The formation of cyanopolyyne molecules in IRC + 10216

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (102) References (67) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS The Formation of Cyanopolyyne Molecules in IRC +10216 Cherchneff, Isabelle ; Glassgold, Alfred E. ; Mamon, Gary A. Abstract Molecule formation in the outer envelope of the carbon-rich star IRC + 10216 is investigated, with special emphasis on the chemistry of the cyanopolyynes HC(i)N (i = 3, 5, 7). Basic elements of the photochemical model of Glassgold et al. (1986) are revised. A dust model suitable to IRC + 10216 is used for which the extinction properties in the far-UV are those of 500 A amorphous carbon particles. A new chemical route to the formation of large cyanopolyynes is proposed, based on reactions of the radicals C3N and C5N with acetylene, and shown to be efficient. Our results agree qualitatively with observations of the spatial distributions of HCN, CN, HC3N, and C3N, but the calculated column densities of the higher-order cyanopolyynes appear to be too small. The amount of the allenic radical HC2N produced by molecular ion reactions with atomic N agrees with recent observations. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: June 1993 DOI: 10.1086/172737 Bibcode: 1993ApJ...410..188C Keywords: Carbon Stars; Cyano Compounds; Interstellar Chemistry; Stellar Envelopes; Abundance; Astronomical Spectroscopy; Free Radicals; Photochemical Reactions; Radiation Distribution; Astrophysics; ISM: MOLECULES; MOLECULAR PROCESSES; STARS: CARBON; STARS: CIRCUMSTELLAR MATTER; STARS: INDIVIDUAL ALPHANUMERIC: IRC; 10216 full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (1)