Determination of the carbon and oxygen isotopic ratios in the local interstellar medium

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/183440· OSTI ID:6393281

Wilson, R W; Langer, W D; Goldsmith, P F

Isotopic abundance ratios of carbon and oxygen have been determined for the local interstellar medium by observations of carbon monoxide in three dark clouds. The /sup 12/C//sup 13/C ratio is obtained by measurements of the optically thin species /sup 12/C/sup 18/O and /sup 13/C/sup 18/O. The weighted mean ratio for the source B5, B335, and L1262 is found to be 75 +- 8 (1 s), close to the solar system value of 89. From C/sup 17/O data we find that /sup 18/O//sup 17/O = 2.8 +- 0.2, a factor of 2 smaller than the solar system value. The weighted mean double ratio (/sup 13/C//sup 12/C)(/sup 16/O//sup 18/O) is determined from the J = 1 ..-->.. 0 and J = 2 ..-->..1 /sup 13/CO and C/sup 18/O lines to be 7.0 +- 0.1 and 3.7 +- 0.4, respectively. Based on these observations, there is no conclusive evidence for a nonterrestrial /sup 16/O//sup 18/O ratio.

• Research Organization: Crawford Hill Laboratory, Bell Telephone Laboratories
• OSTI ID: 6393281
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States) Vol. 243:1; ISSN AJLEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABUNDANCE
CARBON 12
CARBON 13
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON ISOTOPES
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
ISOTOPE RATIO
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NUCLEI
OXIDES
OXYGEN 17
OXYGEN 18
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN ISOTOPES
SPACE
STABLE ISOTOPES