Leiden University Student Repository

Donker, Merel (2019)

Ionization and Dissociation of Interstellar Benzonitrile

Bachelor thesis | Natuurkunde (BSc)

The irradiation of benzonitrile (C6H5CN) in the interstellar medium (ISM) is analyzed with photoelectron photoion coincidence spectroscopy and simulated with quantum chemical calculations. The experiment took place at the Swiss Light Source, where vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation can be made. VUV radiation is present in the ISM, so this gives an idea how benzonitrile behaves in the ISM. The ionization energy of benzonitrile was found to be 9.72 +- 0.03 eV. This was obtained out of a threshold photoelectron spectrum. This spectrum was also simulated and gave information about the electronic states and vibrational transitions. The main products of the dissociation found in the experiment have a m/z of 76 and 52 and H-loss. With quantum chemical calculations these product were assigned to molecules and their reaction paths were calculated. The products correspond respectively to benzyne (C6H4) and to cyclobutadiene (C4H4). These products might be interesting for future observations.

Benzonitrile

Ionization

Dissociation

Author

Donker, Merel

Faculty

Faculty of Science

Supervisors

Bouwman, Jordy

ECTS Credits

3

Language

en