University of
Notre Dame
College of
Science
Department of
Physics

Astrophysics Seminar

 

Astrochemistry and Spectroscopy of C60

 

Prof. Benjamin J. McCall
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

 

 

Tuesday, March 6, 2007   12:30 pm   NSH 415


C60 was serendipitously discovered during experiments aimed at simulating the chemical conditions in the outflows of carbon stars.  Over twenty years after this discovery, we still lack precise enough spectroscopic data on this fundamental molecule to enable a meaningful astronomical search.  I will describe the history of the discovery of C60, the astronomical questions related to fullerene formation, the limitations on existing spectroscopic data, and the experiment we are preparing to enable an astronomical search.

 

 


All interested persons are cordially invited to attend.