1. |
- Benz, A. O., et al.
(author)
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Hydrides in young stellar objects : Radiation tracers in a protostar-disk-outflow system
- 2010
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 521, s. L35-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. Hydrides of the most abundant heavier elements are fundamental molecules in cosmic chemistry. Some of them trace gas irradiated by UV or X-rays. Aims: We explore the abundances of major hydrides in W3 IRS5, a prototypical region of high-mass star formation. Methods: W3 IRS5 was observed by HIFI on the Herschel Space Observatory with deep integration (≃2500 s) in 8 spectral regions. Results: The target lines including CH, NH, H3O+, and the new molecules SH+, H2O+, and OH+ are detected. The H2O+ and OH+ J = 1-0 lines are found mostly in absorption, but also appear to exhibit weak emission (P-Cyg-like). Emission requires high density, thus originates most likely near the protostar. This is corroborated by the absence of line shifts relative to the young stellar object (YSO). In addition, H2O+ and OH+ also contain strong absorption components at a velocity shifted relative to W3 IRS5, which are attributed to foreground clouds. Conclusions: The molecular column densities derived from observations correlate well with the predictions of a model that assumes the main emission region is in outflow walls, heated and irradiated by protostellar UV radiation. Herschel is an ESA space observatory with science instruments provided by a European-led Principal Investigator consortia and with important participation from NASA.Appendix (page 5) is only available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org
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2. |
- Bergin, E. A., et al.
(author)
-
Sensitive limits on the abundance of cold water vapor in the DM Tauri protoplanetary disk
- 2010
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 521, s. L33-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We performed a sensitive search for the ground-state emission lines of ortho-and para-water vapor in the DM Tau protoplanetary disk using the Herschel/HIFI instrument. No strong lines are detected down to 3 sigma levels in 0.5 km s(-1) channels of 4.2 mK for the 1(10)-1(01) line and 12.6 mK for the 1(11)-0(00) line. We report a very tentative detection, however, of the 1(10)-1(01) line in the wide band spectrometer, with a strength of T-mb = 2.7 mK, a width of 5.6 km s(-1) and an integrated intensity of 16.0 mK km s(-1). The latter constitutes a 6 sigma detection. Regardless of the reality of this tentative detection, model calculations indicate that our sensitive limits on the line strengths preclude efficient desorption of water in the UV illuminated regions of the disk. We hypothesize that more than 95-99% of the water ice is locked up in coagulated grains that have settled to the midplane.
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3. |
- Berné, O., et al.
(author)
-
A far-ultraviolet-driven photoevaporation flow observed in a protoplanetary disk
- 2024
-
In: Science. - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 383:6686, s. 988-992
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Most low-mass stars form in stellar clusters that also contain massive stars, which are sources of far-ultraviolet (FUV) radiation. Theoretical models predict that this FUV radiation produces photodissociation regions (PDRs) on the surfaces of protoplanetary disks around low-mass stars, which affects planet formation within the disks. We report James Webb Space Telescope and Atacama Large Millimeter Array observations of a FUV-irradiated protoplanetary disk in the Orion Nebula. Emission lines are detected from the PDR; modeling their kinematics and excitation allowed us to constrain the physical conditions within the gas. We quantified the mass-loss rate induced by the FUV irradiation and found that it is sufficient to remove gas from the disk in less than a million years. This is rapid enough to affect giant planet formation in the disk.
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4. |
- Berné, O., et al.
(author)
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Formation of the methyl cation by photochemistry in a protoplanetary disk
- 2023
-
In: Nature. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 621:7977, s. 56-59
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Forty years ago, it was proposed that gas-phase organic chemistry in the interstellar medium can be initiated by the methyl cation CH3+ (refs. 1–3), but so far it has not been observed outside the Solar System 4,5. Alternative routes involving processes on grain surfaces have been invoked 6,7. Here we report James Webb Space Telescope observations of CH3+ in a protoplanetary disk in the Orion star-forming region. We find that gas-phase organic chemistry is activated by ultraviolet irradiation.
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5. |
- Chen, Tao, et al.
(author)
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From planes to bowls : Photodissociation of the bisanthenequinone cation
- 2018
-
In: Chemical Physics Letters. - : Elsevier B.V.. - 0009-2614 .- 1873-4448. ; 692, s. 298-303
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present a combined experimental and theoretical study of the photodissociation of the bisanthenequinone (C28H12O2) cation, Bq+. The experiments show that, upon photolysis, the Bq+ cation does not dehydrogenate, but instead fragments through the sequential loss of the two neutral carbonyl groups, causing the formation of five-membered carbon cycles. Quantum chemical calculations confirm this Bq+ → [Bq - CO]+ → [Bq - 2CO]+ sequence as the energetically most favorable reaction pathway. For the first CO loss, a transition state with a barrier of ∼3.2 eV is found, substantially lower than the lowest calculated H loss dissociation pathway (∼4.9 eV). A similar situation applies for the second CO loss channel (∼3.8 eV vs. ∼4.7 eV), but where the first dissociation step does not strongly alter the planar PAH geometry, the second step transforms the molecule into a bowl-shaped one.
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6. |
- Chen, Tao, et al.
