Detection of C₆₀ Combination Bands in the Near-IR Spectrum of Tc 1

We report the detection of a set of new near-infrared emission features between 3.5 and 5.2 μm in JWST/NIRSpec observations of Tc 1, the planetary nebula known for displaying the cleanest and most prominent mid-infrared cosmic fullerene spectrum. These broad features share the same spatial distribution as the well-known C₆₀ and C₇₀ mid-infrared emission bands, peaking in an asymmetric ring approximately 5″–6″ from the central star. Through comparison with new anharmonic quantum chemical calculations, we demonstrate that these features arise from C60 combination bands, marking their first detection in an astrophysical environment. The total energy radiated in the combination bands amounts to ∼17% of the total energy emitted from all C₆₀ modes, with direct implications for fullerene cooling models. These near-infrared combination bands offer a promising new window for identifying and studying the molecular astrophysics of C60 in sources where mid-infrared spectra are more complex.