Torsional-rotational spectrum of doubly-deuterated dimethyl ether (CH$_3$OCHD$_2$) -- First ALMA detection in the interstellar medium

TL;DR

This paper reports the first detection of doubly-deuterated dimethyl ether in space, supported by laboratory spectroscopy and analysis of ALMA data, advancing understanding of complex organic molecules in star-forming regions.

Contribution

It provides the first laboratory analysis and astronomical detection of doubly-deuterated dimethyl ether in the interstellar medium, including new spectroscopic parameters.

Findings

First laboratory rotational spectrum of CH$_3$OCHD$_2$ measured between 150-1500 GHz.

First astronomical detection of doubly-deuterated dimethyl ether in the interstellar medium.

Identification of both conformers of CH$_3$OCHD$_2$ near IRAS 16293-2422.

Abstract

In 2013, we have published the first rotational analysis and detection of mono-deuterated dimethyl ether in the solar-type protostar IRAS 16293-2422 with the IRAM 30m telescope. Dimethyl ether is one of the most abundant complex organic molecules (COMs) in star-forming regions and their D-to-H (D/H) ratios is important to understand its chemistry and trace the source history. We present the first analysis of doubly-deuterated dimethyl ether (methoxy-d2-methane, 1,1-dideuteromethylether) in its ground-vibrational state, based on an effective Hamiltonian for an asymmetric rotor molecules with internal rotors. The analysis covers the frequency range 0.15-1.5THz. The laboratory rotational spectrum of this species was measured between 150 and 1500 GHz with the Lille's submillimeter spectrometer. For the astronomical detection, we used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations from the Protostellar Interferometric Line Survey, PILS. New sets of spectroscopic parameters have been determined by a least squares fit with the ERHAM code for both symmetric and asymmetric conformers. As for the mono-deuterated species, these parameters have permitted the first identification in space of both conformers of a doubly-deuterated dimethyl ether via detection near the B component of the Class 0 protostar IRAS 16293-2422.