Cumulenic and heterocumulenic anions: potential interstellar species?
Date
2001
Authors
Blanksby, S.
Mc Anoy, A.
Dua, S.
Bowie, J.
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Journal Title
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Journal article
Citation
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2001; 328(1):89-100
Statement of Responsibility
Stephen J. Blanksby, Andrew M. McAnoy, Suresh Dua, John H. Bowie
Conference Name
Abstract
A recent theoretical investigation by Terzieva & Herbst of linear carbon chains, C<inf>n</inf> where n ≥ 6, in the interstellar medium has shown that these species can undergo efficient radiative association to form the corresponding anions. An experimental study by Barckholtz, Snow & Bierbaum of these anions has demonstrated that they do not react efficiently with molecular hydrogen, leading to the possibility of detectable abundances of cumulene-type anions in dense interstellar and circumstellar environments. Here we present a series of electronic structure calculations which examine possible anionic candidates for detection in these media, namely the anion analogues of the previously identified interstellar cumulenes C<inf>n</inf>H and C<inf>n-1</inf>CH<inf>2</inf> and heterocumulenes C<inf>n</inf>O (where n = 2-10). The extraordinary electron affinities calculated for these molecules suggest that efficient radiative electron attachment could occur, and the large dipole moments of these simple (generally) linear molecules point to the possibility of detection by radio astronomy.
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Dissertation Note
Provenance
Published Online: 7 Jul 2008
Description
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