(author)
-
Photodissociation processes of Bisanthenquinone cation
- 2017
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In: Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union. - : Cambridge University Press. - 1743-9213. ; :S332, s. 353-359
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A systematic study, using ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometry, is presented for the photo-dissociation processes of Bisanthenquinone (Bq) cations, C28H12O2+, a ketone substituted Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH). The Bq cation fragments through sequential loss of the two neutral carbonyl (CO) units upon laser (626nm) irradiation, resulting in a PAH-like derivative C26H12+. Upon further irradiation, C26H12+ exhibits both stepwise dehydrogenation and C2/C2H2 loss fragmentation channels. Quantum chemistry calculations reveal a detailed picture for the first CO-loss, which involves a transition state with a barrier of ∼ 3.4 eV, which is lower than the energy required for the lowest H-loss pathway (∼ 5.0 eV). The barrier for the second CO-loss is higher (∼ 4.9 eV). The subsequent loss of this unit changes the Bq geometry from a planar to a bent one. It is concluded that the photodissociation mechanism of the substituted PAH cations studied here is site selective in the substituted subunit. This work also shows that an acetone substituted PAH cation is not photo-stable upon irradiation.
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7. |
- Chiar, J. E., et al.
(author)
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Ices in the Quiescent IC 5146 Dense Cloud
- 2011
-
In: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 731:1, s. 9-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper presents spectra in the 2 to 20 mu m range of quiescent cloud material located in the IC 5146 cloud complex. The spectra were obtained with NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility SpeX instrument and the Spitzer Space Telescope's Infrared Spectrometer. We use these spectra to investigate dust and ice absorption features in pristine regions of the cloud that are unaltered by embedded stars. We find that the H2O-ice threshold extinction is 4.03 +/- 0.05 mag. Once foreground extinction is taken into account, however, the threshold drops to 3.2 mag, equivalent to that found for the Taurus dark cloud, generally assumed to be the touchstone quiescent cloud against which all other dense cloud and embedded young stellar object observations are compared. Substructure in the trough of the silicate band for two sources is attributed to CH3OH and NH3 in the ices, present at the similar to 2% and similar to 5% levels, respectively, relative to H2O-ice. The correlation of the silicate feature with the E(J-K) color excess is found to follow a much shallower slope relative to lines of sight that probe diffuse clouds, supporting the previous results by Chiar et al.
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8. |
- Chown, Ryan, et al.
(author)
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PDRs4All: IV. An embarrassment of riches: Aromatic infrared bands in the Orion Bar
- 2024
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 685
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. Mid-infrared observations of photodissociation regions (PDRs) are dominated by strong emission features called aromatic infrared bands (AIBs). The most prominent AIBs are found at 3.3, 6.2, 7.7, 8.6, and 11.2 µm. The most sensitive, highest-resolution infrared spectral imaging data ever taken of the prototypical PDR, the Orion Bar, have been captured by JWST. These high-quality data allow for an unprecedentedly detailed view of AIBs. Aims. We provide an inventory of the AIBs found in the Orion Bar, along with mid-IR template spectra from five distinct regions in the Bar: the molecular PDR (i.e. the three H2 dissociation fronts), the atomic PDR, and the H II region. Methods. We used JWST NIRSpec IFU and MIRI MRS observations of the Orion Bar from the JWST Early Release Science Program, PDRs4All (ID: 1288). We extracted five template spectra to represent the morphology and environment of the Orion Bar PDR. We investigated and characterised the AIBs in these template spectra. We describe the variations among them here. Results. The superb sensitivity and the spectral and spatial resolution of these JWST observations reveal many details of the AIB emission and enable an improved characterization of their detailed profile shapes and sub-components. The Orion Bar spectra are dominated by the well-known AIBs at 3.3, 6.2, 7.7, 8.6, 11.2, and 12.7 µm with well-defined profiles. In addition, the spectra display a wealth of weaker features and sub-components. The widths of many AIBs show clear and systematic variations, being narrowest in the atomic PDR template, but showing a clear broadening in the H II region template while the broadest bands are found in the three dissociation front templates. In addition, the relative strengths of AIB (sub-)components vary among the template spectra as well. All AIB profiles are characteristic of class A sources as designated by Peeters (2022, A&A, 390, 1089), except for the 11.2 µm AIB profile deep in the molecular zone, which belongs to class B11.2. Furthermore, the observations show that the sub-components that contribute to the 5.75, 7.7, and 11.2 µm AIBs become much weaker in the PDR surface layers. We attribute this to the presence of small, more labile carriers in the deeper PDR layers that are photolysed away in the harsh radiation field near the surface. The 3.3/11.2 AIB intensity ratio decreases by about 40% between the dissociation fronts and the H II region, indicating a shift in the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) size distribution to larger PAHs in the PDR surface layers, also likely due to the effects of photochemistry. The observed broadening of the bands in the molecular PDR is consistent with an enhanced importance of smaller PAHs since smaller PAHs attain a higher internal excitation energy at a fixed photon energy. Conclusions. Spectral-imaging observations of the Orion Bar using JWST yield key insights into the photochemical evolution of PAHs, such as the evolution responsible for the shift of 11.2 µm AIB emission from class B11.2 in the molecular PDR to class A11.2 in the PDR surface layers. This photochemical evolution is driven by the increased importance of FUV processing in the PDR surface layers, resulting in a “weeding out” of the weakest links of the PAH family in these layers. For now, these JWST observations are consistent with a model in which the underlying PAH family is composed of a few species: the so-called ‘grandPAHs’.
