Line Survey of Orion-KL in the 350 Micron Band
Abstract
With the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory, we have surveyed the spectral line emission of Orion-KL in the frequency range between 790 and 900 GHz. These are the highest-frequency line survey observations ever carried out, opening a window on the hottest and densest molecular gas in the region. Preliminary results show the spectrum of Orion-KL to be extremely rich even at these high frequencies, with an average of 3 to 6 strong (>∼5 K) lines per GHz. The present survey completes, for the Orion Hot Core, the database of molecular emission observable from ground-based telescopes. Once the analysis of the data is complete, it will be possible to compare Orion, from a chemical point of view, with other hot-core-type sources, in the attempt to discover a common chemical pattern and to define a ``prototype'' for this class of objects. Moreover, the collected data set of the Orion spectra, as observed from the CSO, will be extremely useful for spectroscopic studies carried out with future instruments such as SMA, APEX, ALMA, and HIFI on board the Herschel Space Observatory.
- Publication:
-
SFChem 2002: Chemistry as a Diagnostic of Star Formation
- Pub Date:
- 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003cdsf.conf..270C