup, using high-resolution photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) with the PFI-ZEKE technique to record photoionization transitions of the methyl radical (CH3). This study underscored the significant potential of high-resolution PES techniques in the realm of detecting cationic species in space.

This internship opportunity is centered around investigating the photoionization processes of stable and radical species, with the ultimate goal of extracting previously unavailable details about the rovibrational structure of their cations. The molecular constants derived from these investigations will then be employed to predict or validate the infrared spectra of these cations. This collaborative effort with astrophysicists will aid in attempting the detection of these species in conjunction with JWST observations.

The research team, led by S. Boyé-Péronne and B. Gans, has contributed significantly to this field, publishing approximately 20 papers over the past three years (http://www.ismo.universite-paris-saclay.fr/spip.php?article2423). Furthermore, they have secured funding from ANR for the ZEPHIRS project, a collaboration between ISMO, the DESIRS beamline at the SOLEIL synchrotron, and the ISM lab at Bordeaux. This grant allowed the recruitment of a post-doctoral researcher in September 2023 to strengthen the team, and it will support new experimental developments. Thus, the intern will have the advantage of working in a dynamic and stimulating research environment.

Techniques/methods in use :
The selected intern will gain expertise in various areas, including vacuum technology, laser optics, electronics, and spectroscopy methods, essential for operating the VULCAIM setup. Additionally, he/she may also have the opportunity to participate in experimental campaigns at SOLEIL synchrotron facility. The intern’s responsibilities will encompass data acquisition and analysis. This internship has the potential to evolve into a funded Ph.D. thesis project under the auspices of the EDOM doctoral school.

References :
[1] O. Berné et al., Nature 621, p. 56 (2023)
[2] P.B. Changala et al., submitted to Astronomy and Astrophysics (2023)
[3] Harper et al. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 24, p. 2777 (2022)

Voir en ligne : Systèmes moléculaires, Astrophysique et Environnement