Quantum chemistry and excited states: First investigations on pyrene-like molecules

Although the calculations are expected to be accurate within 10%, it follows then that there cannot be proposed unquestionable one-to-one attribution due to the density of the DIB's (Diffuse Interstellar Bands). Nevertheless, it has been shown that if one is interested in the experimental study of methyl-pyrene cations, for example, then, the most promising candidate is the 1-methyl isomer: this isomer has been investigated by d'Hendecourt and Leger (1993,1994) and their spectrum shows very striking features in very good agreement with both our calculations and a few DIB's. However, 1-methyl-pyrene cation is not the only product susceptible of being formed in this experiment, and further investigations are in progress to give a complete interpretations of the results. This preliminary report on pyrene-like molecules illustrates the role that theoretical calculations can ply in both the design and the interpretation of experiments.