ORGANIC-MOLECULES IN THE GAS-PHASE OF DENSE INTERSTELLAR CLOUDS

Authors

William M. Irvine, University of Massachusetts - AmherstFollow

Publication Date

1994

Journal or Book Title

LIFE SCIENCES AND SPACE RESEARCH XXV (4)

Abstract

Since a previous COSPAR review on this subject, the number of molecular species identified by astronomers in dense interstellar clouds or in the envelopes expelled by evolved stars has grown from about eighty to approximately one hundred. Recent detections in stellar envelopes include the radical CP, the second phosphorus-containing astronomical molecule; SiN, the first astronomical molecule with a Si---N bond; and the HCCN radical. In the dense interstellar clouds recent detections or verifications of previous possible identifications include the H₃O⁺ ion, which is a critical intermediary in the production of H₂O and O₂; the CCO radical, which is isoelectronic with HCCN; the SO⁺ ion, which appears to be diagnostic of shock chemistry; two new isomers of cyanoacetylene, HCCNC and CCCNH; and the two cumulenes H₂C₃ and H₂C₄. Some recent work is also described on the mapping of interstellar clouds in multiple molecular transitions in order to separate variations in chemical abundance from gradients in physical parameters.

Comments

The published version is located at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V3S-3XG1XRC-1N&_user=1516330&_coverDate=03%2F31%2F1995&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=gateway&_origin=gateway&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1746058943&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000053443&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1516330&md5=91d84c021d6ebde0530cbd917cee85b4&searchtype=a

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0273-1177(99)80061-1

Pages

35-43

Volume

15

Issue

3

Book Series Title

ADVANCES IN SPACE RESEARCH

Recommended Citation

Irvine, William M., "ORGANIC-MOLECULES IN THE GAS-PHASE OF DENSE INTERSTELLAR CLOUDS" (1994). LIFE SCIENCES AND SPACE RESEARCH XXV (4). 223.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0273-1177(99)80061-1