Evidence for large organic molecules in the diffuse medium using optical high resolution spectroscopy

P Sonnentrucker; B H Foing; P Ehrenfreund

doi:10.1016/s0273-1177(99)00086-1

Evidence for large organic molecules in the diffuse medium using optical high resolution spectroscopy

Adv Space Res. 1999;24(4):449-52. doi: 10.1016/s0273-1177(99)00086-1.

Authors

P Sonnentrucker¹, B H Foing, P Ehrenfreund

Affiliation

¹ Observatoire de Strasbourg, France.

PMID: 11543330
DOI: 10.1016/s0273-1177(99)00086-1

Abstract

The Diffuse Interstellar Bands (DIBs) are absorption lines observed in the line of sight toward reddened OB stars. Their ubiquitous detection in space indicates chemically stable and abundant carriers. High resolution spectroscopy led to the detection of substructures in the line profiles of a few DIBs, indicating a gas phase molecular origin of the carriers. Line profile studies are useful tools to derive information on the band carriers nature. In this paper we compared the velocity structure of the lambda 6613 angstroms DIB line profile to the NaD1 and CaII profiles toward 6 targets of the Perseus OB2 association.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Astronomy / instrumentation*
Electronic Data Processing
Exobiology
Extraterrestrial Environment*
Gases / analysis*
Normal Distribution
Organic Chemicals
Spectrum Analysis / instrumentation*

Substances

Gases
Organic Chemicals