{
  "abstract": "High-resolution cross-correlation spectroscopy (HRCCS) is a powerful technique for detecting molecules whose individual spectral lines are too weak to be identified directly, but its sensitivity is limited by the availability and quality of high-resolution opacity data. Many molecules of atmospheric and astrobiological interest lack complete line lists, restricting traditional template-based searches. In this work, we use Titan as a controlled testbed to develop and validate a new cross-section-based methodology for HRCCS template construction. We analyse K-band CRIRES+ observations of Titan (1.99 - 2.48 μm), and compute cross-correlation functions using both line-by-line and cross-section-based templates. Our analysis recovers known hydrocarbons such as methane (CH4) and acetylene (C2H2), and yields the first HRCCS detection of ethane (C2H6) with a significance of SNRpeak = 5.17 {\\pm} 0.07. The ethane detection was made possible exclusively through cross-section-based templates, as no high-resolution line list currently exists for this molecule. These results demonstrate that cross-section-based template construction is a practical and powerful strategy for extending HRCCS to molecules that currently lack reliable line lists, and establish Titan as a benchmark for calibrating molecular detection techniques that can be applied to both solar system and exoplanet atmospheres. Future applications of this approach to other ground-based high-resolution spectrographs, as well as to JWST's highest-resolution modes and next-generation facilities such as the ELT, could significantly expand the inventory of molecules detectable in planetary atmospheres.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2609.03975",
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Maria Coelho"
    },
    {
      "name": "Rafael Rianço-Silva"
    },
    {
      "name": "Diogo Gonçalves"
    },
    {
      "name": "Pedro Machado"
    },
    {
      "name": "Zita Martins"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4xgdabx0rtckj.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2609.03975",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "4xgdabx0rtckj",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.03975",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "astro-ph.EP"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "astro-ph.IM"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "astro-ph.SR"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "physics.ao-ph"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "physics.space-ph"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2609.03975",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-03",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4xgdabx0rtckj.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:31Z",
      "native_id": "2609.03975",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.03975"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "astronomy",
      "origin": "arxiv:astro-ph.IM",
      "subfield": "instrumentation-methods"
    },
    {
      "field": "astronomy",
      "origin": "arxiv:astro-ph.EP",
      "subfield": "planetary"
    },
    {
      "field": "astronomy",
      "origin": "arxiv:astro-ph.SR",
      "subfield": "stellar"
    },
    {
      "field": "earth",
      "origin": "arxiv:physics.ao-ph",
      "subfield": "atmospheric"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Detection of hydrocarbons in Titan using high-resolution cross-correlation spectroscopy",
  "title_text": "Detection of hydrocarbons in Titan using high-resolution cross-correlation spectroscopy",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:31Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4xgdabx0rtckj",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": [
    {
      "doi": "10.1093/rasti/rzag068",
      "pid": null,
      "relation": "published-as",
      "title": null,
      "venue": null
    }
  ]
}