Hydrogenation of interstellar molecules: A survey for methylenimine (CH2NH)

Authors

JE Dickens
William M. Irvine, University of Massachusetts - AmherstFollow
CH DeVries
M Ohishi

Publication Date

1997

Journal or Book Title

ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL

Abstract

Methylenimine (CH₂NH) has been convincingly detected for the first time outside the Galactic center as part of a study of the hydrogenation of interstellar molecules. We have observed transitions from energy levels up to about 100 K above the ground state in the giant molecular clouds W51, Orion KL and G34.3+0.15. In addition, CH₂NH was found at the "radical-ion peak" on the quiescent ridge of material in the Orion molecular cloud. The abundance ratio CH₂NH/HCN at the radical-ion peak agrees with the predictions of recent gas-phase chemical models. This ratio is an order of magnitude higher in the warmer cloud cores, suggesting additional production pathways for CH₂NH, probably on interstellar grains.

Comments

The published version is located at http://iopscience.iop.org/0004-637X/479/1/307

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1086/303884

Pages

307-312

Volume

479

Issue

1

Recommended Citation

Dickens, JE; Irvine, William M.; DeVries, CH; and Ohishi, M, "Hydrogenation of interstellar molecules: A survey for methylenimine (CH2NH)" (1997). ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL. 215.
https://doi.org/10.1086/303884