Carbon 12 to carbon 13 ratio in the interstellar medium
Carbon 12 to carbon 13 ratio in Zeta Ophivchi and exchange with interstellar matter
Thaddeus, P.↗
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A semiempirical model for heavy element depletion in the interstellar medium
An empirical relationship is derived which reproduces the observed depletion factors in interstellar gas by relating them to some preshock distribution factor and the binding energy of the elements in appropriate compounds. By fitting this equation to the data, estimates are obtained for both the distribution factor and the critical binding energy, which is related to the shock strength at which grains are completely destroyed. The critical binding energy value therefore provides an estimate of the energy involved in the most recent shock event, while the preshock distribution factor is related to the preshock elemental distribution between gas and dust. It is noted that the minerals most likely to survive are the refractory ones with the largest binding energies.
Trivedi, B. M. P.↗
Ultraviolet studies of the interstellar medium
Copernicus satellite and IUE investigations of the chemical composition and physical condition of interstellar gas and dust in our Galaxy, and in external systems are reviewed. The local interstellar environment, dust, and the distribution of gas away from the plane of our Galaxy are covered.
Blades, J. C.↗
Chemical Evolution in the Interstellar Medium: From Astrochemistry to Astrobiology
Great strides have been made in our understanding of interstellar material thanks to advances in infrared astronomy and laboratory astrophysics. Ionized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), shockingly large molecules by earlier astrochemical standards, are widespread and very abundant throughout much of the Universe. In cold molecular clouds, the birthplace of planets and stars, interstellar molecules freeze onto dust and ice particles forming mixed molecular ices dominated by simple species such as water, methanol, ammonia, and carbon monoxide. Within these clouds, and especially in the vicinity of star and planet forming regions, these ices and PAHs are processed by ultraviolet light and cosmic rays forming hundreds of far more complex species, some of biogenic interest. Eventually, these are delivered to primordial planets by comets and meteorites. Astrochemical evolution, highlights of this field from a chemist's perspective, and the astronomer's infrared toolbox will be reviewed.
Allamandola, Louis J.↗
Radiation Chemistry of Solid Acetone in the Interstellar Medium - A New Dimension to an Old Problem
A laboratory investigation of acetone, an interstellar and cometary molecule, has produced new results concerning its decomposition in a radiation environment. Mid-infrared spectroscopy has been used to follow amorphous acetone’s destruction by ionizing radiation (1 MeV protons) at 20 K. Radiation products identified are the CH4, CO, and CO2 usually made in such experiments, along with ketene, allene, and the acetonyl radical, all identified here for the first time in irradiated solid acetone. Evidence for the reduction product 2-propanol was suggestive, but a firm identification could not be made either for it or for the C2 hydrocarbons (i.e., C2H6, C2H4, C2H2). The acetyl radical was not observed as a radiation product. Isotopically labeled reagents were used to demonstrate ketene formation and to emphasize that multiple approaches are needed for robust assignments of infrared spectral features of irradiated icy solids. Results from a supporting radiation experiment with isotopically labeled acetic acid are described. Comparisons are made to a previous study of acetone’s stability in extraterrestrial radiation environments, and caution is urged in measuring and interpreting CO abundances in irradiated icy solids.
R. L. Hudson↗
The interstellar medium near the sun. II - The line of sight to Alpha Virginis
Measurements of the UV interstellar lines in Alpha Vir between 935 and 2960 A are reported. The derived abundances indicate significant depletion of Al, Si, Mn, Fe, and possibly Mg, whereas S, C, Ar, and O appear to be essentially undepleted. About half the gas is shown to be ionized, with a mean electron density of no more than 1 per cu cm, and the remainder is neutral, though both regions have the same velocity to within 2 km/s. A small fraction of the gas is apparently at a temperature of 400,000 K. The possibility of measuring the temperature of the H I gas is discussed, using the observed relationship between Doppler width and mass. A detailed discussion is included of the data analysis useful for comparatively simple lines of sight in terms of density, temperature, and extent of the possible physical regions, and of the relevant radiation field. An unidentified feature at 1063.2 A is reported.
York, D. G.↗
Feii and Mgii in the Nearby Interstellar Medium
Ultraviolet spectra with 15 km/s resolution of bright stars were searched for FeII and MgII interstellar lines. Equivalent widths of absorption for 8 stars are presented and average line-of-sight densities n(FeII) = 4 x 10(-8) and n(MgII) = 2 x 10(-7)/cubic cm are calculated. This represents approximately n(H) = 0.03/cuib cm.
