Extended analysis of hydroxyacetone in the torsional ground state

The torsion-rotation spectrum of hydroxyacetone presents a highly challenging analysis problem in molecular physics. Continuing analyses of this species are compelling due to a nascent interest from astronomers, who believe hydroxyacetone may link a variety of organic chemical families observed in the interstellar medium (ISM). Recent work has demonstrated the difficulties in analysis of the millimeter spectrum, and the modestly weaker spectrum in this region has not afforded an ISM detection. We present an extension of the laboratory measurements and analysis up to the room temperature Boltzmann peak near 300 GHz, thus providing sufficient coverage to examine the ISM for the strongest features expected in star-forming hot cores. Even without subsequent detection, searches for the stronger features will produce the lowest possible upper limits of this elusive species.