Search for LiH in the ISM towards B0218+357
Abstract
We report a tentative detection with the IRAM 30m telescope of the LiH molecule in absorption in front of the lensed quasar B0218+357. We have searched for the J = 0 -> 1 rotational line of lithium hydride at 444 GHz (redshifted to 263 GHz). The line, if detected, is optically thin, very narrow, and corresponds to a column density of N(LiH) = 1.6 10(12) cm(-2) for an assumed excitation temperature of 15 K, or a relative abundance LiH/H_2 ~ 3 10(-12) . We discuss the implications of this result.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- June 1998
- DOI:
- 10.48550/arXiv.astro-ph/9804303
- arXiv:
- arXiv:astro-ph/9804303
- Bibcode:
- 1998A&A...334L..81C
- Keywords:
-
- ISM: GENERAL;
- ABUNDANCES;
- MOLECULES;
- GALAXIES: ISM;
- QUASARS: ABSORPTION LINES;
- RADIO LINES: ISM;
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 4 pages, 1 figure, accepted in A&