Biomedical subjects

W M Irvine

Publications and source records attributed to W M Irvine.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed1989

A survey of cyclopropenylidene (C3H2) in galactic sources.

We report the results of an initial survey in a variety of Galactic sources for cyclopropenylidene (C3H2), the first interstellar hydrocarbon ring molecule. C3H2 is found to be very widespread throughout the Galaxy. This, together with its large dipole moment and many observable transitions, makes cyclopropenylidene a promising probe for physical conditions in the interstellar medium. The ortho 1(10)-1(01) transition at 18 GHz is detected in a variety of environments, including giant molecular clouds, diffuse clouds, cold dark clouds, the spiral arm clouds in the direction of distant continuum sources, and the envelope of the carbon star IRC + 10216. The 2(20)-2(11) para line at 21.6 GHz was surveyed in many sources having strong 1(10)-1(01) emission, and, when detected, it was always seen in absorption. A more limited survey of the ortho 2(12)-1(01) transition at 85.3 GHz has been conducted. In addition, the 2(11)-2(02) line of the para species at 46.8 GHz was detected in the dark clouds TMC-1 and L134N. Maps have been made of the clouds TMC-1, L134N, W51, and Orion, confirming that the C3H2 emission is extended in these objects. The data obtained thus far suggest that C3H2 is one of the more abundant organic constituents of the dense interstellar medium.

Astronomical Phenomena↗

PubMed1988

A new interstellar polyatomic molecule: detection of propynal in the cold cloud TMC-1.

We report the detection of the acetylene derivative propynal (HC triple bond CCHO) in the cold cloud TMC-1, with an abundance that is very close to that for the related species tricarbon monoxide (C3O). Propadienone, an isomer of propynal with the formula H2C=C=C=O, was not detected and is hence less abundant than either C3O or HC2CHO.

Aldehydes↗

PubMed1988

Identification of the interstellar cyanomethyl radical (CH2CN) in the molecular clouds TMC-1 and Sagittarius B2.

We report the astronomical identification of the cyanomethyl radical, CH2CN, the heaviest nonlinear molecular radical to be identified in interstellar clouds. The complex fine and hyperfine structures of the lowest rotational transitions at about 20.12 and 40.24 GHz are resolved in TMC-1, where the abundance appears to be about 5 x 10(-9) relative to that of H2. This is significantly greater than the observed abundance of CH3CN (methyl cyanide) in TMC-1. In Sgr B2 the hyperfine structure is blended in the higher frequency transitions at 40, 80, and 100 GHz, although the spin-rotation doubling is clearly evident. Preliminary searches in other sources indicate that the distribution of CH2CN is similar to that for such carbon chain species as HC3N or C4H.

Acetonitriles↗

PubMed1988

Laboratory detection of a new interstellar free radical CH2CN(2B1).

An asymmetric-top free radical CH2CN, which as a 2B1 ground state, was detected for the first time by laboratory microwave spectroscopy. The radical was produced in a free-space absorption cell by a DC glow discharge in pure CH3CN gas. About 60 fine-structure components were observed for the N = 11-10 to 14-13 a-type rotational transitions in the frequency region of 220-260 GHz, and many hyperfine resolved components for the N = 4-3 and 5-4 transitions in the 80 and 100 GHz regions, respectively. The molecular constants, including the rotational constants, centrifugal distortion constants, and spin-rotation coupling constants with centrifugal distortion correction terms were determined from the fine-structure resolved transitions, and the hyperfine coupling constants due to the hydrogen and nitrogen nuclei were obtained from the low-N transitions. As a result we assigned U100602 and U80484 from Sgr B2, and U40240 and U20120 from TMC-1, to the N = 5-4, 4-3, 2-1, and 1-0 transitions with K-1 = 0 of the CH2CN radical.

Acetonitriles↗

PubMed1988

Observations of interstellar HOCO+: abundance enhancements toward the galactic center.

A survey of the 4(04)-3(03) and 1(01)-0(00) transitions of HOCO+ has been made toward several molecular clouds. The HOCO+ molecule was not observed in any sources except Sgr B2 and Sgr A. The 5(05)-4(04) and 4(14)-3(13) transitions were also detected toward Sgr B2. The results indicate that gas phase CO2 is not a major carbon reservoir in typical molecular clouds. In Sgr B2, the HOCO+ antenna temperature exhibits a peak approximately 2' north of the Sgr B2 central position (Sgr B2[M]) and the 4(04)-3(03) line emission is extended over a approximately 10' x 10' region. The column density of HOCO+ at the northern peak in Sgr B2 is approximately 3 x 10(14) cm-2, and the fractional abundance relative to H2 > or = 3 x 10(-10), which is about 2 orders of magnitude greater than recent predictions of quiescent cloud ion-molecule chemistry.

Astronomical Phenomena↗

PubMed1988

A study of C3HD in cold interstellar clouds.