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9. |
- De Putte, Dries Van, et al.
(author)
-
PDRs4All VIII. Mid-infrared emission line inventory of the Orion Bar
- 2024
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 687
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context . Mid-infrared emission features are important probes of the properties of ionized gas and hot or warm molecular gas, which are difficult to probe at other wavelengths. The Orion Bar photodissociation region (PDR) is a bright, nearby, and frequently studied target containing large amounts of gas under these conditions. Under the “PDRs4All” Early Release Science Program for JWST, a part of the Orion Bar was observed with MIRI integral field unit (IFU) spectroscopy, and these high-sensitivity IR spectroscopic images of very high angular resolution (0.2′′) provide a rich observational inventory of the mid-infrared (MIR) emission lines, while resolving the H II region, the ionization front, and multiple dissociation fronts. Aims . We list, identify, and measure the most prominent gas emission lines in the Orion Bar using the new MIRI IFU data. An initial analysis summarizes the physical conditions of the gas and demonstrates the potential of these new data and future IFU observations with JWST. Methods. The MIRI IFU mosaic spatially resolves the substructure of the PDR, its footprint cutting perpendicularly across the ionization front and three dissociation fronts. We performed an up-to-date data reduction, and extracted five spectra that represent the ionized, atomic, and molecular gas layers. We identified the observed lines through a comparison with theoretical line lists derived from atomic data and simulated PDR models. The identified species and transitions are summarized in the main table of this work, with measurements of the line intensities and central wavelengths. Results . We identified around 100 lines and report an additional 18 lines that remain unidentified. The majority consists of H I recombination lines arising from the ionized gas layer bordering the PDR. The H I line ratios are well matched by emissivity coefficients from H recombination theory, but deviate by up to 10% because of contamination by He I lines. We report the observed emission lines of various ionization stages of Ne, P, S, Cl, Ar, Fe, and Ni. We show how the Ne III/Ne II, S IV/S III, and Ar III/Ar II ratios trace the conditions in the ionized layer bordering the PDR, while Fe III/Fe II and Ni III/Ni II exhibit a different behavior, as there are significant contributions to Fe II and Ni II from the neutral PDR gas. We observe the pure-rotational H2 lines in the vibrational ground state from 0–0 S(1) to 0–0 S(8), and in the first vibrationally excited state from 1–1 S(5) to 1–1 S(9). We derive H2 excitation diagrams, and for the three observed dissociation fronts, the rotational excitation can be approximated with one thermal (∼700 K) component representative of an average gas temperature, and one nonthermal component (∼2700 K) probing the effect of UV pumping. We compare these results to an existing model of the Orion Bar PDR, and find that the predicted excitation matches the data qualitatively, while adjustments to the parameters of the PDR model are required to reproduce the intensity of the 0–0 S(6) to S(8) lines.
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10. |
- Decin, L., et al.
(author)
-
Probing the mass-loss history of AGB and red supergiant stars from CO rotational line profiles. I. Theoretical model - Mass-loss history unravelled in VY CMa
- 2006
-
In: Astronomy & Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 456:2, s. 549-563
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context: Mass loss plays a dominant role in the evolution of low mass stars while they are on the Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB). The gas and dust ejected during this phase are a major source in the mass budget of the interstellar medium. Recent studies have pointed towards the importance of variations in the mass-loss history of such objects.Aims: By modelling the full line profile of low excitation CO lines emitted in the circumstellar envelope, we can study the mass-loss history of AGB stars.Methods: We have developed a non-LTE radiative transfer code, which calculates the velocity structure and gas kinetic temperature of the envelope in a self-consistent way. The resulting structure of the envelope provides the input for the molecular line radiative calculations which are evaluated in the comoving frame. The code allows for the implementation of modulations in the mass-loss rate. This code has been benchmarked against other radiative transfer codes and is shown to perform well and efficiently.Results: We illustrate the effects of varying mass-loss rates in case of a superwind phase. The model is applied to the well-studied case of VY CMa. We show that both the observed integrated line strengths as the spectral structure present in the observed line profiles, unambiguously demonstrate that this source underwent a phase of high mass loss (~3.2 × 10-4 Mȯ yr-1) some 1000 yr ago. This phase took place for some 100 yr, and was preceded by a low mass-loss phase (~1 × 10-6 Mȯ yr-1) taking some 800 yr. The current mass-loss rate is estimated to be in the order of 8 × 10-5 Mȯ yr-1.Conclusions: In this paper, we demonstrate that both the relative strength of the CO rotational line profiles and the (non)-occurrence of spectral structure in the profile offer strong diagnostics to pinpoint the mass-loss history.
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11. |
- Decin, L., et al.
(author)
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Probing the Mass-Loss History of VY CMa
- 2008
-
In: Mass Loss from Stars and the Evolution of Stellar Clusters, Proceedings of conference in Lunteren May-June 2006, The Netherlands, eds. A. de Koter, L.J. Smith, L.B.F.M. Waters, ASP Conference Series, San Francisco. ; 388, s. 159-
-
Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Mass loss plays a dominant role in the evolution of low mass stars while they are on the Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB). Recent studies have hinted towards the importance of time variability of the mass-loss rates of such objects. Likewise, more massive stars (MZAMS ⪆ 8 Msun) may pass through a red supergiant phase and lose mass in a similar manner. By modelling the full line profiles of low excitation CO transitions emitted in the circumstellar envelope (CSE), we have studied the mass-loss history of the well-studied supergiant VY CMa. We show that this source underwent a phase of high mass loss (˜ 2.8 × 10-4 Msun/yr) some 1000 yr ago, lasting some 100 yr, followed by a low mass-loss phase (˜ 1 × 10-6 Msun/yr) taking some 800 yr. The current mass-loss rate is estimated to be in the order of 1 × 10-4 Msun/yr.
