Published May 1, 2010 | Version v1
Journal article

EVIDENCE FOR DIACETYLENE CATION AS THE CARRIER OF A DIFFUSE INTERSTELLAR BAND

  • 1. Center for Astronomy, N. Copernicus University, Gagarina 11, Pl-87-100 Torun (Poland)
  • 2. European Southern Observatory, Casilla 19001, Santiago 19 (Chile)
  • 3. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-747 (Korea, Republic of)
  • 4. Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Kasprzaka 44/52, 01-224 Warsaw (Poland)

Description

High-quality spectra acquired at three different observatories point to the presence of a new diffuse interstellar band (DIB) at 5069 A. The spectral profile of this DIB matches published laboratory measurements of the diacetylene cation A 2Π u -X 2Π g (0-0) low-temperature gas-phase optical absorption. HC4H+ is approximately 60-80 times less abundant than CH along the analyzed lines of sight. Only an upper limit could presently be inferred from the search for an analogous band of the triacetylene cation HC6H+, expected at 6001.1 A, which implies the HC6H+ to HC4H+ ratio of less than ∼1/3.

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/714/1/L64

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Astrophysical Journal Letters
Journal Volume
714
Journal Issue
1
Journal Page Range
p. L64-L67
ISSN
2041-8205

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
41052654
Subject category
S74: ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS; S79: ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY;
Descriptors DEI
ABSORPTION; CATIONS; INTERSTELLAR SPACE; MOLECULES; SPECTRA
Descriptors DEC
CHARGED PARTICLES; IONS; SORPTION; SPACE