We have detected the 1(10)-1(01) transition of C3HD at 19.418 GHz at twelve positions in cold, dark clouds and resolved the D hyperfine components in two sources (L1498 and TMC-1C) well enough to derive values for the D quadrupole coupling constants. Simultaneous observations of C3H2 in each source yield relative integrated line intensities in the range 0.10-0.18, from which we derive relative [C3HD]/[C3H2] abundances in the range 0.05-0.15. These are among the highest deuteration ratios yet observed. Within the limits of the observational and modeling uncertainties it is possible to explain the derived [C3HD]/[C3H2] ratios by ion-molecule chemistry if [e-] approximately 3 x 10(-7).

Astronomical Phenomena↗

PubMed1988

Newly detected molecules in dense interstellar clouds.

The last year or so has seen the identification of several new interstellar molecules, including C2S, C3S, C5H, C6H, and (probably) HC2CHO in the cold, dark cloud TMC-1; and the discovery of the first interstellar phosphorous-containing molecule, PN, in the Orion "plateau" source. Further interesting results include the observations of 13C3H2 and C3HD, and the first detection of HCOOH (formic acid) in a cold cloud.

Astronomical Phenomena↗

PubMed1988

Methanol in dark clouds.

We report observations, for the first time, of the 2(0) - 1(0)A+ and E, 2(-1) - 1(-1) E, and 1(0) - 0(0)A+ lines of methanol (CH3OH) in three dark cold clouds, TMC1, L134N, and B335. The CH3OH emission is extended in these clouds and shows a complex velocity structure. Clear indications of non LTE excitation are observed in TMC 1. Estimated column densities are a few 10(13) cm-2. Although less abundant than formaldehyde (H2CO), methanol is almost an order of magnitude more abundant than acetaldehyde (CH3CHO), in these clouds. Dimethyl ether was searched for in L134N, to an upper limit of 4 10(12) cm-2 (3 sigma). Implications for dark cloud excitation and chemistry are discussed. A new, more accurate, rest frequency 96741.39(0.01) MHz is determined for the 2(0) - 1(0) A+ E line of methanol.

Acetaldehyde↗

PubMed1987

Deuterium hyperfine structure in interstellar C3HD.

The deuterium nuclear quadrupole hyperfine structure of the transition 1(10)-1(01) of the ring molecule cyclopropenylidene-d1 (C3HD) has been observed in emission from interstellar molecular clouds. The narrowest linewidths (approximately 7 kHz) so far observed are in the cloud L1498. The derived D coupling constants Xzz = 186.9(1.4) kHz, eta=0.063(18) agree well with correlations based on other molecules.

Astronomical Phenomena↗

PubMed1987

Observations of HCN in comet P/Halley.

We present observations of the HCN J = 1-0 rotational transition at 3.4 mm wavelength in comet P/Halley. The data were obtained during a total of 56 individual observing sessions between November 1985 and May 1986 and represent the first time that a cometary parent molecule has been so extensively monitored. The HCN production rate is well correlated with the total visual magnitude of the comet, and comparison of the HCN production to the total gas production of the comet indicates that it is a relatively minor constituent with 0.1% the abundance of H2O. Comparison of HCN and CN production suggests that HCN is a major parent molecule of CN, but probably not the sole parent. HCN spectra obtained by binning the data with heliocentric distance show that the line width, and thus the parent outflow velocity, increases with decreasing heliocentric distance, and that there is a tendency for the lines to be blue shifted due to anisotropic outgassing from the nucleus. Finally, there is evidence of day-to-day time variability in the total HCN emission and in the hyperfine ratios. The time variation of the total emission is consistent with the known time variable behavior of the comet, and detailed comparisons to optical data, where possible, confirm this interpretation. However, non-LTE values of the hyperfine ratios are not consistent with theoretical modeling of the excitation of these transitions.

Astronomical Phenomena↗

PubMed1986

Detections of 13C-substituted C3H2 in astronomical sources.

We report observations of the 2(12)-1(01) rotational transition of the 13C isotopic species of cyclopropenylidene (C3H2) toward TMC-1, Sgr B2, and IRC +10216 using the laboratory rest frequencies which have recently become available. Our detections allow estimates to be made of the fractional abundance of the unsubstituted similar species in these sources. The fractional abundance relative to H2, f(C3H2), is 1-2 x 10(-8) in TMC-1, and this is similar to the abundance of HCN, one of the more abundant organic molecules in the interstellar medium. In IRC +10216 f(C3H2) is one order of magnitude greater than in TMC-1. The 12C species in Sgr B2 shows a self-absorbed profile and the relative abundance of C3H2 estimated to be about an order of magnitude less than in TMC-1.

Astronomical Phenomena↗

PubMed1986

Variations in the HCN/HNC abundance ratio in the Orion molecular cloud.

We have used observations of the rare isotopes of HCN and HNC to determine the relative abundance of these two chemical isomers along the central ridge of the Orion molecular cloud. The abundance ratio [HCN]/[HNC] decreases by more than an order of magnitude from the relatively warm plateau and hot core sources toward the KL nebula to the colder, more quiescent clouds to the north and south. Even in the cooler regions, however, the ratio is an order of magnitude larger than that found in previous investigations of cold dark clouds. We determine the kinetic temperature in the regions we have studied from new observations of methylacetylene (CH3CCH), together with other recent estimates of the gas temperature near KL. The results suggest that the warmer portions of the cloud are dominated by different chemical pathways than those in the general interstellar cloud material.

