A Study of the Physics and Chemistry of TMC-1

Details A Study of the Physics and Chemistry of TMC-1 A Study of the Physics and Chemistry of TMC-1

Sep 1997

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1997apj...486..862p&link_type=abstract

Astrophysical Journal v.486, p.862

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

121

Ism: Abundances, Ism: Molecules, Ism: Individual Name: Taurus Molecular Cloud, Molecular Processes

Scientific paper

We present a comprehensive study of the physical and chemical conditions along the TMC-1 ridge. Temperatures were estimated from observations of CH3CCH, NH3, and CO. Densities were obtained from a multitransition study of HC3N. The values of the density and temperature allow column densities for 13 molecular species to be estimated from statistical equilibrium calculations, using observations of rarer isotopomers where possible, to minimize opacity effects. The most striking abundance variations relative to HCO+ along the ridge were seen for HC3N, CH3CCH, and SO, while smaller variations were seen in CS, C2H, and HCN. On the other hand, the NH3, HNC, and N2H+ abundances relative to HCO+ were determined to be constant, indicating that the so-called NH3 peak in TMC-1 is probably a peak in the ammonia column density rather than a relative abundance peak. In contrast, the well-studied cyanopolyyne peak is most likely due to an enhancement in the abundance of long-chain carbon species. Comparisons of the derived abundances to the results of time-dependent chemical models show good overall agreement for chemical timescales around 105 yr. We find that the observed abundance gradients can be explained either by a small variation in the chemical timescale from 1.2 x 105 to 1.8 x 105 yr or by a factor of 2 change in the density along the ridge. Alternatively, a variation in the C/O ratio from 0.4 to 0.5 along the ridge produces an abundance gradient similar to that observed.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

A Study of the Physics and Chemistry of TMC-1 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 A Study of the Physics and Chemistry of TMC-1, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and A Study of the Physics and Chemistry of TMC-1 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1224557