Although the hydrogen atoms are constantly scrambling, the overall range of types of structures can be characterized by three basic configurations.

CH5+ has five hydrogen atoms scrambling around a carbon atom that sits at the center.

The ultimate goal of this work is to identify a kind of signature for CH5+. Once we have it, we can compare it to what is observed from astronomical measurements to determine its abundance in different regions of space.

It turns out that this was the crucial step.

Fact: You are part Shakespeare. You are part Jack the Ripper. You are part dinosaur. You are part of a star that exploded way back at the beginning of time. On one level, you've already lived forever,. There is no separation.

The ultimate goal of this work is to identify a kind of signature for CH5+. Once we have it, we can compare it to what is observed from astronomical measurements to determine its abundance in different regions of space.