Calculation of rate coefficients for the excitation of rotational energy levels of the H2CS molecule by collisions with He atoms

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Wilhelm H. Kegel (†)
• Subject Area: Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Term: Funded in 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 262982349

The H2CS molecule has been observed in many interstellar clouds as well as in the circumstellar envelope of the carbon star IRC+10216. For a quantitative interpretation of the observed data one has to perform NLTE radiative transfer calculations. For such calculations one needs to know the frequencies and the transitionprobabilities of many (also non-observed) spectral lines as well as the rate coefficients for excitation and deexcitation by collisions. The goal of the present project is to calculate rate coefficients for collisions between H2CS molecules and He atoms. In interstellar space collisional excitation is dominated by collisions with H2 molecules. These may be approximated reasonably well by collisions with He atoms. The latter are easier to calculate.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Dieter Breitschwerdt