Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
May 1998
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1998mnras.296..746r&link_type=abstract
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 296, Issue 3, pp. 746-748.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Molecular Processes, Ism: Clouds, Ism: Molecules
Scientific paper
The pure rotational spectrum of homonuclear diatomic molecules in the interstellar medium is strongly forbidden, and no such spectrum has been detected. In regions of high excitation, vibrational emission may occur, as is widely detected in the case of H_2 in interstellar shocks and photon-dominated regions. However, it is of considerable interest to know the abundance of homonuclear diatomics in quiescent regions. We propose that vibrational emission from homonuclear diatomic molecules in cold clouds may be detectable, where the excitation is mainly through collisions with non-thermal electrons arising from the cosmic-ray ionization of H_2. As an example, we estimate the intensity of emission from N_2 in cold, dark interstellar clouds. We show that such emission is at the limit of detectability with current technology. Other excitation mechanisms may also contribute and enhance this emission.
Duley Walter W.
Ruffle Deborah P.
Williams David. A.
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