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12. |
- Emig, K. L., et al.
(author)
-
Searching for the largest bound atoms in space
- 2020
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 634
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. Radio recombination lines (RRLs) at frequencies nu< 250 MHz trace the cold, diffuse phase of the interstellar medium, and yet, RRLs have been largely unexplored outside of our Galaxy. Next-generation low-frequency interferometers such as LOFAR, MWA, and the future SKA will, with unprecedented sensitivity, resolution, and large fractional bandwidths, enable the exploration of the extragalactic RRL universe.Aims. We describe methods used to (1) process LOFAR high band antenna (HBA) observations for RRL analysis, and (2) search spectra for RRLs blindly in redshift space.Methods. We observed the radio quasar 3C 190 (z approximate to 1.2) with the LOFAR HBA. In reducing these data for spectroscopic analysis, we placed special emphasis on bandpass calibration. We devised cross-correlation techniques that utilize the unique frequency spacing between RRLs to significantly identify RRLs in a low-frequency spectrum. We demonstrate the utility of this method by applying it to existing low-frequency spectra of Cassiopeia A and M 82, and to the new observations of 3C 190.Results. Radio recombination lines have been detected in the foreground of 3C 190 at z=1.12355 (assuming a carbon origin) owing to the first detection of RRLs outside of the local universe (first reported in A&A, 622, A7). Toward the Galactic supernova remnant Cassiopeia A, we uncover three new detections: (1) stimulated CE transitions (Delta n=5) for the first time at low radio frequencies, (2) H alpha transitions at 64 MHz with a full width at half-maximum of 3.1 km s(-1) the most narrow and one of the lowest frequency detections of hydrogen to date, and (3) C alpha at v(LSR)approximate to 0 km s(-1) in the frequency range 55-78 MHz for the first time. Additionally, we recover C alpha, C beta, C gamma, and C delta from the -47 km s(-1) and -38 km s(-1) components. In the nearby starburst galaxy M 82, we do not find a significant feature. With previously used techniques, we reproduce the previously reported line properties.Conclusions. RRLs have been blindly searched and successfully identified in Galactic (to high-order transitions) and extragalactic (to high redshift) observations with our spectral searching method. Our current searches for RRLs in LOFAR observations are limited to narrow (<100 km s(-1)) features, owing to the relatively small number of channels available for continuum estimation. Future strategies making use of a wider band (covering multiple LOFAR subbands) or designs with larger contiguous frequency chunks would aid calibration to deeper sensitivities and broader features.
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13. |
- Falgarone, E., et al.
(author)
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CH+(1-0) and 13CH+(1-0) absorption lines in the direction of massive star-forming regions
- 2010
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 521:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report the detection of the ground-state rotational transition of the methylidyne cation CH+ and its isotopologue (CH+)-C-13 toward the remote massive star-forming regions W33A, W49N, and W51 with the HIFI instrument onboard the Herschel satellite. Both lines are seen only in absorption against the dust continuum emission of the star-forming regions. The CH+ absorption is saturated over almost the entire velocity ranges sampled by the lines-of-sight that include gas associated with the star-forming regions (SFR) and Galactic foreground material. The CH+ column densities are inferred from the optically thin components. A lower limit of the isotopic ratio [(CH+)-C-12]/[(CH+)-C-13]> 35.5 is derived from the absorptions of foreground material toward W49N. The column density ratio, N(CH+)/N(HCO+), is found to vary by at least a factor 10, between 4 and > 40, in the Galactic foreground material. Line-of-sight 12CH+ average abundances relative to total hydrogen are estimated. Their average value, N(CH+)/NH > 2.6 x 10(-8), is higher than that observed in the solar neighborhood and confirms the high abundances of CH+ in the Galactic interstellar medium. We compare this result to the predictions of turbulent dissipation regions (TDR) models and find that these high abundances can be reproduced for the inner Galaxy conditions. It is remarkable that the range of predicted N(CH+)/ N(HCO+) ratios, from 1 to similar to 50, is comparable to that observed.
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14. |
- Gerin, M., et al.
(author)
-
Interstellar OH+, H2O+ and H3O+ along the sight-line to G10.6-0.4
- 2010
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 518:4, s. 110-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report the detection of absorption lines by the reactive ions OH+, H2O+ and H3O+ along the line of sight to the submillimeter continuum source G10.6$-$0.4 (W31C). We used the Herschel HIFI instrument in dual beam switch mode to observe the ground state rotational transitions of OH+ at 971 GHz, H2O+ at 1115 and 607 GHz, and H3O+ at 984 GHz. The resultant spectra show deep absorption over a broad velocity range that originates in the interstellar matter along the line of sight to G10.6$-$0.4 as well as in the molecular gas directly associated with that source. The OH+ spectrum reaches saturation over most velocities corresponding to the foreground gas, while the opacity of the H2O+ lines remains lower than 1 in the same velocity range, and the H3O+ line shows only weak absorption. For LSR velocities between 7 and 50 kms$^{-1}$ we estimate total column densities of $N$(OH+) $> 2.5 \times 10^{14}$ cm$^{-2}$, $N$(H2O+) $\sim 6 \times 10^{13}$ cm$^{-2}$ and $N$(H3O+) $\sim 4.0 \times 10^{13}$ cm$^{-2}$. These detections confirm the role of O$^+$ and OH$^+$ in initiating the oxygen chemistry in diffuse molecular gas and strengthen our understanding of the gas phase production of water. The high ratio of the OH+ by the H2O+ column density implies that these species predominantly trace low-density gas with a small fraction of hydrogen in molecular form.
