Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
May 2011
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011iaus..280p.181g&link_type=abstract
The Molecular Universe, Posters from the proceedings of the 280th Symposium of the International Astronomical Union held in Tole
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
Despite extreme conditions in various different regions in space there exists a rich chemistry. The richest variety in molecules is observed in molecular, or dense, clouds, where temperatures are 10-20 K. Under these extremely low density and low temperature conditions how could these molecules be formed? We discuss how tunnelling may play a role in the formation of molecules in the interstellar medium. We employ the recent harmonic quantum transition state theory implementation, based on instanton theory, by Arnaldsson and Jonsson to calculate reaction rates that include tunnelling at low temperatures. Especially reactions that involve the addition or abstraction of the light H atom display efficient tunnelling behaviour, which makes the rates non-negligible at low temperatures in the interstellar medium despite a significant activation barrier. The heavier D isotope tunnels much less efficiently and hence strong kinetic isotope effects are predicted.
Andersson Sebastian
Goumans P. M. T.
Kaestner Johannes
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