Laboratory studies of the HNCO molecular spectrum for precise spectroscopy of dark clouds

Abstract

Detailed studies of the internal motions of dark clouds using spectral lines of many molecules require a laboratory frequency accuracy of the order of a few m s−1. Based on our laboratory studies of the HNCO rotational spectrum in the ground vibrational state, we have increased significantly the accuracy of frequency calculation in a wide range of quantum numbers. We have achieved an (1σ) uncertainty for rotational transitions in the K a = 0, 1 states recalculated to the Doppler velocity scale ≤2 m s−1 for all frequencies <1.1 THz. This value allows radio-astronomical measurements with an accuracy comparable to that of the highest-precision observations based on spectral lines of other molecules.