Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
May 2008
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008aas...212.0321b&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #212, #3.21; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 40, p.188
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Scientific paper
H2 is an important coolant in primordial clouds during the epoch of protogalaxy and first star formation. The dominant formation mechanism of H2 during this epoch is the associative detachment (AD) reaction H + H- → H2- → H2 + e-. Published values for this process differ by almost an order of magnitude. These uncertainties limit our ability to reliably model this epoch of the universe. For example, recent studies have shown that the effect is particularly large for protogalaxies forming in previously ionized regions, affecting predictions of whether or not a given protogalaxy can cool and condense within a Hubble time, and altering the strength of the ultraviolet background that is required to prevent collapse. We are developing a novel apparatus at the Columbia University Astrophysics Laboratory to study this reaction. Beginning with an anion beam, we use photodetachment to generate a self-merged, anion-neutral beams arrangement. Laboratory energies are in the keV range. Because the beams co-propagate, center-of-mass energies from the meV to keV range will be achievable. We will observe the AD reaction by detecting the fast H2+ ions formed through ionizing collisions of the AD-generated H2 with the background gas in the vacuum chamber. Here we present the current status of the project and discuss our future plans.
Bannister Mark E.
Bruhns Hjalmar
Covington Michael A.
Dorn August
Havener C. C.
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