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MO: Fachverband Molekülphysik

MO 24: Molecular Spectroscopy I

MO 24.1: Invited Talk

Thursday, March 5, 2026, 11:00–11:30, P 204

Electronic Spectra of Doped Diamondoid Cations — •Parker Crandall, Ronja Schramm, Sebastian Völz, Domenik Schleier, and Otto Dopfer — Institut für Physik und Astronomie, Technische Universität Berlin, Hardenbergstraße 36, Berlin, Germany

Pre-solar nanodiamonds grains have been found in significant abundance in primitive carbonaceous chondrites, suggesting a possible interstellar origin. Their presence raises the question of whether aliphatic (sp³-hybridized), diamond-like hydrocarbons can form and survive in the harsh conditions of the interstellar medium. Diamondoid cations represent compelling spectroscopic targets. Not only are diamondoids the smallest molecular units of bulk diamond, but their cations are relatively stable and have electronic transitions that lie in the visible range, making them potential candidates as carriers of the diffuse interstellar bands. While our previous work focused on bare and functionalized derivatives, we present our recently measured spectra of N-, O-, and S-doped (cage-modified) diamondoid cations, measured in the gas-phase using either a photoelectron spectrometer, a cryogenically cooled ion trap coupled to a tandem mass spectrometer, or both. These results are further supported by quantum chemical calculations and can provide critical reference data for astronomical searches in the pursuit of a broader understanding of the chemical inventory of the interstellar medium.

Keywords: Spectroscopy; Astrochemistry; Diamondoids; Photoelectron; Photodissociation