Methane detected in Orion A

Details Methane detected in Orion A Methane detected in Orion A

Nov 1978

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1978apj...226l..43f&link_type=abstract

Astrophysical Journal, Part 2 - Letters to the Editor, vol. 226, Nov. 15, 1978, p. L43-L47.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

17

Astronomical Spectroscopy, Interstellar Matter, Methane, Microwave Emission, Emission Spectra, Interstellar Masers, Line Spectra, Molecular Rotation

Scientific paper

This letter reports the detection of line emission from the Orion Molecular Cloud corresponding to six distinct pure-rotational delta J = 0 transitions in CH4. The transitions observed and the transition frequencies are: J = 11 E(2) - E(1), 4600.359 MHz; J = 18 F1(4) - F2(1), 76,231.45 MHz; J = 18 A1(2) - A2(1), 76,700.02 MHz; J = 19 F1(4) - F2(1), 75,944.99 MHz; J = 19 F2(4) - F1(1), 78,233.59 MHz; and J = 20 F2(5) - F1(2), 82,873.59 MHz. The observed spectra at the six transition frequencies are plotted, and all but two of the methane lines are found to be very narrow (about 2 km/s). It is noted that the small velocity widths of the four weaker lines and an observed variability of the J = 18 A line are classic characteristics of a maser and that the excitation appears to be nonthermal. An effective excitation temperature of 1100 to 2100 K is estimated for the methane in Orion A.

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