32 research outputs found
The rovibrational spectrum of BeH, MgH and CaH at high temperatures in the state: a theoretical study
Accurate line lists for three molecules, BeH, MgH and CaH, in their ground
electronic states are presented. These line lists are suitable for temperatures
relevant to exoplanetary atmospheres and cool stars (up to 2000K). A
combination of empirical and \textit{ab initio} methods is used. The
rovibrational energy levels of BeH, MgH and CaH are computed using the programs
Level and DPotFit in conjunction with `spectroscopic' potential energy curves
(PECs). The PEC of BeH is taken from the literature, while the PECs of CaH and
MgH are generated by fitting to the experimental transition energy levels. Both
spin-rotation interactions (except for BeH, for which it is negligible) and
non-adiabatic corrections are explicitly taken into account. Accurate line
intensities are generated using newly computed \textit{ab initio} dipole moment
curves for each molecule using high levels of theory. Full line lists of
rotation-vibration transitions for BeH, MgH, MgH, MgH
and CaH are made available in an electronic form as supplementary data
to this article and at \url{www.exomol.com}.Comment: MNRAS (in press
Enhanced Characterization of the Smell of Death by Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography-Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (GCxGC-TOFMS)
Soon after death, the decay process of mammalian soft tissues begins and leads to the release of cadaveric volatile compounds in the surrounding environment. The study of postmortem decomposition products is an emerging field of study in forensic science. However, a better knowledge of the smell of death and its volatile constituents may have many applications in forensic sciences. Domestic pigs are the most widely used human body analogues in forensic experiments, mainly due to ethical restrictions. Indeed, decomposition trials on human corpses are restricted in many countries worldwide. This article reports on the use of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GCxGC-TOFMS) for thanatochemistry applications. A total of 832 VOCs released by a decaying pig carcass in terrestrial ecosystem, i.e. a forest biotope, were identified by GCxGC-TOFMS. These postmortem compounds belong to many kinds of chemical class, mainly oxygen compounds (alcohols, acids, ketones, aldehydes, esters), sulfur and nitrogen compounds, aromatic compounds such as phenolic molecules and hydrocarbons. The use of GCxGC-TOFMS in study of postmortem volatile compounds instead of conventional GC-MS was successful