UV irradiated hydrogenated amorphous carbon (HAC) materials as a carrier candidate of the interstellar UV bump at 217.5 nm

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

2

Dust, Extinction, Ism: Lines And Bands, Ultraviolet: Ism, Methods: Laboratory

Scientific paper

Context. Hydrogenated amorphous carbon (HAC) materials have been considered as a laboratory analog of cosmic carbonaceous nanoparticles in the interstellar medium (ISM). In the diffuse ISM, UV radiation can modify the electronic and atomic structure of HAC materials. Aims: Studying structural and optical properties of HAC materials in correlation with UV processing is very important to understand more clearly the effect of the UV radiation on carbonaceous dust grains in the diffuse ISM. This scenario can explain some astronomical spectral features such as the interstellar UV bump at 4.6 μm-1. Methods: Laser ablation has been used to produce nano-sized HAC materials which are subsequently irradiated by strong UV doses in a high vacuum. Transmission electron microscope images and spectroscopic analyses show the evolution of the internal structure of the material with the UV irradiation. Results: It is found that hydrogen content and the sp3/sp2 hybridization ratio decrease with the UV irradiation. The graphene layers become longer in processed materials. Also, graphitic fibers are observed in modified materials. The variation in the internal structure leads to dramatic changes in the spectral properties in the FUV-VIS range. The UV irradiation of HAC materials, coresponding to 21-33% of the average dose of the UV radiation in diffuse ISM, has produced a new band centered at 4.6 μm-1 (217.5 nm). Conclusions: Consequently, these results confirm for the first time the suggestion by Mennella et al. (1996) that irradiated HAC materials might be considered the carrier of the interstellar UV bump at 4.6 μm-1. However, so far the amount of carbon needed to produce the interstellar 4.6 μm-1 band is higher than that available for interstellar carbon dust grains. So the ideal structure of irradiated HAC materials that would produce a band of sufficient strength is not yet clear for the interstellar dust.

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

UV irradiated hydrogenated amorphous carbon (HAC) materials as a carrier candidate of the interstellar UV bump at 217.5 nm 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 UV irradiated hydrogenated amorphous carbon (HAC) materials as a carrier candidate of the interstellar UV bump at 217.5 nm, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and UV irradiated hydrogenated amorphous carbon (HAC) materials as a carrier candidate of the interstellar UV bump at 217.5 nm will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1183452

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