Interstellar C2 in the Ophiucus clouds.
Abstract
Interstellar lines of the C2 molecule are reported from high resolution high signal to noise spectra of ζ Oph, χ Oph and ρ Oph A. Rotational level populations for the C2 toward ζ Oph are not described by a single rotational temperature. The populations are quite consistent with a competition between collisional and radiative excitation under conditions expected for the ζ Oph cloud. The excitation of the C2 molecules toward χ Oph and ρ Oph A is similar to the results found for ζ Oph. The C2 column density is N(C2) = 2.2×1013, 3.5×1013 and 2.6×1013 cm-2 toward ζ Oph, χ Oph and ρ Oph A respectively.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- August 1983
- Bibcode:
- 1983A&A...124..188D
- Keywords:
-
- Abundance;
- Carbon;
- Interstellar Chemistry;
- Molecular Clouds;
- Molecular Excitation;
- Infrared Spectra;
- Molecular Energy Levels;
- Molecular Rotation;
- Populations;
- Radial Velocity;
- Astrophysics