Complex Organics in Interstellar Space
Abstract
There are signatures of large organic molecules in the interstellar medium, from the ultraviolet to the infrared. Some infrared emission bands, which have been ascribed to families of large aromatic compounds are not specific for individual identification (and for discriminating free floating PAH molecules from loosely bound aromatics in amorphous carbon compounds). Red fluorescence and FUV absorption have also been ascribed to these aromatic compounds. Electronic transitions in the visible are a key to identify free gas phase molecules. The origin of Diffuse Interstellar Bands (Herbig 1995), more than 300 in recent surveys (O' Tuairisg et al 2000) is still a mystery. However the measurements of sub-structures rotational contours in DIBs (Ehrenfreund Foing 1996) indicate large molecules such as chains (12-18C), rings, 50 C PAHs or fullerenes. The distribution of DIB widths permit to estimate a distribution of size of molecular carriers. The environment properties of DIB carriers also indicate ionisation potentials similar to those of cations of large carbonaceous molecules, such as large PAHs or fullerenes (Sonnentrucker et al 1997). The correlation studies of DIBS also indicate different carriers for the strong DIBs observed in the visible (Cami et al 1997). DIBS are weakened in the in the low-metallicity Magellanic clouds (Ehrenfreund et al 2002, Cox et al 2004). The detection of near IR bands at 9577 and 9632 A coinciding with laboratory transitions of C60+ (Foing, Ehrenfreund 1994, 1997, Galatzudinov et al 2000 ) suggest that significant interstellar carbon could reside in complex fullerene type compounds. These results indicate that many different large and complex organic molecules can form and survive in the very harsh interstellar environments. A follow up interdisciplinary work is required between astronomical observations, laboratory matrix and gas phase spectroscopy, theoretical work and modelling, and active experiments in space to study the formation, evolution, survival and transport of these complex organics.
- Publication:
-
35th COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- 2004
- Bibcode:
- 2004cosp...35.4056F