A Search for Molecular Oxygen in Cold Dark Clouds

Details A Search for Molecular Oxygen in Cold Dark Clouds A Search for Molecular Oxygen in Cold Dark Clouds

Aug 1993

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1993a%26a...275..558f&link_type=abstract

Astronomy and Astrophysics, Vol.275, NO.2/AUG(II), P. 558, 1993

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

20

Interstellar Medium: General, Abundances, Molecules, Radio Lines: Interstellar

Scientific paper

A search for molecular oxygen has been carried out towards TMC2, Lt34N and B335. We have obtained 1 × σ upper limits to the O2/CO abundance ratio of ˜0.15, 0.19 and 0.29 in TMC2, L134N, and B335 respectively. These are the first limits to the O2 abundance obtained towards dark clouds, and they are similar to those obtained previously towards warm clouds. Chemical equilibrium models predict a value of 0.5 for the O2/CO ratio toward dark clouds if we assume the cosmic value for the C/O abundance ratio (C/O˜.4). This value is larger than the limits obtained towards L134N and TMC2 by a factor ≥ 2. A C/O ratio different from the cosmic value is proposed to explain the low O2 fractional abundance. In fact, chemical equilibrium models give an O2 abundance consistent with our limits and in agreement with previous estimated molecular abundances towards dark clouds if we assume C/O˜0.7. Other possible explanations for the low 02 fractional abundances are also discussed.

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