Excited states and the completeness of astrophysical catalogs
Abstract
Calculations based on quantum mechanical (QM) models have successfully provided the laboratory basis for astrophysical observations. However, many unidentified spectral features remain and new telescopes will probe hotter regions with higher sensitivity. As a consequence, spectra in highly perturbed, difficult to analyze excited vibrational states will become more important. Here we discuss the completeness of catalogs based on QM calculations by comparing them with experimental observations for eight astrophysical weeds. It is shown that the difficulty of analysis of these excited states leads to substantial catalog incompleteness. Strategies for analysis, dissemination, and use of these new experimental results are discussed.
- Publication:
-
2010 NASA Laboratory Astrophysics Workshop
- Pub Date:
- May 2011
- Bibcode:
- 2011nlaw.confC..38F