/sup 12/C//sup 13/C isotope ratio toward zeta Ophiuchi

Journal Article · Mon Jul 15 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/184524· OSTI ID:5265950

Hawkins, I; Jura, M; Meyer, D M

We have performed observations of interstellar CH/sup +/ toward zeta Oph to determine the /sup 12/C//sup 13/C isotope ratio in this diffuse cloud. Our very high signal-to-noise ratio spectra yield 6 sigma detections of the /sup 13/CH/sup +/ features at 4232 A and 3957 A; we obtain a weighted mean /sup 12/C//sup 13/C ratio of 43 +- 6 (1 sigma). The uncertainty includes the contribution of continuum placement errors, statistical channel-to-channel signal fluctuations, and the error introduced in deconvolving the blended isotopic lines at 4232 A. This result indicates a decrease in the local galactic /sup 12/C//sup 13/C ratio by a factor of 2 during the 4.6 billion yr since the formation of the Sun.

• Research Organization: Department of Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles
• OSTI ID: 5265950
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States) Vol. 294:2; ISSN AJLEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
640106 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmology
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CARBON 12
CARBON 13
CARBON ISOTOPES
CHEMISTRY
COSMOCHEMISTRY
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FRACTIONATION
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
ISOTOPE RATIO
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MOLECULES
NUCLEI
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPACE
STABLE ISOTOPES