PHOSPHORUS AT THE EDGE OF THE GALAXY: DETECTION OF PO AND PN BEYOND 16 kPC

Koelemay, Lilia

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/122329 Copy

Description

Title

PHOSPHORUS AT THE EDGE OF THE GALAXY: DETECTION OF PO AND PN BEYOND 16 kPC

Author(s)

Koelemay, Lilia

Contributor(s)

• Ziurys, Lucy M.
• Gold, Katherine R.

Issue Date

2023-06-21

Keyword(s)

Astronomy

Abstract

The Galactic Habitable Zone (GHZ) is characterized by orbital kinematics, star formation rates, lack of SN explosions, time, metallicity, and, specifically, the NCHOPS elements – those required for life. Recently, molecules containing all the NCHOPS elements have been identified in dense clouds located in the Outer Galaxy (>16 kpc from the Galactic Center), with the exception of phosphorus. Because this element is integral for biological chemistry, a search was conducted for P-bearing molecules in dense clouds in the Outer Galaxy using the 12 m telescope of the Arizona Radio Observatory (ARO) at 2 mm in wavelength and the 30 m telescope of the Institut de radioastronomie millimétrique (IRAM) at 3mm. The J=2→1 and J=3→2 rotational transitions of PN were detected in WB89-621, located 22.6 kpc from the Galactic Center, as well as four hyperfine components of the J=2.5→1.5 of PO. The fractional abundance, relative to H₂, of PN was determined to be 3.0(±1.6) ×10⁻¹², and that of PO to be 2.0(±1.1)×10⁻¹¹. The identification of PN and PO at the edge of the Galaxy represents the furthest detection of phosphorus from the Galactic Center. All the NCHOPS elements have now been confirmed out to ∼20 kpc regions of the Galaxy.

Publisher

International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy

Type of Resource

Text

Language

eng

Handle URL

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/122329

DOI

https://doi.org/10.15278/isms.2023.6868

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