Deboer, K. S.↗
Supernova radio remnants and the filling factor of the hot interstellar medium
If a hot (temperature of about one-million K), tenuous gas fills about 90% of interstellar space, then the observed number and surface brightness distribution of galactic radio remnants implies a galactic supernova rate of once about every 30 years. This is consistent with estimates based on observations of historical supernovae, pulsars, and supernovae in other spiral galaxies.
Higdon, J. C.↗
The nearby interstellar medium
The high dispersion spectrometer on board the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) satellite was used to observe interstellar absorption lines in Rasalhague (Alpha Oph). This star is located 18 pc from the sun in the direction of the North Polar Spur, a prominent radio continuum feature in the Ophiuchus region of the sky. The satellite results, combined with previous interstellar line data and observations of the 'local interstellar wind' and soft X-ray emission, support earlier suggestions that the sun is immersed in a supernova remnant which may be an extension of the 'Loop I' or 'North Polar Spur' supernova remnant seen in the Scorpius-Ophiuchus region of the sky.
Frisch, P. C.↗
The interstellar medium and galactic structure
High energy gamma rays are produced by the interaction of cosmic rays with the interstellar matter in the galaxy. By combining the gamma ray information with radio data, a picture of the galaxy is presented with regard to the general structure and the effects of cosmic ray pressure. The interaction processes and galactic matter distribution are discussed. Galactic cosmic ray distribution and current gamma ray results are reported.
Source record↗
The dissipation of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence responsible for interstellar scintillation and the heating of the interstellar medium
The present reexamination of the problem of ISM heating via the damping of plasma irregularities responsible for interstellar scintillations of radio sources gives attention to the effects of recent observational results on the hot plasma of the irregularities and on developments of in the theory of MHD waves. The damping mechanisms considered are linear Landau damping, ion-neutral collisional damping, nonlinear steepening of wave packets, a parametric decay instability, and nonlinear Landau damping. The heat input from all damping mechanisms can be accommodated by the 'fluctifer' region containing the irregularities, if it has features similar to the extended H II envelopes.
Spangler, Steven R.↗
What predictions can be made on the nature of carbon and carbon-bearing compounds (hydrocarbons) in the interstellar medium based on studies of interplanetary dust particles?
The nature of hydrocarbons and properties of elemental carbon in circumstellar, interstellar, and interplanetary dust is a long standing problem in astronomy and meteorite research. The textures and crystallographical properties of poorly graphitized carbon (PGC) from carbonaceous chondrites and Chondritic Porous Aggregates (CPAs) are comparable with PGCs formed by dehydrogenation and carbonization of hydrocarbon precursors under natural terrestrial and experimental conditions. A multistage model of hydrocarbon diagenesis in CPA and carbonaceous chondrite (proto-) planetary parent bodies was proposed in which hydrocarbons are subjected to low temperature hydrous pyrolysis. Continued efforts to recognize hydrocarbons and elemental phases in CPAs may allow understanding of the multistage hydrocarbon/elemental carbon model.
Rietmeijer, F. J. M.↗
Hydromagnetic wave heating of the low-density interstellar medium
A simple model for supernova remnant sources of MHD waves is used to calculate the energy spectrum of waves in the intercloud medium and the heating rate resulting from their dissipation. Models of thermal phases of interstellar gas in ionization and thermal equilibrium are then constructed, and it is demonstrated that wave dissipation can be an important heating mechanism which can account for the observed high H I temperatures in low-density (intercloud) neutral gas.
Ferriere, Katia M.↗
Polarimetry of the Interstellar Medium
The talk will review what is known about the composition of ices and organics in the dense and diffuse interstellar media (ISM). Mixed molecular ices make up a significant fraction of the solid materials in dense molecular clouds and it is now known that thermal and radiation processing of these ices results in the production of more complex organic species, some of which may survive transport into forming stellar systems and the diffuse ISM. Molecular species identified in interstellar ices include H2O, CH3OH, CO, CH4, CO2, and somewhat surprisingly, H2. Theoretical and laboratory studies of the processing of interstellar analog ices containing these species indicate that species like HCO, H2CO, CH3, and NH3 are readily made and should also be present. The irradiation of mixed molecular ices containing these species, when followed by warming, leads to the production of a large variety of more complex species, including ethanol (CH3CH2OH), formamide (HC(=O)NH2), acetamide (CH3C(=O)NH2), nitriles or isonitriles (R-CN or R-NC hexamethylenetetramine (HMT; C6H12N4), a number of polymeric species related to polyoxymethylene [POM,(-CH2O-)n], and ketones {R-C(=O)-R'}. Spectral studies of dust in the diffuse ISM indicate the presence of fairly complex organics, some of which may be related to the organics produced in dense molecular clouds. Spectral comparisons indicate that the diffuse ISM organics may be quite similar to meteoritic kerogens, i.e. they may consist largely of aromatic moieties interlinked by short aliphatic bridges. Interestingly, recent evidence indicates that the galactic distribution of this material closely matches that of silicates, but does not correlate directly with visual extinction. This implies that a large fraction of the visual extinction is caused by a material other than these organics and silicates and that this other material has a significantly different distribution within the galaxy.
