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Contribution to Book
Multilevel Study of C3H2: the First Interstellar Hydrocarbon Ring
NASA Technical Mem. 88342 (1986)
  • William M. Irvine
  • S C Madden, et al, University of Massachusetts - Amherst
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.
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/