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15. |
- Habart, Emilie, et al.
(author)
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PDRs4All II. JWST’s NIR and MIR imaging view of the Orion Nebula
- 2024
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 685
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has captured the most detailed and sharpest infrared (IR) images ever taken of the inner region of the Orion Nebula, the nearest massive star formation region, and a prototypical highly irradiated dense photo-dissociation region (PDR). Aims. We investigate the fundamental interaction of far-ultraviolet (FUV) photons with molecular clouds. The transitions across the ionization front (IF), dissociation front (DF), and the molecular cloud are studied at high-angular resolution. These transitions are relevant to understanding the effects of radiative feedback from massive stars and the dominant physical and chemical processes that lead to the IR emission that JWST will detect in many Galactic and extragalactic environments. Methods. We utilized NIRCam and MIRI to obtain sub-arcsecond images over ∼150′′ and 42′′ in key gas phase lines (e.g., Pa α, Br α, [FeII] 1.64 µm, H2 1–0 S(1) 2.12 µm, 0–0 S(9) 4.69 µm), aromatic and aliphatic infrared bands (aromatic infrared bands at 3.3–3.4 µm, 7.7, and 11.3 µm), dust emission, and scattered light. Their emission are powerful tracers of the IF and DF, FUV radiation field and density distribution. Using NIRSpec observations the fractional contributions of lines, AIBs, and continuum emission to our NIRCam images were estimated. A very good agreement is found for the distribution and intensity of lines and AIBs between the NIRCam and NIRSpec observations. Results. Due to the proximity of the Orion Nebula and the unprecedented angular resolution of JWST, these data reveal that the molecular cloud borders are hyper structured at small angular scales of ∼0.1–1′′ (∼0.0002–0.002 pc or ∼40–400 au at 414 pc). A diverse set of features are observed such as ridges, waves, globules and photoevaporated protoplanetary disks. At the PDR atomic to molecular transition, several bright features are detected that are associated with the highly irradiated surroundings of the dense molecular condensations and embedded young star. Toward the Orion Bar PDR, a highly sculpted interface is detected with sharp edges and density increases near the IF and DF. This was predicted by previous modeling studies, but the fronts were unresolved in most tracers. The spatial distribution of the AIBs reveals that the PDR edge is steep and is followed by an extensive warm atomic layer up to the DF with multiple ridges. A complex, structured, and folded H0/H2 DF surface was traced by the H2 lines. This dataset was used to revisit the commonly adopted 2D PDR structure of the Orion Bar as our observations show that a 3D “terraced” geometry is required to explain the JWST observations. JWST provides us with a complete view of the PDR, all the way from the PDR edge to the substructured dense region, and this allowed us to determine, in detail, where the emission of the atomic and molecular lines, aromatic bands, and dust originate. Conclusions. This study offers an unprecedented dataset to benchmark and transform PDR physico-chemical and dynamical models for the JWST era. A fundamental step forward in our understanding of the interaction of FUV photons with molecular clouds and the role of FUV irradiation along the star formation sequence is provided.
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16. |
- Kristensen, L. E., et al.
(author)
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Water in low-mass star-forming regions with Herschel . HIFI spectroscopy of NGC 1333
- 2010
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 521, s. L30-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- “Water In Star-forming regions with Herschel” (WISH) is a key programme dedicated to studying the role of water and related species during the star-formation process and constraining the physical and chemical properties of young stellar objects. The Heterodyne Instrument for the Far-Infrared (HIFI) on the Herschel Space Observatory observed three deeply embedded protostars in the low-mass star-forming region NGC 1333 in several H_216O, H_218O, and CO transitions. Line profiles are resolved for five H_216O transitions in each source, revealing them to be surprisingly complex. The line profiles are decomposed into broad (>20 km s-1), medium-broad (~5-10 km s-1), and narrow (<5 km s-1) components. The H_218O emission is only detected in broad 110-101 lines (>20 km s-1), indicating that its physical origin is the same as for the broad H_216O component. In one of the sources, IRAS4A, an inverse P Cygni profile is observed, a clear sign of infall in the envelope. From the line profiles alone, it is clear that the bulk of emission arises from shocks, both on small (⪉1000 AU) and large scales along the outflow cavity walls (~10 000 AU). The H2O line profiles are compared to CO line profiles to constrain the H2O abundance as a function of velocity within these shocked regions. The H2O/CO abundance ratios are measured to be in the range of ~0.1-1, corresponding to H2O abundances of ~10-5-10-4 with respect to H2. Approximately 5-10% of the gas is hot enough for all oxygen to be driven into water in warm post-shock gas, mostly at high velocities. Herschel is an ESA space observatory with science instruments provided by European-led Principal Investigator consortia and with important participation from NASA.Tables 2 and 3 (page 6) are only available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org
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17. |
- Maaskant, K. M., et al.
