JWST Capabilities for Complex Molecules
Abstract
Knowledge of the molecular content of dense clouds, embedded protostars and protoplanetary disks is fundamental to our understanding of the chemical trail leading to the formation of life. Millimeter-wave spectroscopy, in particular using the powerful Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) interferometer, is able to image molecules with permanent dipole moments down to scales of 10 AU in the closest star forming regions. Infrared spectroscopy enables observations of species without permanent dipole moments (e.g., CO _{2}, CH _{4}, C _{2}H _{2}, ...) as well and also of the vibrational modes of dust and ices. It traces molecules down to spatial scales (tenths of AU) smaller than ALMA because the transitions can be observed in absorption against the continuum emission from stellar photospheres or hot dust. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), to be launched in Spring of 2019, will offer unprecedented sensitivity, spatial resolution, and spectral coverage at a spectral resolution suited for detailed observations of gas and solid state molecules in the infrared. JWST will enable observations of the vibrational modes of ices in environments and for sample sizes not possible before. Ices are a key location of molecule formation and studying their composition and structure directly is important (as opposed to after sublimation). The need for spectra of analogs of interstellar ices produced in laboratories is highlighted. I will also present which ice observations are planned at the beginning of the JWST mission as part of the Early Release Science program "Ice Age".
- Publication:
-
42nd COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- July 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018cosp...42E.397B