Other
Scientific paper
Aug 1993
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1993apj...413l..67r&link_type=abstract
Astrophysical Journal, Part 2 - Letters (ISSN 0004-637X), vol. 413, no. 2, p. L67-L71.
Other
27
Cyanogen, Interstellar Matter, Molecular Clouds, Relic Radiation, Temperature Measurement, Diffuse Radiation, Molecular Rotation
Scientific paper
We present the results of a recently completed effort to determine the amount of CN rotational excitation in five diffuse interstellar clouds for the purpose of accurately measuring the temperature of the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR). In addition, we report a new detection of emission from the strongest hyperfine component of the 2.64 mm CN rotational transition (N = 1-0) in the direction toward HD 21483. We have used this result in combination with existing emission measurements toward our other stars to correct for local excitation effects within diffuse clouds which raise the measured CN rotational temperature above that of the CMBR. After making this correction, we find a weighted mean value of T(CMBR) = 2.729 (+0.023, -0.031) K. This temperature is in excellent agreement with the new COBE measurement of 2.726 +/- 0.010 K (Mather et al., 1993). Our result, which samples the CMBR far from the near-Earth environment, attests to the accuracy of the COBE measurement and reaffirms the cosmic nature of this background radiation. From the observed agreement between our CMBR temperature and the COBE result, we conclude that corrections for local CN excitation based on millimeter emission measurements provide an accurate adjustment to the measured rotational excitation.
Hawkins Isabel
Meyer David M.
Roth Katherine C.
No associations
LandOfFree
Interstellar cyanogen and the temperature of the cosmic microwave background radiation 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 Interstellar cyanogen and the temperature of the cosmic microwave background radiation, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Interstellar cyanogen and the temperature of the cosmic microwave background radiation will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1491424