(author)
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Location and sizes of forsterite grains in protoplanetary disks Interpretation from the Herschel DIGIT programme
- 2015
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 574
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. The spectra of protoplanetary disks contain mid-and far-infrared emission features produced by forsterite dust grains. The spectral features contain information about the forsterite temperature, chemical composition and grain size. Aims. We aim to characterize how the 23 and 69 pm features can be used to constrain the physical locations of forsterite in disks. We check for consistency between two independent forsterite temperature measurements: the I-23/I-69 feature strength ratio and the shape of the 69 pm band. Methods. We performed radiative transfer modeling to study the effect of disk properties to the forsterite spectral features. Temperature-dependent forsterite opacities were considered in self-consistent models to compute forsterite emission from protoplanetary disks. Results. Modelling grids are presented to study the effects of grain size, disk gaps, radial mixing and optical depth to the forsterite features. Independent temperature estimates derived from the I-23/I-69 feature strength ratio and the 69 pm band shape are most inconsistent for HD 141569 and Oph IRS 48. A case study of the disk of HD 141569 shows two solutions to fit the forsterite spectrum. A model with T similar to 40 K, iron-rich (similar to 0-1% Fe) and 1 pm forsterite grains, and a model with warmer (T similar to 100 K), iron-free, and larger (10 pm) grains. Conclusions. We find that for disks with low upper limits of the 69 pm feature (most notably in flat, self-shadowed disks), the forsterite must be hot, and thus close to the star. We find no correlation between disk gaps and the presence or absence of forsterite features. We argue that the 69 pm feature of the evolved transitional disks HD 141569 and Oph IRS 48 is most likely a tracer of larger (i.e. >= 10 mu m) forsterite grains.
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18. |
- Oonk, J. B. R., et al.
(author)
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Discovery of carbon radio recombination lines in absorption towards Cygnus A
- 2014
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In: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 437:4, s. 3506-3515
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present the first detection of carbon radio recombination line absorption along the line of sight to Cygnus A. The observations were carried out with the Low Frequency Array in the 33–57 MHz range. These low-frequency radio observations provide us with a new line of sight to study the diffuse, neutral gas in our Galaxy. To our knowledge this is the first time that foreground Milky Way recombination line absorption has been observed against a bright extragalactic background source. By stacking 48 carbon α lines in the observed frequency range we detect carbon absorption with a signal-to-noise ratio of about 5. The average carbon absorption has a peak optical depth of 2 × 10−4, a line width of 10 km s−1 and a velocity of +4 km s−1 with respect to the local standard of rest. The associated gas is found to have an electron temperature Te ∼ 110 K and density ne ∼ 0.06 cm−3. These properties imply that the observed carbon α absorption likely arises in the cold neutral medium of the Orion arm of the Milky Way. Hydrogen and helium lines were not detected to a 3σ peak optical depth limit of 1.5 × 10−4 for a 4 km s−1 channel width. Radio recombination lines associated with Cygnus A itself were also searched for, but are not detected. We set a 3σ upper limit of 1.5 × 10−4 for the peak optical depth of these lines for a 4 km s−1 channel width.
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19. |
- Peeters, Els, et al.
(author)
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PDRs4All: III. JWST's NIR spectroscopic view of the Orion Bar
- 2024
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 685
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. JWST has taken the sharpest and most sensitive infrared (IR) spectral imaging observations ever of the Orion Bar photodis-sociation region (PDR), which is part of the nearest massive star-forming region the Orion Nebula, and often considered to be the 'prototypical'strongly illuminated PDR. Aims. We investigate the impact of radiative feedback from massive stars on their natal cloud and focus on the transition from the H II region to the atomic PDR -crossing the ionisation front (IF) -, and the subsequent transition to the molecular PDR -crossing the dissociation front (DF). Given the prevalence of PDRs in the interstellar medium and their dominant contribution to IR radiation, understanding the response of the PDR gas to far-ultraviolet (FUV) photons and the associated physical and chemical processes is fundamental to our understanding of star and planet formation and for the interpretation of any unresolved PDR as seen by JWST. Methods. We used high-resolution near-IR integral field spectroscopic data from NIRSpec on JWST to observe the Orion Bar PDR as part of the PDRs4All JWST Early Release Science programme. We constructed a 3″ × 25″ spatio-spectral mosaic covering 0.97-5.27 μm at a spectral resolution R of ~2700 and an angular resolution of 0.075″-0.173″. To study the properties of key regions captured in this mosaic, we extracted five template spectra in apertures centred on the three H2 dissociation fronts, the atomic PDR, and the H II region. This wealth of detailed spatial-spectral information was analysed in terms of variations in the physical conditions-incident UV field, density, and temperature -of the PDR gas. Results. The NIRSpec data reveal a forest of lines including, but not limited to, He I, H I, and C I recombination lines; ionic lines (e.g. Fe III and Fe II); O I and N I fluorescence lines; aromatic infrared bands (AIBs, including aromatic CH, aliphatic CH, and their CD counterparts); pure rotational and ro-vibrational lines from H2; and ro-vibrational lines from HD, CO, and CH+, with most of them having been detected for the first time towards a PDR. Their spatial distribution resolves the H and He ionisation structure in the Huygens region, gives insight into the geometry of the Bar, and confirms the large-scale stratification of PDRs. In addition, we observed numerous smaller-scale structures whose typical size decreases with distance from θ1 Ori C and IR lines from C I, if solely arising from radiative recombination and cascade, reveal very high gas temperatures (a few 1000 K) consistent with the hot irradiated surface of small-scale dense clumps inside the PDR. The morphology of the Bar, in particular that of the H2 lines, reveals multiple prominent filaments that exhibit different characteristics. This leaves the impression of a 'terraced'transition from the predominantly atomic surface region to the CO-rich molecular zone deeper in. We attribute the different characteristics of the H2 filaments to their varying depth into the PDR and, in some cases, not reaching the C+/C/CO transition. These observations thus reveal what local conditions are required to drive the physical and chemical processes needed to explain the different characteristics of the DFs and the photochemical evolution of the AIB carriers. Conclusions. This study showcases the discovery space created by JWST to further our understanding of the impact radiation from young stars has on their natal molecular cloud and proto-planetary disk, which touches on star and planet formation as well as galaxy evolution.
