Detection of C${}_{60}$ Combination Bands in the Near-IR Spectrum of Tc 1

Abstract

We report the detection of a set of new near-infrared emission features between 3.5 and 5.2 $\mu$m in JWST/NIRSpec observations of Tc 1, the planetary nebula known for displaying the cleanest and most prominent mid-infrared cosmic fullerene spectrum. These broad features share the same spatial distribution as the well-known C${}_{60}$ and C${}_{70}$ mid-infrared emission bands, peaking in an asymmetric ring approximately 5-6" from the central star. Through comparison with new anharmonic quantum chemical calculations, we demonstrate that these features arise from C${}_{60}$ combination bands, marking their first detection in an astrophysical environment. The total energy radiated in the combination bands amounts to ~17% of the total energy emitted from all C${}_{60}$ modes, with direct implications for fullerene cooling models. These near-infrared combination bands offer a promising new window for identifying and studying the molecular astrophysics of C${}_{60}$ in sources where mid-infrared spectra are more complex.

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