Engineering topics

Dhendecourt, L.

Publications and source records attributed to Dhendecourt, L..

3 records

NASA NTRS1986

Identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

The nature of the Very Small Grains evidenced by K. Sellgren (1985) is discussed. Thsir stability suggests that they are graphitic material and specifically Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). The expected infrared emission of a typical PAH, coronene, gives an impressive spectroscopic agreement with the five observed Unidentified IR Emission Features, leading to an unambiguous identification. Those PAHs are the most abundant organic molecules detected to date (f is approximately .00001).

Leger, A.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Pregraphitic molecules and the red-rectangle emission

In light of the recent identification of an infrared emission band at 3.3, 6.2, 7.7, 8.6, and 11 microns as emissions from pregraphitic molecules, the possibility that a large broad emission bump in the red part of the spectrum of the Red-Rectangle (AFGL 918) nebula is luminescence from the same molecules was investigated. The abundance, luminescence yield of the carrier, and the phosphorescence is discussed.

Dhendecourt, L.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Are aromatic hydrocarbons the carriers of the diffuse interstellar bands in the visible?

Large Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) are the likely origin of the Unidentified Infrared Emission Feature. The molecules or their ions are also attractive candidates for the carriers of the Diffuse Interstellar Bands (DIBs) in the visible range. The PAHs have optically active transitions in the visible spectrum; have the ability to survive the ultraviolet photons in the Diffuse Interstellar Medium; and are the most abundant among the detected molecular species after H2 and CO. In particular, PAHs are better candidates than the long carbon chains that were proposed previously.

Leger, A.↗