728 research outputs found
Isotopic Anomalies in Primitive Solar System Matter: Spin-state Dependent Fractionation of Nitrogen and Deuterium in Interstellar Clouds
Organic material found in meteorites and interplanetary dust particles is
enriched in D and 15N. This is consistent with the idea that the functional
groups carrying these isotopic anomalies, nitriles and amines, were formed by
ion-molecule chemistry in the protosolar nebula. Theoretical models of
interstellar fractionation at low temperatures predict large enrichments in
both D and 15N and can account for the largest isotopic enrichments measured in
carbonaceous meteorites. However, more recent measurements have shown that, in
some primitive samples, a large 15N enrichment does not correlate with one in
D, and that some D-enriched primitive material displays little, if any, 15N
enrichment. By considering the spin-state dependence in ion-molecule reactions
involving the ortho and para forms of H2, we show that ammonia and related
molecules can exhibit such a wide range of fractionation for both 15N and D in
dense cloud cores. We also show that while the nitriles, HCN and HNC, contain
the greatest 15N enrichment, this is not expected to correlate with extreme D
enrichment. These calculations therefore support the view that Solar System 15N
and D isotopic anomalies have an interstellar heritage. We also compare our
results to existing astronomical observations and briefly discuss future tests
of this model.Comment: Submitted to ApJ
Observations of Isotope Fractionation in Prestellar Cores: Interstellar Origin of Meteoritic Hot Spot?
Isotopically fractionated material is found in many solar system objects, including meteorites and comets. It is thought, in some cases, to trace interstellar material that was incorporated into the solar system without undergoing significant processing. Here, we show the results of models and observations of the nitrogen and carbon fractionation in proto-stellar cores
Observations of Circumstellar Thermochemical Equilibrium: The Case of Phosphorus
We will present observations of phosphorus-bearing species in circumstellar envelopes, including carbon- and oxygen-rich shells 1. New models of thermochemical equilibrium chemistry have been developed to interpret, and constrained by these data. These calculations will also be presented and compared to the numerous P-bearing species already observed in evolved stars. Predictions for other viable species will be made for observations with Herschel and ALMA
Hydrogen Isocyanide in Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann (Fragment B)
We present a sensitive 3-sigma upper limit of 1.1% for the HNC/HCN abundance
ratio in comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann (Fragment B), obtained on May 10-11,
2006 using Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO). This limit is a factor of
~7 lower than the values measured previously in moderately active comets at 1
AU from the Sun. Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann was depleted in most volatile
species, except of HCN. The low HNC/HCN ratio thus argues against HNC
production from polymers produced from HCN. However, thermal degradation of
macromolecules, or polymers, produced from ammonia and carbon compounds, such
as acetylene, methane, or ethane appears a plausible explanation for the
observed variations of the HNC/HCN ratio in moderately active comets, including
the very low ratio in comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann reported here. Similar
polymers have been invoked previously to explain anomalous 14N/15N ratios
measured in cometary CN.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, 2 table
Observations of Nitrogen Isotope Fractionation in Prestellar Cores
Isotopically fractionated material is found in many solar system objects, including meteorites and comets [1]. It is considered, in some cases, to trace interstellar material that was incorporated into the solar system without undergoing significant processing, thus preserving the fractionation. In interstellar molecular clouds, ion-molecule chemistry continually cycles nitrogen between the two main reservoirs - Nand N2 - leading to only minor N-15 enrichments [2]. Charnley and Rodgers [3,4] showed that depletion of CO removes oxygen from the gas and weakens this cycle such that significant N-15 fractionation can occur for N2 and other N-bearing species in such cores. Observations are being conducted at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths employing various facilities in order to both spatially and spectrally, resolve emission from these cores. A preliminary study to obtain the N-14/N-15 ratio in nitriles was conducted at the Arizona Radio Observatory's 12m telescope on Kitt Peak, AZ. Spectra were