ExoMol molecular line lists XX: a comprehensive line list for H$_3^+$

TL;DR

This paper presents a comprehensive, high-accuracy line list for H$_3^+$, crucial for astronomical observations and models, including spectral data, cooling functions, and state lifetimes, all made publicly available.

Contribution

The authors developed the MiZATeP line list for H$_3^+$, providing extensive spectral data and related parameters, representing a significant advancement in molecular data for astrophysics.

Findings

Extensive line list for H$_3^+$ created with high accuracy.

Temperature-dependent cooling and partition functions provided.

Lifetimes for excited states calculated and included.

Abstract

H$_3^+$ is a ubiquitous and important astronomical species whose spectrum has been observed in the interstellar medium, planets and tentatively in the remnants of supernova SN1897a. Its role as a cooler is important for gas giant planets and exoplanets, and possibly the early Universe. All this makes the spectral properties, cooling function and partition function of H$_3^+$ key parameters for astronomical models and analysis. A new high-accuracy, very extensive line list for H$_3^+$ called MiZATeP was computed as part of the ExoMol project alongside a temperature-dependent cooling function and partition function as well as lifetimes for %individual excited states. These data are made available in electronic form as supplementary data to this article and at http://www.exomol.com