FIRST SCIENTIFIC OBSERVATIONS WITH THE NEW ALMA PROTOTYPE ANTENNA OF THE ARIZONA RADIO OBSERVATORY: HCN AND CCH IN THE HELIX NEBULA

Schmidt, Deborah

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/79288 Copy

Description

Title

FIRST SCIENTIFIC OBSERVATIONS WITH THE NEW ALMA PROTOTYPE ANTENNA OF THE ARIZONA RADIO OBSERVATORY: HCN AND CCH IN THE HELIX NEBULA

Author(s)

Schmidt, Deborah

Contributor(s)

Ziurys, Lucy M.

Issue Date

24-Jun-15

Keyword(s)

Astronomy

Abstract

Observations have been conducted with the new 12 m antenna of the Arizona Radio Observatory (ARO) at 3 mm towards the Helix Nebula. This object is the oldest known planetary nebula. The J = 1 $rightarrow$ 0 transition of HCN at 88 GHz and two hyperfine components of the N = 1 $rightarrow$ 0 line of CCH at 87 GHz were observed towards nine positions sampling different regions across the nebula. Both molecules were detected at all positions at the 5 � 30 mK intensity level. The line profiles exhibited multiple velocity components, as also seen in HCO$^+$ and H$_2$CO towards the same positions. The widespread distribution of HCN and CCH at this late stage of stellar evolution is further evidence that polyatomic molecules are being dispersed into the ISM. It also suggests that the progenitor star in the Helix is carbon-rich.

Publisher

International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy

Type of Resource

text

Language

English

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/79288

Owning Collections