Alkynes↗

PubMed1986

The C3H2 2(20)-2(11) transition: absorption in cold dark clouds.

The first observations of the 2(20)-2(11) transition of cyclopropenylidene (C3H2) at 21.6 GHz are described. In all cases where it has been detected, the line appears in absorption, showing that this transition is "refrigerated" (i.e., Tex < 2.7 K) in cold dust clouds. These results are compared with those for the 1(10)-1(01) transition of C3H2, and the consequences for the excitation of C3H2 qualitatively discussed.

Astronomical Phenomena↗

PubMed1986

New interstellar masers in nonmetastable ammonia.

We report the astronomical detections of several ammonia inversion transitions involving nonmetastable levels with energies as high s 1090 K above the ground state. The (J, K) = (9, 6) inversion transition shows maser-like emission in the directions of W51, NGC 7538, W49, and DR 21(OH). The NH3 (6, 3) line exhibits similar characteristics in W51 but is seen in absorption in NGC 7538. These are the first definite detections of ammonia masers in space. The intensities and narrow line widths (0.5-1.5 km s-1) for the emission features are in contrast to the previously detected broad, weak, nonmetastable lines attributed to thermal emission in these sources. Temporal variability appears to be evident in the (9, 6) emission in W49 over a 4 month period. The highly excited (J, K) = (9, 6) and (6, 3) ammonia lines are found in regions containing compact H II regions and strong infrared sources with associated H2O and OH masers; i.e., in regions of active star formation.

Ammonia↗

PubMed1986

Observational astrochemistry.

Astronomers have identified some 70 molecular species in dense interstellar clouds and the envelopes expelled by evolved stars. Some 75% of these are organic, including molecules with up to 13 atoms and with weights up to 147 daltons. Elements found in interstellar compounds include H, C, N, O, S, Si, and probably Cl. A recent addition to the list of interstellar molecules is the first hydrocarbon ring, cyclopropenylidene (C3H2). Current research in astrochemistry is concentrating on the determination of accurate chemical abundances as a function of environment. Both basic similarities and intriguing differences among clouds are found, which may provide clues to processes associated with cloud evolution and star formation.

Astronomical Phenomena↗

PubMed1985

The hydrocarbon ring C3H2 is ubiquitous in the Galaxy.

We report the discovery of a strong microwave (lambda 1.6 cm) spectral line, the carrier of which is common and widespread throughout the Galaxy. A survey of a large number of sources shows that the line appears in emission in cold dust clouds, in absorption in the direction of the Galactic center, and exhibits complex profiles toward H II regions. Toward Cas A and distant H II regions, intervening "spiral arm" clouds produce absorption. For almost all cases, the absorption features show a striking 1 : 1 radial velocity correspondence with those seen, e.g., in H2CO spectra of the same objects. The data indicate that the line arises between low-lying energy states of rather polar molecule. Recent work by Thaddeus, Vrtilek, and Gottlieb, reported in 1985 incorporating the present data, shows that the line in question is the 1(10)-1(01) transition of the small hydrocarbon ring C3H2.

Astronomical Phenomena↗

PubMed1985

Tricarbon monoxide in TMC-1.

We report the measurement of three new lines of C3O in TMC-1. The observed peak antenna temperatures, appropriately corrected for atmospheric and telescope losses, are found to be consistent with a large velocity gradient radiative transfer model whose parameters span the range of standard values for this cloud. The derived fractional abundance for C3O is 1.4 x 10(-10), comparable with the results predicted from a model calculation based on a gas-phase ion-molecule reaction scheme. The results of negative searches for C3O in six other sources are not inconsistent with expected conditions in these clouds.

Astronomical Phenomena↗

PubMed1985

Astronomical identification of the C3H radical.

The C3H radical, a linear carbon chain with a 2 pi electronic ground state, has been identified in the millimeter-wave spectra of two astronomical sources, IRC +10216 and TMC-1, and conclusively confirmed (accompanying Letter) in a laboratory glow discharge. In IRC +10216 four rotational transitions have been observed, three in the lower fine-structure ladder (2 pi 1/2) and one in the upper (2 pi 3/2), each a resolved or partially resolved lambda-doublet. In TMC-1, both lambda components of the lowest lying 3/2 --> 1/2 transition of the 2 pi 1/2 ladder have been observed, each with well-resolved hfs. In IRC +10216 the excitation of C3H is similar to that of SiCC: the rotational temperature Trot within the 2 pi 1/2 ladder is low (8.5 K), owing to rapid radiative decay, while Trot across the ladders is high (approximately 52 K) because interconnecting far-IR radiative transitions are only weakly permitted. The column density of C3H in IRC +10216 averaged over the estimated source diameter of 84" is 2.8 x 10(13) cm-2, an order of magnitude less than that of C2H and C4H. A determination of the spectroscopic constraints of C3H that permitted the entire radio spectrum of this molecule to be calculated to high accuracy has been derived from analysis of the combined astronomical and laboratory data presented in the accompanying Letter.

Astronomical Phenomena↗