Scientists at the Max‑Planck‑Institut für Kernphysik (MPIK) in Heidelberg have successfully recreated helium hydride ion (HeH⁺)—believed to be the universe’s first molecule formed after the Big Bang—under ultra‑cold lab conditions. This milestone solves a 13-billion-year-old puzzle about early cosmic chemistry.
🌌 Why HeH⁺ Matters
- Formed just after recombination phase (~380,000 years post–Big Bang), HeH⁺ emerged from a neutral helium atom bonding with an ionized hydrogen nucleus. This marked the first-ever molecular bond.
- It played a critical role in cosmic cooling: the molecule’s rotation and vibration effectively shed heat, allowing cold gas clouds to collapse into the first stars.
🔬 Lab Setup Mimicked the Early Universe
- Researchers used the Cryogenic Storage Ring (CSR), chilling HeH⁺ ions to a few kelvins (around –267 °C) and colliding them with deuterium atoms to model early-universe reactions
- They found that, contrary to prior belief, the reaction rate remains nearly constant even at ultra-low temperatures—implying HeH⁺ reacted more vigorously in early cosmic chemistry than previously thought.
🌠 Revising the Cosmic Timeline
| Phase | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Recombination | Universe cooled, neutral helium and protons formed |
| HeH⁺ Formation | Helium hydride ion created via radiative association |
| Cooling Pathway | HeH⁺ enabled heat dissipation to allow star formation |
| New Insight | Lab findings confirm efficient HeH⁺ reactions even at cold |
| Star Birth | Freeze process helped first generation of stars ignite |
🧠 Deeper Impact of the Discovery
- Cosmology Reboot: Validates long-standing theories about the molecular era following the Big Bang and reshapes star-formation models.
- Astrophysics Clue: The findings help explain how hydrogen molecules (H₂ or HD⁺) formed rapidly from HeH⁺ degradation reactions.The Hindu
- Benchmark for Future Research: Offers critical data for early-universe simulation, spectral reconstructions, and next-generation telescopes.
🌌 The Road Ahead
With HeH⁺ recreated in the lab, scientists can now:
- Refine astrochemical models of early-universe conditions.
- Understand the molecular cooling mechanisms that made star formation possible.
- Bridge the gap between observational detection (e.g., in nebula NGC 7027 via SOFIA) and controlled experimentation.
Suggested Feature Image
Visual overlay showing HeH⁺ molecular structure against cosmic background and schematic of the shock-cooled ion beam collision inside the Cryogenic Storage Ring.
External Link Suggestions
- Max Planck Institute press release on the experiment
- Astronomy & Astrophysics journal article: Experimental confirmation of HeH⁺+D reaction rates
- SOFIA/SOFIA-GREAT detection of HeH⁺ in NGC 7027 planetary nebula
