Millimeter and submillimeter wave spectroscopy of astrophysical molecules : application to Methylformate, Glycolaldehyde and Allylisocyanide

Complex organic molecules are abundant in the interstellar medium and their detection play a big role in the comprehension of the chemical processes governing the evolution of the universe. Astronomical detection in the millimeter- wave region is realized by the use of telescopes such as ALMA, SOFIA, HERSCHEL and IRAM. For this purpose, rotational spectroscopy in the laboratory is an essential stage. In consequence, the study of glycolaldehyde, allylisocyanide and methylformate was elaborated. The spectrum of these molecules was recorded with the millimeter- and submillimeter- wave spectrometer in the PhLAM laboratory. Glycolaldehyde is a possible prebiotic molecule. The rotational spectra of the ground state and the three lowest vibrational modes for the two 13C isotopologs were modeled by a Watson Hamiltonian. The methylformate is an isomer of glycolaldehyde and is very abundant in the interstellar medium. It is characterized by the presence of methyl group establishing large amplitude motion witch couples with the global rotation of the molecule. To model this interaction for the 13C-2 isotopolog, a global fit of the two torsional states νt = 0 et 1 of the methyl group is required. The detection of νt = 1 in Orion-KL will be reported. Allylisocyanide is of astrophysical interest. This molecule establishes an hyperfine structure due to the presence of the N atom. This structure is resolved only in the micro- wave domain. The analysis of the ground state of both conformers was extended in the millimeter- and submillimeter- wave regions. Coriolis interactions of a and b types between ν1 = 1 and ν2 = 1 sates of the Cis conformer was resolved.