Contribution to Book
Multilevel Study of C3H2: the First Interstellar Hydrocarbon Ring
NASA Technical Mem. 88342
(1986)
Abstract
Cyclic species in the interstellar medium have been searched for almost since the first detection of interstellar polyatomic molecules. Eleven different C3H2 rotational transitions were detected; 9 of which were studied in TMC-1, a nearby dark dust cloud, are shown. The 110 yields 101 and 220 yields 211 transitions were observed with the 43 m NRAO telescope, while the remaining transitions were detected with the 14 m antenna of the Five College Radio Observatory (FCRAO). The lines detected in TMC-1 have energies above the ground state ranging from 0.9 to 17.1 K and consist of both ortho and para species. Limited maps were made along the ridge for several of the transitions. The HC3N J = 2 yields 1 transition were mapped simultaneously with the C3H2 110 yields 101 line and therefore can compare the distribution of this ring with a carbon chain in TMC-1. C3H2 is distributed along a narrow ridge with a SE - NW extension which is slightly more extended than the HC2N J = 2 yields 1. Gaussian fits gives a FWHP extension of 8'5 for C3H2 while HC3N has a FWHP of 7'. The data show variations of the two velocity components along the ridge as a function of transition. Most of the transitions show a peak at the position of strongest HC3N emission while the 221 yields 210 transition shows a peak at the NH3 position.
Disciplines
Publication Date
1986
Citation Information
William M. Irvine and S C Madden. "Multilevel Study of C3H2: the First Interstellar Hydrocarbon Ring" NASA Technical Mem. 88342 (1986) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/wirvine/157/