Publication Abstracts

Vrtilek et al. 1987

Vrtilek, J.M., C.A. Gottlieb, and P. Thaddeus, 1987: Laboratory and astronomical spectroscopy of C3H2, the first interstellar organic ring. Astrophys. J., 314, 716-725, doi:10.1086/165099.

The first laboratory and astronomical observations of the carbene ring molecule C3H2 briefly reported in a recent Letter are described in detail. In the laboratory, 22 millimeter-wave lines have been measured in a He and C2H2 discharge. From these the three rotational constants and the five fourth-order centrifugal distortion constants of C3H2 have been determined to high precision, allowing, in turn, calculation to 0.1 km/s of the most important lines in the radio and far-IR spectrum; 123 lines in the rotational spectrum with E/k < 100 K are tabulated. Eleven astronomical transitions have been identified, and in Sgr B2 and Orion KL, rotational temperatures and column densities were derived and compared with those of other hydrocarbons with a similar number of C atoms. Owing to the ubiquity in space of its strongest low-lying transitions, C3H2 promises to be a generally useful molecular probe; further, it may be the first of a new class of ring molecules in space. Detection of a carbene ring in an He and CzHz discharge suggests searches for other hydrocarbon rings and cyclopropenylidene derivatives.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{vr04000r,
  author={Vrtilek, J. M. and Gottlieb, C. A. and Thaddeus, P.},
  title={Laboratory and astronomical spectroscopy of C3H2, the first interstellar organic ring},
  year={1987},
  journal={Astrophysical Journal},
  volume={314},
  pages={716--725},
  doi={10.1086/165099},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - vr04000r
AU  - Vrtilek, J. M.
AU  - Gottlieb, C. A.
AU  - Thaddeus, P.
PY  - 1987
TI  - Laboratory and astronomical spectroscopy of C3H2, the first interstellar organic ring
JA  - Astrophys. J.
JO  - Astrophysical Journal
VL  - 314
SP  - 716
EP  - 725
DO  - 10.1086/165099
ER  -

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