The spectral features and detectability of small, cyclic silicon carbide clusters

Rovibrational spectral data for several tetra-atomic silicon carbide clusters (TASCCs) are computed in this work using a CCSD(T)-F12b/cc-pCVTZ-F12 quartic force field. Accurate theoretical spectroscopic data may facilitate the observation of TASCCs in the interstellar medium which may lead to a more...

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Main Authors: Christopher M. Sehring, C. Zachary Palmer, Brent R. Westbrook, Ryan C. Fortenberry
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspas.2022.1074879/full
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author Christopher M. Sehring
C. Zachary Palmer
Brent R. Westbrook
Ryan C. Fortenberry
author_facet Christopher M. Sehring
C. Zachary Palmer
Brent R. Westbrook
Ryan C. Fortenberry
author_sort Christopher M. Sehring
collection DOAJ
description Rovibrational spectral data for several tetra-atomic silicon carbide clusters (TASCCs) are computed in this work using a CCSD(T)-F12b/cc-pCVTZ-F12 quartic force field. Accurate theoretical spectroscopic data may facilitate the observation of TASCCs in the interstellar medium which may lead to a more complete understanding of how the smallest silicon carbide (SiC) solids are formed. Such processes are essential for understanding SiC dust grain formation. Due to SiC dust prevalence in the interstellar medium, this may also shed light on subsequent planetary formation. Rhomboidal Si2C2 is shown here to have a notably intense (247 km mol−1) anharmonic vibrational frequency at 988.1 cm−1 (10.1 μm) for ν2, falling into one of the spectral emission features typically associated with unknown infrared bands of various astronomical regions. Notable intensities are also present for several of the computed anharmonic vibrational frequencies including the cyclic forms of C4, SiC3, Si3C, and Si4. These features in the 6–10 μm range are natural targets for infrared observation with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)’s MIRI instrument. Additionally, t-Si2C2, d-Si3C, and r-SiC3 each possess dipole moments of greater than 2.0 D making them interesting targets for radioastronomical searches especially since d-SiC3 is already known in astrophysical media.
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spelling doaj.art-ad2e8cf2f725485e98ae4b68ff56e4d32022-12-22T04:39:59ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences2296-987X2022-12-01910.3389/fspas.2022.10748791074879The spectral features and detectability of small, cyclic silicon carbide clustersChristopher M. Sehring0C. Zachary Palmer1Brent R. Westbrook2Ryan C. Fortenberry3Division of Mathematics and Sciences, Delta State University, Cleveland, MS, United StatesDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, United StatesDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, United StatesDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, United StatesRovibrational spectral data for several tetra-atomic silicon carbide clusters (TASCCs) are computed in this work using a CCSD(T)-F12b/cc-pCVTZ-F12 quartic force field. Accurate theoretical spectroscopic data may facilitate the observation of TASCCs in the interstellar medium which may lead to a more complete understanding of how the smallest silicon carbide (SiC) solids are formed. Such processes are essential for understanding SiC dust grain formation. Due to SiC dust prevalence in the interstellar medium, this may also shed light on subsequent planetary formation. Rhomboidal Si2C2 is shown here to have a notably intense (247 km mol−1) anharmonic vibrational frequency at 988.1 cm−1 (10.1 μm) for ν2, falling into one of the spectral emission features typically associated with unknown infrared bands of various astronomical regions. Notable intensities are also present for several of the computed anharmonic vibrational frequencies including the cyclic forms of C4, SiC3, Si3C, and Si4. These features in the 6–10 μm range are natural targets for infrared observation with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)’s MIRI instrument. Additionally, t-Si2C2, d-Si3C, and r-SiC3 each possess dipole moments of greater than 2.0 D making them interesting targets for radioastronomical searches especially since d-SiC3 is already known in astrophysical media.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspas.2022.1074879/fullvibrational spectroscopyinfrared observationscoupled cluster theoryastrochemistrycarbon chemistrysilicon chemistry
spellingShingle Christopher M. Sehring
C. Zachary Palmer
Brent R. Westbrook
Ryan C. Fortenberry
The spectral features and detectability of small, cyclic silicon carbide clusters
Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
vibrational spectroscopy
infrared observations
coupled cluster theory
astrochemistry
carbon chemistry
silicon chemistry
title The spectral features and detectability of small, cyclic silicon carbide clusters
title_full The spectral features and detectability of small, cyclic silicon carbide clusters
title_fullStr The spectral features and detectability of small, cyclic silicon carbide clusters
title_full_unstemmed The spectral features and detectability of small, cyclic silicon carbide clusters
title_short The spectral features and detectability of small, cyclic silicon carbide clusters
title_sort spectral features and detectability of small cyclic silicon carbide clusters
topic vibrational spectroscopy
infrared observations
coupled cluster theory
astrochemistry
carbon chemistry
silicon chemistry
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspas.2022.1074879/full
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