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20. |
- Roelfsema, P. R., et al.
(author)
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In-orbit performance of Herschel-HIFI
- 2012
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 537
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims: In this paper the calibration and in-orbit performance of the Heterodyne Instrument for the Far-Infrared (HIFI) is described.Methods: The calibration of HIFI is based on a combination of ground and in-flight tests. Dedicated ground tests to determine those instrument parameters that can only be measured accurately using controlled laboratory stimuli were carried out in the instrument level test (ILT) campaign. Special in-flight tests during the commissioning phase (CoP) and performance verification (PV) allowed the determination of the remaining instrument parameters. The various instrument observing modes, as specified in astronomical observation templates (AOTs), were validated in parallel during PV by observing selected celestial sources.Results: The initial calibration and in-orbit performance of HIFI has been established. A first estimate of the calibration budget is given. The overall in-flight instrument performance agrees with the original specification. Issues remain at only a few frequencies. Herschel is an ESA space observatory with science instruments provided by European-led Principal Investigator consortia and with important participation from NASA.
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21. |
- Seitz, Fabian, et al.
(author)
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Ions colliding with clusters of fullerenes-Decay pathways and covalent bond formations
- 2013
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In: Journal of Chemical Physics. - : AIP Publishing. - 0021-9606 .- 1089-7690. ; 139:3
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report experimental results for the ionization and fragmentation of weakly bound van der Waals clusters of n C-60 molecules following collisions with Ar2+, He2+, and Xe20+ at laboratory kinetic energies of 13 keV, 22.5 keV, and 300 keV, respectively. Intact singly charged C-60 monomers are the dominant reaction products in all three cases and this is accounted for by means of Monte Carlo calculations of energy transfer processes and a simple Arrhenius-type [C-60](n)(+) -> C-60(+) + (n - 1)C-60 evaporation model. Excitation energies in the range of only similar to 0.7 eV per C-60 molecule in a [C-60](13)(+) cluster are sufficient for complete evaporation and such low energies correspond to ion trajectories far outside the clusters. Still we observe singly and even doubly charged intact cluster ions which stem from even more distant collisions. For penetrating collisions the clusters become multiply charged and some of the individual molecules may be promptly fragmented in direct knock-out processes leading to efficient formations of new covalent systems. For Ar2+ and He2+ collisions, we observe very efficient C-119(+) and C-118(+) formation and molecular dynamics simulations suggest that they are covalent dumb-bell systems due to bonding between C-59(+) or C-58(+) and C-60 during cluster fragmentation. In the Ar2+ case, it is possible to form even smaller C-120-2m(+) molecules (m = 2-7), while no molecular fusion reactions are observed for the present Xe20+ collisions.
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22. |
- Shameer, S., et al.
(author)
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TrypanoCyc: a community-led biochemical pathways database for Trypanosoma brucei
- 2015
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In: Nucleic Acids Research. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0305-1048 .- 1362-4962. ; 43:D1, s. D637-D644
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The metabolic network of a cell represents thecatabolic and anabolic reactions that interconvertsmall molecules (metabolites) through the activity ofenzymes, transporters and non-catalyzed chemicalreactions. Our understanding of individual metabolicnetworks is increasing as we learn more aboutthe enzymes that are active in particular cells underparticular conditions and as technologies advanceto allow detailed measurements of the cellularmetabolome. Metabolic network databases areof increasing importance in allowing us to contextualisedata sets emerging from transcriptomic,proteomic and metabolomic experiments. Here wepresent a dynamic database, TrypanoCyc (http://www.metexplore.fr/trypanocyc/), which describesthe generic and condition-specific metabolic networkof Trypanosoma brucei, a parasitic protozoan responsiblefor human and animal African trypanosomiasis.In addition to enabling navigation through the BioCyc-based TrypanoCyc interface, we have alsoimplemented a network-based representation of theinformation through MetExplore, yielding a novel environmentin which to visualise the metabolism ofthis important parasite.
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23. |
- Ueta, T., et al.
