Reproducing the Molecular Reactions Leading to the Formation of the First Stars

Details Reproducing the Molecular Reactions Leading to the Formation of the First Stars Reproducing the Molecular Reactions Leading to the Formation of the First Stars

Jan 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009aas...21346602s&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #213, #466.02; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 41, p.414

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Scientific paper

The dominant formation mechanism of H2 during the epoch of first star and protogalaxy formation is the associative detachment (AD) reaction H + H- forming 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 of these uncertainties 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 have built 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 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 our recent results and discuss our future plans. This work has been supported in part by the NSF Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities: Instrument Development program.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Reproducing the Molecular Reactions Leading to the Formation of the First Stars 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 Reproducing the Molecular Reactions Leading to the Formation of the First Stars, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Reproducing the Molecular Reactions Leading to the Formation of the First Stars will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1706260