2005A&A...432..559K

Silicon-bearing species Si₂H_x (x=1-6) are probable candidates in the circumstellar envelope of IRC+10216. We have observed several fundamentals of new silicon-containing radicals Si₂H₃ and Si₂H₅ in addition to the well-known Si₂H₄ and Si₂H₆ species from infrared spectroscopy in low temperature silane matrices at 10K. Several infrared bands identify the Si₂H_x species and can be used to search for these molecules in the circumstellar envelope of IRC+10216. These infrared bands are confirmed by ab initio quantum chemical calculation as well as via corresponding infrared spectra detected for the deuterated species Si₂D_x.