Observation of Inter-Rydberg Transitions in H[TINF]2[/TINF] Coinciding with Diffuse Interstellar Bands

Abstract

In a laboratory study inter-Rydberg transitions originating from the lowest rotational levels of the C 1 Πν = 5 and ν = 6 states of molecular hydrogen are found to coincide with frequency positions and widths of diffuse interstellar bands. It is the first time that diffuse interstellar bands are assigned to transitions measured in gas-phase molecules that are known to exist in interstellar space. © 1997. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.