Observation of interstellar ammonia ice

Journal Article · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/160241· OSTI ID:7063725

Knacke, R F; McCorkle, S; Puetter, R C; Erickson, E F; Kraetschmer, W

An absorption band probably due to solid ammonia on interstellar grains has been detected in the infrared spectrum at 2.97 ..mu..m of the Becklin-Neugebauer object and probably in NGC 2264-IR. An ammonia-water amorphous ice mixture can explain the structure of the new band and of the 3.07 ..mu..m interstellar absorption. Laboratory data suggest that a long wavelength wing extending to 3.5 ..mu..m in interstellar dust spectra may be absorption by NH/sub 3/ x H/sub 2/O complexes in the ices. In the molecular cloud obscuring the BN object, about 20 times as much NH/sub 3/ is frozen in grains as exists in the gas phase, suggesting that gas-grain interactions may be important in the ammonia chemistry of molecular clouds. Arguments are given that interstellar features at 6.0 and 6.8 ..mu..m are also ammonia-related absorptions.

• OSTI ID: 7063725
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 260:1; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABSORPTION SPECTRA
AMMONIA
COSMIC DUST
COSMIC GASES
DUSTS
FLUIDS
GASES
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFRARED SPECTRA
INTERSTELLAR GRAINS
NEBULAE
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
SPECTRA
WATER