obtained at high resolution (0.08 km/s) in order to resolve dynamic properties of each source as well as to resolve hyperfine structure present in certain isotopologues. This study included four dark cloud cores, observed to have varying levels of molecular depletion: Ll521E, Ll498, Ll544, and Ll521F. Previous studies of the N-14/N-15 ratio towards Ll544 were obtained with N2H(+) and NH3 yielding ratios of 446 and greater than 700, respectively [5,6]. The discrepancy observed in these two measurements suggests a strong chemical dependence on the fractionation of nitrogen. Ratios (C,N, and D) obtained from isotopologues for a particular molecule are likely tracing the same chemical heritage and are directly comparable within a given source. Results and comparisons between the protostellar evolutionary state and isomer isotope fractionation as well as between other N-bearing species will be presented
Observations of Nitrogen Fractionation in Prestellar Cores: Nitriles Tracing Interstellar Chemistry
Primitive materials provide important clues on the processes that occurred during the formation and early evolution of the Solar System. Space-based and ground-based observations of cometary comae show that comets appear to contain a mixture of the products of both interstellar and nebular chemistries. Significant 15-nitrogen enrichments have been measured in CN and HCN towards a number of comets and may suggest an origin of interstellar chemical fractionation. Additionally, large N-15 enhancements are found in meteorites and has also led to to the view that the N-15 traces material formed in the interstellar medium (ISM), although multiple sources cannot be excluded. Here, we show the results of observations of the nitrogen and carbon fractionation in prestellar cores for various N-bearing species to decipher the origin of primitive material isotopic enrichments
A Dynamical Study of the Non-Star Forming Translucent Molecular Cloud MBM16: Evidence for Shear Driven Turbulence in the Interstellar Medium
We present the results of a velocity correlation study of the high latitude
cloud MBM16 using a fully sampled CO map, supplemented by new CO
data. We find a correlation length of 0.4 pc. This is similar in size to the
formaldehyde clumps described in our previous study. We associate this
correlated motion with coherent structures within the turbulent flow. Such
structures are generated by free shear flows. Their presence in this non-star
forming cloud indicates that kinetic energy is being supplied to the internal
turbulence by an external shear flow. Such large scale driving over long times
is a possible solution to the dissipation problem for molecular cloud
turbulence.Comment: Uses AAS aasms4.sty macros. Accepted for publication in Ap
Isotope Fractionation Studies in Prestellar Cores: The Case of Nitrogen
Isotopically fractionated material is found in many solar system objects, including meteorites and comets. It is considered, in some cases, to trace interstellar material that was incorporated into the solar system without undergoing significant processing, thus preserving the fractionation. In interstellar molecular clouds, ion-molecule chemistry continually cycles nitrogen between the two main reservoirs - N and N2 - leading to only minor N-15 enrichments. Charnley and Rodgers showed that depletion of CO removes oxygen from the gas and weakens this cycle such that significant N-15 fractionation can occur for N2 and other N-bearing species in such cores. Observations are being conducted at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths employing various facilities in order to both spatially and spectrally, resolve emission from these cores. A preliminary study to obtain the N-14/N-15 ratio in nitriles (HCN and HNC) was conducted at the Arizona Radio Observatory's 12m telescope on Kitt Peak, AZ. Spectra were obtained at high resolution (0.08 km/s) in order to resolve dynamic properties of each source as well as to resolve hyperfine structure present in certain isotopologues. This study included four dark cloud cores, observed to have varying levels of molecular depletion: L1521E, L1498, L1544, and L1521F. Previous studies of the N-14/N-15 ratio towards LI544 were obtained with N2H+ and NIH3, yielding ratios of 446 and >700, respectively. The discrepancy observed in these two measurements suggests a strong chemical dependence on the fractionation of nitrogen. Ratios (C,N, and D) obtained from isotopologues for a particular molecule are likely tracing the same chemical heritage and are directly comparable within a given source. Results and comparisons between the protostellar evolutionary state and isomer isotope fractionation as well as between other N-bearing species will be presented
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