High-temperature cyanide in Orion molecular cloud 1

Journal Article · Sun Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/159403· OSTI ID:5609350

Loren, R B; Mundy, L; Erickson, N R

The K = 0 through K = 6 lines of the J = 13--12 and J = 12--11 rotational transitions of methyl cyanide (CH/sub 3/CN) at 239 GHz and 221 GHz have been observed toward OMC-1. The relative strengths of the ..delta..K = 0 transitions have been used to obtain the excitation temperatures of the CH/sub 3/CN emitting region. The easily excited K = 0 to K = 2 transitions yield T/sub EX/ roughly-equal80--120 K, while the higher excitation K = 4 to K = 6 transitions yield much greater temperatures: T/sub EX/ roughly-equal270 K. At least two regions of distinct T/sub EX/ and also distinct V/sub LSR/ and velocity dispersion are present. The low temperature region is characterized by a small CH/sub 3/CN line width (..delta..Vroughly-equal5 km s/sup -1/) and a V/sub LSR/ roughly-equal9 km s/sup -1/. The hot region has larger velocity dispersion (..delta..Vroughly-equal8 km s/sup -1/) and V/sub LSR/ roughly-equal6 km s/sup -1/.

• OSTI ID: 5609350
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 250:2; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY SPECTRA
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
EXCITED STATES
HYDROCARBONS
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
LINE WIDTHS
MOLECULES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ROTATIONAL STATES
SPACE
SPECTRA