Sandford, Scott↗
Dynamics of the interstellar medium
An extraordinarily rich assortment of electronic transitions of atoms and ions at ultraviolet wavelengths can be exploited to probe the behavior of interstellar gases in different contexts. The Copernicus and IUE (International Ultraviolet Explorer) satellites are used to investigate dynamical phenomena and important physical interactions which develop in separate phases of the medium. Insights on the establishment and overall properties of the mechanical energy created by stellar winds and supernova explosions at specific locations are outlined. Investigations of how multiple sources of energy move the gas and mold its structure over both small and large scales are outlined.
Jenkins, Edward B.↗
Directed Gas-Phase Formation of the 1-Cyanovinyl Radical (H 2 CCCN, X 2 A′) in the Interstellar Medium
The formation pathways to nitrogen-containing molecules and radicals are crucial to the understanding of the carbon–nitrogen chemistry in interstellar and atmospheric environments. While over 65 nitrogen-containing neutral species have been observed in deep space to date, their formation mechanisms─in particular, those of radical species─remain largely speculative. The crossed molecular beam technique in conjunction with electronic structure and statistical calculations was utilized to offer a detailed overview of the fundamental pathways in the gas-phase bimolecular reaction of ground-state atomic carbon (C, 3 P) with acetonitrile-d 3 (CD 3 CN, X 1 A 1 ) under single-collision conditions leading to the formation of the 1-cyanovinyl radical (D 2 CCCN, X 2 A′) coupled with deuterium atom loss. Here, the indirect reaction was initiated by barrierless carbon-atom addition, with the most probable route involving carbon addition across the carbon–nitrogen nitrile triple bond of acetonitrile, forming a three-membered ring intermediate followed by ring-opening and unimolecular decomposition via atomic deuterium loss from the C3 carbon atom. The reaction was overall exoergic, and intermediates and transition states lie lower in energy than the separated reactants, unlocking the reaction of carbon with acetonitrile in low-temperature environments such as cold molecular clouds, e.g., Taurus Molecular Cloud (TMC-1), and planetary atmospheres, e.g., Saturn’s moon Titan. In these environments, the 1-cyanovinyl radical may act as a building block for cyano-substituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and N-heterocycles, thus furthering our understanding of the complex carbon–nitrogen chemistry in deep space.
Chemical reactions↗
IUE high resolution spectrophotometry of H Ly alpha emission from the local interstellar medium
IUE high dispersion spectra of resonantly scattered solar Ly alpha emission from H moving into the solar system with the local interstellar wind are reported which are based on observations conducted in April 1981 and April 1983. A heliocentric velocity of -29 + or - 5 km/s has been observed from the ISW component along with a surface brightness which has decreased from about 1000 to 800 Rayleighs over the two-year interval. A preliminary derivation of the velocity of the ISM at large distances from the sun yields a value of 25.6 + or - 5 km/s.
Clarke, J. T.↗
The extreme ultraviolet spectrum of G191 - B2B and the ionization of the local interstellar medium
The measurement of the extreme ultraviolet spectrum of the nearby hot white dwarf G191 - B2B is reported. The results are used to derive interstellar neutral column densities of 1.6 + or - 0.2 x 10 to the 18th/sq cm and 9.8 + 2.8 or - 2.6 x 10 to the 16th/sq cm for H I and He I, respectively. This ratio of neutral hydrogen to neutral helium indicates that the ionization of hydrogen along the line of sight is less than about 30 percent unless significant helium ionization is present. The scenario in which the hydrogen is highly ionized and the helium is neutral is ruled out by this observation.
Green, James↗