TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENCE OF INFRARED BANDS PRODUCED BY POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS

The behavior of IR absorption bands with temperature has been examined systematically in the laboratory for three representative polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecules: coronene, chrysene, and 1-methylcoronene. A careful description of both intensity and profile measured for most of the bands is reported. A tentative interpretation of the observed variations is given in terms of extramolecular effects produced by the anharmonicity of the vibrational energy levels as a function of temperature. These new laboratory data provide an accurate description of the optical properties for representative molecules often used to account for the so-called unidentified infrared bands emitted by astronomical sources.