Interstellar molecules are a significant resource that provide insight to characterize the interior of molecular clouds. Since these molecules are hundreds of lightyears away, samples cannot be taken to identify them. However, molecular spectroscopy can be performed to determine spectral lines of known molecules on Earth to compare with the emission lines captured through radio astronomy. This paper presents the design and construction of a gas-phase laboratory spectrometer utilizing terahertz radiation to measure the spectral lines of water and glycolaldehyde, a common complex organic molecule found in the interstellar medium.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Mason, Kaitlin

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042822-141410
• 65541

Keyword

• Terahertz
• Astrophysics
• Spectroscopy

Advisor

• Petkie, Douglas Todd

Year

• 2022

Date created

• 2022-04-28

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Physics

Rights statement

• In Copyright