Detection of Nitric Oxide in the Dark Cloud L134N
Abstract
The first detection of interstellar nitric oxide (NO) in a cold dark cloud, L134N is reported. Nitric oxide was observed by means of its two 2 Pi 1/2, J = 3/2 - 1/2, rotational transitions at 150.2 and 150.5 GHz, which occur because of Lambda-doubling. The inferred column density for L134N is about 5 x 10 to the 14th/sq cm toward the SO peak in that cloud. This value corresponds to a fractional abundance relative to molecular hydrogen of about 6 x 10 to the -8th and is in good agreement with predictions of quiescent cloud ion-molecule chemistry. NO was not detected toward the dark cloud TMC-1 at an upper limit of 3 x 10 to the -8th or less.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- August 1990
- DOI:
- 10.1086/169040
- Bibcode:
- 1990ApJ...359..121M
- Keywords:
-
- Hydrogen;
- Interstellar Matter;
- Molecular Clouds;
- Molecular Ions;
- Nebulae;
- Nitric Oxide;
- Carbon;
- Interstellar Chemistry;
- Rotational Spectra;
- Astrophysics;
- INTERSTELLAR: MOLECULES;
- NEBULAE: ABUNDANCES