Understanding Interstellar Chemistry: A Look at Methanol Branching Ratios and the Search for Aminomethanol Open Access

Abstract

Understanding the complex chemistry of the interstellar medium (ISM) is a current challenge for astronomers and chemists alike. With nearly 200 species found thus far in the ISM, our understanding is growing; however, important questions remain. Among the species detected, methanol is a major species of interest due to its abundance in the ISM and the important radicals it produces upon photodissociation. Two major questions are: What are the branching ratios for the products of methanol photodissociation; and can glycine form in the interstellar medium? This dissertation reports on my current work and progress at attempting to answer these questions. First, I have searched for the rotational spectrum of aminomethanol, a believed glycine precursor. Second, I have studied photodissociation of methanol in an attempt to find the branching ratios for the formation of hydroxymethyl and methoxy radicals that have a large effect on complex organic molecule formation in the ISM.

Table of Contents

1 Introduction. 1

1.1 Background. 1

1.2 Methanol in the ISM. 2

1.3 Aminomethanol in the ISM. 5

2 Experimental. 7

2.1 General Setup. 7

2.2 Methanol Experiment. 10

2.3 Aminomethanol Experiment. 10

3 Methanol Results. 12

4 Aminomethanol Results. 15

5 Conclusion and Future work. 22

Appendices. 25

A. 25

B. 28

C. 35

About this Master's Thesis

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School	Laney Graduate School
Department	Chemistry
Degree	MS
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Chemistry, General Chemistry, Physical Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics
Keyword	astrochemistry aminomethanol methanol spectroscopy millimeter wave methylamine O(1D) insertion ISM branching ratios spectra rotational spectroscopy
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Widicus Weaver, Susanna, Emory University
Committee Members	Heaven, Michael, Emory University Evangelista, Francesco , Emory University

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