Appendix 2: Molecular data bases

Abstract

Astrochemistry makes enormous demands on laboratory and theoretical chemistry to obtain line frequencies, molecular parameters and rate coefficients for chemical reactions under interstellar conditions. The astrophysical needs for such large data bases continue to increase. For example, spectral line surveys at submillimeter wavelengths routinely contain thousands of rotational lines, whereas high resolution infrared and optical data require large amounts of information on vibrational and electronic transitions. The astrophysical modeling, both of interstellar clouds and of the envelopes and photospheres of stars, has improved to the stage that highly accurate molecular data are essential.