Publication Date:
2019-05-21
Description:
Recent advances in laboratory spectroscopy lead to the claim of ionized Buckminsterfullerene (C60(+)) as the carrier of two diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) in the near-infrared. However, irrefutable identication of interstellar C60(+) requires a match between the wavelengths and the expected strengths of all absorption features detectable in the laboratory and in space. Here we present Hubble Space Telescope (HST) spectra of the region covering the C60(+) 9348, 9365, 9428, and 9577 absorption bands toward seven heavily reddened stars. We focus in particular on searching for the weaker laboratory C60(+) bands, the very presence of which has been a matter for recent debate. Using the novel STIS-scanning technique to obtain ultra-high signal-to-noise spectra without contamination from telluric absorption that aficted previous ground-based observations, we obtained reliable detections of the (weak) 9365, 9428 and (strong) 9577 C60(+) bands. The band wavelengths and strength ratios are sufciently similar to those determined in the latest laboratory experiments that we consider this the rst robust identication of the 9428 band, and a conclusive conrmation of interstellar C60(+).
Keywords:
Astrophysics
Type:
GSFC-E-DAA-TN68405
,
Astrophysical Journal Letters (ISSN 2041-8205) (e-ISSN 2041-8213); 875; 2; L28
Format:
text
