Near-IR Photoluminescence of C60+ and Implications for Astronomy

Abstract

We have observed that C${}_{60}^{+}$ ions isolated in cryogenic matrixes show pronounced near-IR photoluminescence upon excitation in the near-IR range. By contrast UV photoexcitation does not lead to measurable luminescence. After the recent unequivocal assignment of five Diffuse Interstellar Bands to near-IR absorption bands of C${}_{60}^{+}$, we propose to search also for C${}_{60}^{+}$ near-IR emission in those astronomical objects, where fullerenes have been already detected or may be potentially present.