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FELIX Infrared and THz Spectroscopy

Our group develops and uses mass spectrometric techniques in combination with advanced infrared and terahertz spectroscopy. Our main scientific focus is in the field of laboratory astrophysics and astrochemistry.

Our research

We aim to understand the chemical evolution in astrophysical environments, such as interstellar star-forming regions or (exo-) planetary atmospheres, by simulating their conditions in the laboratory. For this we apply infrared spectroscopy to obtain vibrational fingerprints of molecules to aid their identification in space.

The spectroscopic information allows us to identify molecular structures within isomeric mixtures, and thus to unravel and to understand astrochemical reaction kinetics and networks, both in the gas-phase or in ices.

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Our publications

A Comprehensive Reanalysis of K2-18 b’s JWST NIRISS+NIRSpec Transmission Spectrum

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Author(s) Stephen P. Schmidt, Ryan J. MacDonald, Shang-Min Tsai, Michael Radica, Le-Chris Wang, Eva-Maria Ahrer, Taylor J. Bell, Chloe Fisher, Daniel P. Thorngren, Nicholas Wogan, Erin M. May, Piero Ferrari, Katherine A. Bennett, Zafar Rustamkulov, Mercedes López-Morales, and David K. Sing
Year 2025
Journal The Astronomical Journal, Volume 170, Number 6
View this paper in The Astronomical Journal

Cryogenic Infrared Action Spectroscopy of H2NCO+ and H2NCS+, Protonated Forms of Interstellar HNCO and HNCS

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Author(s) Marius Gerlach, Noël René Schneider, Sara Petrić, Hunarpreet Kaur P., Bryan Changala, Britta Redlich, Sandra Brünken
Year 2025
Journal The Journal of Physical Chemistry A
View this paper in The Journal of Physical Chemistry A

Infrared predissociation spectroscopy of cold trapped C2H−(H2) and C2H−(D2)

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Author(s) S.P. Melath, K. Dulitz, M. Hauck, D. Swaraj, F. Dahlmann, M.D. Gerlach, D.F. Dinu, P. Jusko, K.R. Liedl, S. Schlemmer, S. Brünken, and R. Wester
Year 2025
Journal Mol. Phys. e2564248
View paper in Molecular Physics

Radical Isomerization upon Dissociative Electron Ionization of Anthracene and Phenanthrene

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Author(s) M.M. Patch, R. McClish, S. Panchagnula, H.R. Hrodmarsson, D.B. Rap, S. Brünken, H. Linnartz, A.G.G.M. Tielens, and J. Bouwman
Year 2025
Journal J. Am. Chem. Soc. 147, 34508-34516
View paper in Journal of the American Chemical Society

Group members