Early results from a rigorous k/ka-band hunt for aromatic molecules (arkham): ubiquitous aromatic carbon chemistry at the earliest stages of star formation
Burkhardt, Andrew M.
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/107569
Description
Title
Early results from a rigorous k/ka-band hunt for aromatic molecules (arkham): ubiquitous aromatic carbon chemistry at the earliest stages of star formation
Author(s)
Burkhardt, Andrew M.
Contributor(s)
McGuire, Brett A.
McCarthy, Michael C.
Remijan, Anthony
Lee, Kelvin
Shingledecker, Christopher N.
Loomis, Ryan
Issue Date
2020-06-24
Keyword(s)
Astronomy
Abstract
The widespread presence of aromatic molecules in (pre-)planetary nebulae and evolved stars, as evidenced by the ubiquitous Unidentified Infrared Bands, suggests that a substantial portion of this material is formed in a `top-down' manner via the breakdown of carbon soot in circumstellar envelopes. The recent detection of benzonitrile ($c$-C$_6$H$_5$CN), a polar proxy for benzene ($c$-C$_6$H$_6$), in the prestellar molecular cloud TMC-1, however, suggests that `bottom-up' pathways to aromatic molecule formation may also be operative. We present new radio astronomical evidence of benzonitrile in four additional pre-stellar, and possibly protostellar, sources: Serpens 1A, Serpens 1B, Serpens 2, and MC27/L1521F. These detections establish that benzonitrile is not unique to TMC-1; rather aromatic chemistry appears more widespread throughout the earliest stages of star formation than previously thought. Initial analysis reveals the benzonitrile to cyanopolyyne ratio is consistent within a single parent cloud, indicating that the initial conditions and atomic/molecular reservoirs may be important to understanding the formation for simple aromatic molecules. We will also briefly discuss the expansion of this survey to an even wider range of sources.
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