A Search for Methylene in the Orion Nebula
Abstract
A deep search for the J = 4-3 and 5-4 fine-structure components of the N(KK) = 4(04)-3(13) rotational transition of methylene toward the hot core of the Orion KL nebula is conducted. An approximate 4-sigma emission feature which is frequency-coincident with a hyperfine blend of the J = 4-3 component is detected, and weak features (about 2-3 sigma) frequency-coincident with the resolved F = 6-5 and 5-4 hyperfine components of the J = 5-4 component are observed. The relative intensities of these spectral features and their observational repeatability suggest that assignment to interstellar CH2 is likely correct, although the result must be confirmed.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- November 1989
- DOI:
- 10.1086/168059
- Bibcode:
- 1989ApJ...346..794H
- Keywords:
-
- Astronomical Spectroscopy;
- Interstellar Chemistry;
- Methylene;
- Orion Nebula;
- Abundance;
- Fine Structure;
- Spectral Line Width;
- Astrophysics;
- INTERSTELLAR: MOLECULES;
- LINE IDENTIFICATIONS;
- NEBULAE: ORION NEBULA