CN radical in diffuse interstellar clouds

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/162680· OSTI ID:5923317

Federman, S R; Danks, A C; Lambert, D L

A survey of 15 lines of sight for the CN B /sup 2/..sigma../sup +/--X /sup 2/..sigma../sup +/ interstellar absorption lines shows that the CN column density in diffuse interstellar clouds follows the relation log N(CN)proportionalm log N(H/sub 2/), where mroughly-equal3. This result is reproduced by a reaction network in which CN is produced primarily from C/sub 2/ by the neutral-neutral reaction C/sub 2/+N ..-->.. CN+C, and photodissociation is the main destruction pathway for the neutral molecules CH, C/sub 2/, and CN. The CN radical is the first molecular species observed in diffuse clouds that requires a neutral-neutral reaction for its formation in the gas phase. The network also reproduces the observed ratio N(CN)/N(H/sub 2/).

• Research Organization: Department of Astronomy, University of Texas, Austin, Texas
• OSTI ID: 5923317
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 287:1; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
COLLISIONS
COSMOCHEMISTRY
CYANOGEN
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
FUNCTIONS
INTERSTELLAR GRAINS
ION COLLISIONS
ION-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
MOLECULE COLLISIONS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
OSCILLATOR STRENGTHS
PARTICLES
PHOTONUCLEAR REACTIONS
RADICALS
SPECTRA
SPECTRAL DENSITY
SPECTRAL FUNCTIONS
VISIBLE SPECTRA