Far-Infrared Investigations of a Methanol Clathrate Hydrate: Implications for Astronomical Observations
Abstract
Observations of nonterrestrial clathrate hydrates are still lacking despite the fact that clathrates first were suggested to exist in cometary and interstellar ices over 40 years ago. Spectroscopy, the most direct method of astronomical detection, has been hampered by the similarity of clathrate hydrate spectra to those of unenclathrated guest molecules and solid H2O. We have prepared a methanol (CH3OH) clathrate hydrate, using a recently published procedure, and have investigated its far-infrared spectrum. The spectrum is quite different from that of either unenclathrated CH3OH or solid H2O and so should be of value in astronomical searches for this clathrate.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- February 1993
- DOI:
- 10.1086/186736
- Bibcode:
- 1993ApJ...404L..29H
- Keywords:
-
- Comets;
- Infrared Astronomy;
- Interstellar Matter;
- Methyl Alcohol;
- Molecular Clouds;
- Cosmic Rays;
- Far Infrared Radiation;
- Hydrates;
- Astrophysics;
- MOLECULAR PROCESSES;
- COMETS: GENERAL;
- ISM: COSMIC RAYS