(author)
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The Herschel Planetary Nebula Survey (HerPlaNS) I. Data overview and analysis demonstration with NGC 6781
- 2014
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 565, s. A36-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. This is the first of a series of investigations into far-IR characteristics of 11 planetary nebulae (PNe) under the Herschel Space Observatory open time 1 program, Herschel Planetary Nebula Survey (HerPlaNS). Aims. Using the HerPlaNS data set, we look into the PN energetics and variations of the physical conditions within the target nebulae. In the present work, we provide an overview of the survey, data acquisition and processing, and resulting data products. Methods. We performed (1) PACS/SPIRE broadband imaging to determine the spatial distribution of the cold dust component in the target PNe and (2) PACS/SPIRE spectral-energy-distribution and line spectroscopy to determine the spatial distribution of the gas component in the target PNe. Results. For the case of NGC 6781, the broadband maps confirm the nearly pole-on barrel structure of the amorphous carbon-rich dust shell and the surrounding halo having temperatures of 26-40 K. The PACS/SPIRE multiposition spectra show spatial variations of far-.IR lines that reflect the physical stratification of the nebula. We demonstrate that spatially resolved far-IR line diagnostics yield the (T-e, n(e)) profiles, from which distributions of ionized, atomic, and molecular gases can be determined. Direct comparison of the dust and gas column mass maps constrained by the HerPlaNS data allows to construct an empirical gas-to-dust mass ratio map, which shows a range of ratios with the median of 195 +/- 110. The present analysis yields estimates of the total mass of the shell to be 0.86 M-circle dot, consisting of 0.54 M-circle dot of ionized gas, 0.12 M-circle dot of atomic gas, 0.2 M-circle dot of molecular gas, and 4 x 10(-3) M-circle dot of dust grains. These estimates' also suggest that the central star of about 1.5 M-circle dot initial mass is terminating its PN evolution onto the white dwarf cooling track. Conclusions. The HerPlaNS data provide various diagnostics for both the dust and gas components in a spatially resolved manner. In the forthcoming papers of the HerPlaNS series we will explore the HerPlaNS data set fully for the entire sample of 11 PNe.
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24. |
- Yildiz, U. A., et al.
(author)
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Herschel/HIFI observations of high-J CO lines in the NGC 1333 low-mass star-forming region
- 2010
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 521, s. L40-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Herschel/HIFI observations of high-J lines (up to J(u) = 10) of (CO)-C-12, (CO)-C-13 and (CO)-O-18 are presented toward three deeply embedded low-mass protostars, NGC 1333 IRAS 2A, IRAS 4A, and IRAS 4B, obtained as part of the Water In Star-forming regions with Herschel (WISH) key program. The spectrally-resolved HIFI data are complemented by ground-based observations of lower-J CO and isotopologue lines. The (CO)-C-12 10-9 profiles are dominated by broad (FWHM 25-30 km s(-1)) emission. Radiative transfer models are used to constrain the temperature of this shocked gas to 100-200 K. Several CO and (CO)-C-13 line profiles also reveal a medium-broad component (FWHM5-10 km s(-1)), seen prominently in H2O lines. Column densities for both components are presented, providing a reference for determining abundances of other molecules in the same gas. The narrow (CO)-O-18 9-8 lines probe the warmer part of the quiescent envelope. Their intensities require a jump in the CO abundance at an evaporation temperature around 25 K, thus providing new direct evidence for a CO ice evaporation zone around low-mass protostars.
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25. |
- Zettergren, Henning, et al.
(author)
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Bond formation in C-59(+)-C-60 collisions
- 2014
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In: XXVIII International Conference on Photonic, Electronic and Atomic Collisions (ICPEAC 2013). - : Institute of Physics (IOP).
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this work, we show that keV-ions are able to remove single carbon atoms from individual fullerenes in clusters of C-60 molecules. This very efficiently leads to the formation of exotic q dumbbell molecules through secondary C-59(+) - C-60 collisions within the fragmenting cluster. Such molecular fusion processes are inherently different from those induced by photons where only products with even numbers of carbon atoms are observed. Thus, ion collisions ignite unique and hitherto overlooked secondary reactions in small aggregates of matter. This relates to the question on how complex molecules may form in e.g. space.
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26. |
- Zettergren, Henning, et al.
(author)
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Formation of dumb-bell C118 and C119 inside clusters of C60 -molecules
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report highly selective covalent bond-modifications in collisions between keV alpha particles and van der Waals clusters of C60-fullerenes. Surprisingly, C119+ and C118+ are the dominant molecular fusion products. We use Molecular Dynamics simulations to show that C59+ and C58+ ions - effectively produced in prompt knock-out processes with He2+ - react rapidly with C60 to form dumb-bell C119+ and C118+ . Ion impact on molecular clusters in general is expected to lead to efficient secondary reactions of interest for astrophysics. These reactions are different from those induced by photons.
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27. |
- Zettergren, Henning, et al.
(author)
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Formations of Dumbbell C-118 and C-119 inside Clusters of C-60 Molecules by Collision with alpha Particles
- 2013
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In: Physical Review Letters. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 110:18
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report highly selective covalent bond modifications in collisions between keV alpha particles and van der Waals clusters of C-60 fullerenes. Surprisingly, C-119(+) and C-118(+) are the dominant molecular fusion products. We use molecular dynamics simulations to show that C-59(+) and C-58(+) ions-effectively produced in prompt knockout processes with He2+-react rapidly with C-60 to form dumbbell C-119(+) and C-118(+). Ion impact on molecular clusters in general is expected to lead to efficient secondary reactions of interest for astrophysics. These reactions are different from those induced by photons.
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