Other
Scientific paper
May 2011
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011iaus..280e..23c&link_type=abstract
The Molecular Universe, Proceedings of the 280th Symposium of the International Astronomical Union held in Toledo, Spain, May 30
Other
Scientific paper
Fullerenes are large molecules made of carbon atoms that are organized in the shape of a hollow sphere or ellipsoid. The most common and best known member of the class is the so-called buckminsterfullerene, C60. Fullerenes were discovered in laboratory experiments carried out to study the chemistry in carbon star outflows, and were found to be remarkably stable. Consequently, they have long been suspected to exist in interstellar and circumstellar environments as well. In the unusual Spitzer-IRS infrared spectrum of the young, carbon-rich planetary nebula Tc 1, we have recently identified several emission bands with the infrared active vibrational modes of neutral C60 and C70 molecules. Since then, C60 has been detected in several other evolved objects as well as in the interstellar medium, at estimated abundances in the range 0.3--1.5% of the available carbon. Fullerenes might thus lock up a significant fraction of the cosmic carbon. These detections suggest that the circumstellar environments of evolved stars are the birthplace for fullerenes, and indicate that they survive in the ISM and are thus widespread in the Universe. However, many specifics about the formation, state and excitation mechanism of fullerenes remain unclear. In this talk, I will present the case for the identification of fullerenes in Tc 1, and give an overview of the detections in other sources. I will highlight some of the key conclusions related to the formation and excitation of fullerenes in astrophysical environments, and discuss remaining problems and future research avenues.
Bernard-Salas Jeronimo
Cami Jan
Malek Sarah E.
Peeters Els
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