The Infrared Spectrum of the Galactic Center and the Composition of Interstellar Dust

Details The Infrared Spectrum of the Galactic Center and the Composition of Interstellar Dust The Infrared Spectrum of the Galactic Center and the Composition of Interstellar Dust

Apr 1996

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1996apj...461..210t&link_type=abstract

Astrophysical Journal v.461, p.210

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

60

Galaxy: Center, Infrared: Ism: Lines And Bands, Ism: Dust, Extinction, Ism: Abundances

Scientific paper

We have obtained 5-8 μm spectra of the Galactic center from the Kuiper Airborne Observatory at resolving powers of ≍50, ≍150, and ≍300. These spectra show absorption features at 5.5, 5.8, 6.1, and 6.8 um. Together with previously observed features in the 3 μm region, these features are compared with laboratory spectra of candidate materials. The 3.0 and 6.1 μm features are due to the OH stretching and bending variations of H2O and are well fitted by water of hydration in silicates (e.g., talc). The 3.0 μm band is equally well fitted by ice mixtures containing 30% H2O, but such mixtures do not provide a good fit to the observed 6.1 μm band. The 3.4 and 6.8 μm features are identified with the CH stretching and deformation modes in CH2 and CH3 groups in saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons. The 6.1 μm band shows a short wavelength shoulder centered on 5.8 μm, attributed to carbonyl (C==O) groups in this interstellar hydrocarbon dust component. Finally, the narrow 5.5 μm feature is also attributed to carbonyl groups, but in the form of metal carbonyls [e.g., Fe(CO)4].
We have derived column densities and abundances along the line of sight toward the Galactic center for the various identified dust components. This analysis shows that hydrocarbon grains contain only 0.08 of the elemental abundance of C and contribute only a relatively minor fraction (0.1) of the total dust volume. Most of the interstellar dust volume is made up of silicates (≍0.6). Small graphite grains, responsible for the 2200 Å bump, account for 0.07 of the total dust volume. The remaining one-quarter of the interstellar dust volume consists of a material(s) without strong IR absorption features. Likely candidates include large graphite grains, diamonds, or amorphous carbon grains, which all have weak or no IR active modes. Finally, various models for the origin of the hydrocarbon dust component of the interstellar dust are discussed. All of them face some problems in explaining the observations, in particular, the absence of the spectroscopic signature of hydrocarbon grains in sources associated with molecular clouds.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The Infrared Spectrum of the Galactic Center and the Composition of Interstellar Dust does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with The Infrared Spectrum of the Galactic Center and the Composition of Interstellar Dust, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Infrared Spectrum of the Galactic Center and the Composition of Interstellar Dust will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1334220