Abstract
The unidentified diffuse interstellar bands are observed in near-UV, visible and near-IR spectra recorded towards stars which are partially obscured by interstellar dust. Their origin is the longest standing problem in astronomical spectroscopy and dates back to the 1930s when systematic study of the bands first started. Proposals for the carriers range from molecular hydrogen to porphyrins and from colour centres to species adsorbed on grain surfaces. This paper contains a short review of the problem and a discussion of recent possible assignments of some of the bands to transitions of the H2, and molecules. Observations of ultra-high resolution spectra of diffuse absorption bands, optical diffuse emission bands from the Red Rectangle, and complementary studies of the 3.3 μm ‘unidentified’ infrared (UIR) emission band are described.
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