Abstract
We present a new constraint on the Galactic 12C/13C gradient with sensitive HCO+ absorption observations against strong continuum sources. The new measurements suffer less from beam dilution, optical depths, and chemical fractionation, allowing us to derive the isotopic ratios precisely. The measured 12C/13C ratio in the solar neighborhood (66±5) is consistent with those obtained from CH+. Two measurements toward the GC are 42.2±1.7 and 37.5±6.5. Though the values are a factor of two to three higher than those derived from dense gas tracers (e.g., H2CO, complex organic molecules) toward Sagittarius (Sgr) B2 regions, our results are consistent with the absorption measurements from c-C3H2 toward Sgr B2 (~40) and those from CH+ toward Sgr A* and Sgr B2(N) (>30). We have calculated a new Galactic 12C/13C gradient of (6.4±1.9)RGC/kpc+(25.9±10.5) and found an increasing trend of the 12C/13C gradient obtained from high-density to low-density gas tracers, suggesting that opacity effects and chemical fractionation may have a strong impact on the isotopic ratios observed in high-density regions.
Published Version
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