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Home Q & A Board Science-Related Homework Help Physics
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barry barry
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11 years ago
Explain why interstellar molecules are best observed at radio wavelengths.
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11 years ago
"Interstellar molecules are observed spectroscopically either through emission lines or through absorption lines in a medium in front of a source of continuum radiation (light), such as a star or a quasar. These lines can be of radio-, millimeter-, or infrared wavelengths, depending on the molecule and the type of spectral line. Since the photon emitted represents precisely the energy difference between two well-specified molecular levels, its wavelength is equally well specified because it is inversely proportional to the energy difference. Thus, in the much simplified case when our molecule has only two energy levels, it will emit and absorb photons at only one specific wavelength. A population of molecules will either add or remove photons at its specific wavelength, leading to either an excess or a shortage of radiation at this wavelength."
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11 years ago
Interstellar molecules are best observed and studied through their radio emissions because most interstellar molecules are located in cold molecular clouds. In these locations molecules are rarely excited by any means except rotation and vibration. These excitations are very low-energy. Because of the low energy involved in these excitations, very low energy photons are emitted.
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barry Authorbarry
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11 years ago
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