Detection of C 60 Combination Bands in the Near-IR Spectrum of Tc 1

Le résumé fourni par la source

Abstract We report the detection of a set of new near-infrared emission features between 3.5 and 5.2 μ m in JWST/NIRSpec observations of Tc 1, the planetary nebula known for displaying the cleanest and most prominent mid-infrared cosmic fullerene spectrum. These broad features share the same spatial distribution as the well-known C 60 and C 70 mid-infrared emission bands, peaking in an asymmetric ring approximately 5″–6″ from the central star. Through comparison with new anharmonic quantum chemical calculations, we demonstrate that these features arise from C 60 combination bands, marking their first detection in an astrophysical environment. The total energy radiated in the combination bands amounts to ∼17% of the total energy emitted from all C 60 modes, with direct implications for fullerene cooling models. These near-infrared combination bands offer a promising new window for identifying and studying the molecular astrophysics of C 60 in sources where mid-infrared spectra are more complex.

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