Can PAH clusters survive in PDRs?

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

Scientific paper

Astronomical observations reveal an active chemistry of the carbonaceous species in photodissociation regions (PDRs), involving polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and very small carbonaceous grains. Recent analysis of mid-IR observations (Pilleri et al., submitted) support the evolutionary scenario proposed by Rapacioli et al. (2005, A&A) in which free PAHs are produced by evaporation of very small carbonaceous grains. These authors also proposed PAH clusters as models for these grains and tested this hypothesis for the specific case of coronene (C24H12) clusters (Rapacioli et al. 2006, A&A). They concluded that even though the formation of PAH clusters by collision of PAHs is efficient in PDRs, their destruction by UV photons is much faster. However, astrophysical PAHs are thought to be much larger than coronene and the stability of PAH clusters is expected to increase with the size of PAH units. We revisited this work and considered the photoevaporation of circumcoronene (C54H18) clusters. Our results lay on -(i)- molecular dynamic simulations and phase space theory to describe molecular properties and -(ii)- an astrochemical model using rate equations. We conclude about the ability of PAH clusters to survive in PDRs.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Can PAH clusters survive in PDRs? 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 Can PAH clusters survive in PDRs?, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Can PAH clusters survive in PDRs? will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-930101

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.