Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-8mjnm Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-27T11:53:04.829Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A Search for Interstellar CH2D+

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2008

Alwyn Wootten
Affiliation:
National Radio Astronomy Observatory520 Edgemont Road, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903, USA email: awootten@nrao.edu
Barry E. Turner
Affiliation:
National Radio Astronomy Observatory520 Edgemont Road, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903, USA email: awootten@nrao.edu
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

We report on a search for interstellar CH2D+. Four transitions occur in easily accessible portions of the spectrum; we report on emission at the frequencies of these transitions toward high column density star-forming regions. While the observations can be interpreted as being consistent with a detection of the molecule, further observations will be needed to secure its identification. The CH2D+ rotational spectrum has not been measured to high accuracy. Its lines are weak, as the dipole moment induced by the inclusion of deuterium in the molecule is small. Astronomical detection is favored by observations toward strongly deuterium-fractionated sources. However, enhanced deuteration is expected to be most significant at low temperatures. The sparseness of the available spectrum and the low excitation in regions of high fractionation make secure identification of CH2D+ difficult. Nonetheless, owing to the importance of CH3+ to interstellar chemistry, and the lack of rotational transitions of that molecule owing to its planar symmetric structure, a measure of its abundance would provide key data to astrochemical models.

Type
Contributed Papers
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2008

References

Greason, M. R. 1986, M.S. Thesis, U. of Va.Google Scholar
Jagod, M., Roesslein, M., Gabrys, C. M., & Oka, T. 1992, J. Molecular Spectroscopy, 55, 153, 666Google Scholar
Roesslein, M., Jagod, M., Gabrys, C. M., & Oka, T. 1991, ApJ (Letters), 382, L51CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roueff, E., Parise, B., & Herbst, E. 2007, A&A, 464, 245Google Scholar
Wootten, A. 1987, in: Vardya, M. S. and Tarafdar, S. P. (eds.), IAU Symposium 120, Astrochemistry (Dordrecht, D. Reidel Publishing Co.), p. 311Google Scholar
Wootten, A., Loren, R. B., & Snell, R. L. 1982, ApJ, 255, 160CrossRefGoogle Scholar