Diffuse interstellar bands are spectral features that are associated with molecular clouds in interstellar space. Since their discovery in 1922 they have remained fairly mysterious, as has the composition of the molecular clouds that they are associated with. However, some key facts are well established:
1) They are not stellar lines.
2) They correlate well with red color excess in bright B class stars partly obscured by molecular clouds
(and this class of stars has a simple spectra - no forrest of lines to deal with from the star itself)
3) ~300 DIB lines have been noted that can vary from cloud to cloud and likely represent unique
molecular carriers (cloud is composed of multiple chemicals)
And some things that are not so well established:
1) The chemicals that contribute to each DIB is unknown/uncertain but may be due to polyaromatic
hydrocarbons, fullurenes
2) DIB features are thought to come from UV 'pumping' of these compounds which absorb light by
virtue of their ionization
3) Laboratory generated spectral data for a variety of organic aromatic compounds suggest identies for
some DIB bands, but technical difficulties in establishing space-like conditions make these assignments
uncertain
Why should we care about DIBs?
1) Astrobiology, extrasolar planets, the search for extraterrestrial life is hot stuff these days
2) DIB-related molecules could bear a relationship to protobiotic material that could lead to origin of life
3) The best/easiest/most practical pursuit for amateurs who wish to engage in astrobiological related
research?
Research plan
About me:
I'm a molecular biologist by trade and although I have an interest in multidisciplinary approaches to astrobiological questions, I have no formal training in spectrophotmetry/astronomy. If you have
any suggestions, please let me know. I am interested in any ideas that would allow someone to do
some meaningful astrobiological-related science with amateur-level equipment.