Open AccessRotational contours of CH 2 X chain species compared with several diffuse interstellar bands
Author(s) -
Schulz Stefan A.,
King Joseph E.,
Glinski Robert J.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.2000.03166.x
Subject(s) - physics , perpendicular , cumulene , carbon chain , molecule , atomic physics , astrophysics , carbene , spectral line , chain (unit) , carbon fibers , interstellar medium , molecular physics , geometry , astronomy , composite number , galaxy , chemistry , materials science , quantum mechanics , biochemistry , mathematics , organic chemistry , composite material , catalysis
We have calculated synthetic spectra of perpendicular and parallel rovibronic bands of cumulene carbene molecules of the form C n H 2 . The perpendicular bands are consistent with a regularly spaced group of diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) near 6850 Å. Parallel bands calculated for these molecular structures are consistent with the intrinsic profile of the associated 6614‐Å DIB. Both types of bands are expected for an electronic transition that these species should have at those energies. We could not determine if the molecule was charged or if an atom other than carbon terminated the chain‐end. Constraints due to molecular geometry and temperature place the chain length at 7–15 carbons to fit the 6850‐Å group and 9–13 carbons to fit the 6614‐Å DIB.