Enhanced Deuterium Fractionation in Dense Interstellar Cores Resulting from Multiply Deuterated H+3
Abstract
In this Letter, we present the first results from updated models of interstellar deuterium chemistry that now include all possible deuterated isotopomers of H+3. We find that in regions of high density and heavy depletion, such as prestellar cores, the inclusion of HD+2 and D+3 enhances the fractionation of ionic and neutral species significantly. Our models are the first to predict the very high atomic D/H ratios (>=0.3) necessary for grain-surface chemistry models to reproduce the high formaldehyde and methanol fractionation seen in star-forming regions.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- July 2003
- DOI:
- 10.1086/376962
- Bibcode:
- 2003ApJ...591L..41R
- Keywords:
-
- ISM: Clouds;
- ISM: Individual: Alphanumeric: L1544;
- ISM: Molecules;
- Molecular Processes