IDENTIFICATION OF THE INTERSTELLAR CYANOMETHYL RADICAL (CH2CN) IN THE MOLECULAR CLOUDS TMC-1 AND SAGITTARIUS-B2

Authors

William M. Irvine, University of Massachusetts - AmherstFollow
P FRIBERG
A HJALMARSON
S ISHIKAWA
N KAIFU
K KAWAGUCHI
SC MADDEN
HE MATTHEWS
M OHISHI
S SAITO
H SUZUKI
P THADDEUS
BE TURNER
S YAMAMOTO
LM ZIURYS

Publication Date

1988

Journal or Book Title

ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL

Abstract

The authors report the astronomical identification of the cyanomethyl radical, CH₂CN, the heaviest nonlinear molecular radical to be identified in interstellar clouds. The complex fine and hyperfine structures of the lowest rotational transitions at about 20.12 and 40.24 GHz are resolved in TMC-1, where the abundance appears to be about 5×10^-9 relative to that of H₂. In Sgr B2 the hyperfine structure is blended in the higher frequency transitions at 40, 80, and 100 GHz, although the spin-rotation doubling is clearly evident. Preliminary searches in other sources indicate that the distribution of CH₂CN is similar to that for such carbon chain species as HC₃N or C₄H.

Comments

The published version is located at http://adsabs.harvard.edu/doi/10.1086/185323

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1086/185323

Pages

L107-L111

Volume

334

Issue

2

Recommended Citation

Irvine, William M.; FRIBERG, P; HJALMARSON, A; ISHIKAWA, S; KAIFU, N; KAWAGUCHI, K; MADDEN, SC; MATTHEWS, HE; OHISHI, M; SAITO, S; SUZUKI, H; THADDEUS, P; TURNER, BE; YAMAMOTO, S; and ZIURYS, LM, "IDENTIFICATION OF THE INTERSTELLAR CYANOMETHYL RADICAL (CH2CN) IN THE MOLECULAR CLOUDS TMC-1 AND SAGITTARIUS-B2" (1988). ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL. 259.
https://doi.org/10.1086/185323