Physicists from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) have made a groundbreaking discovery in the study of the simplest molecule, H2+. The molecule, which is composed of two hydrogen nuclei and one electron, has long been a subject of interest for astrophysics and fundamental physics due to its significance in the early formation of the universe.
Published in Nature Physics, the study details the team’s successful measurement of the molecule’s vibrations using a laser, marking the first direct observation of such behavior. The findings closely align with theoretical predictions, shedding light on the elusive nature of H2+.
H2+ holds immense importance as one of the earliest molecules to emerge after the Big Bang. Despite its fundamental composition, its symmetrical properties have made it challenging to observe using traditional telescopic methods, as it absorbs and emits minimal visible and infrared radiation.
The molecule’s various vibrational and rotational states correspond to specific excitation energies, with transitions between these states resulting in the absorption or emission of characteristic energy, known as photons. Previous laboratory experiments have primarily relied on indirect measurements, without the use of lasers.
Dr. Soroosh Alighanbari, Magnus Schenkel, and Professor Stephan Schiller Ph.D. from the Institute for Experimental Physics at HHU have spearheaded this groundbreaking research, offering a direct insight into the rotational and vibrational behaviors of the H2+ molecule.
