Detection of interstellar N2O: A new molecule containing an N-O bond

L. M. Ziurys; A. J. Apponi; J. M. Hollis; L. E. Snyder

doi:10.1086/187662

Detection of interstellar N₂O: A new molecule containing an N-O bond

L. M. Ziurys, A. J. Apponi, J. M. Hollis, L. E. Snyder

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

62 Scopus citations

Abstract

A new interstellar molecule, N₂O, known as nitrous oxide or "laughing gas," has been detected using the NRAO 12 m telescope. The J = 3 → 2, 4 → 3, 5 → 4, and 6 → 5 rotational transitions of this species at 75, 100, 125, and 150 GHz, respectively, were observed toward Sgr B2(M). The column density derived for N₂O in this source is N_tot ∼ 10¹⁵ cm^-2, which corresponds to a fractional abundance of ∼ 10^-9, relative to H₂. This value implies abundance ratios of N₂O/NO ∼ 0.1 and N₂O/HNO ∼ 3 in the Galactic center. Such ratios are in excellent agreement with predictions of ion-molecule models of interstellar chemistry using early-time calculations and primarily neutral-neutral reactions. N₂O is the third interstellar molecule detected thus far containing an N-O bond. Such bonds cannot be so rare as previously thought.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	L181-L184
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	436
Issue number	2 PART 2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/187662
State	Published - Dec 1 1994

Keywords

ISM: Galaxy: center
ISM: abundances
ISM: molecules
Line: identification

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Access to Document

10.1086/187662

Cite this

@article{f67fd0f1316b476c9f3c574243b4d8ec,

title = "Detection of interstellar N2O: A new molecule containing an N-O bond",

abstract = "A new interstellar molecule, N2O, known as nitrous oxide or {"}laughing gas,{"} has been detected using the NRAO 12 m telescope. The J = 3 → 2, 4 → 3, 5 → 4, and 6 → 5 rotational transitions of this species at 75, 100, 125, and 150 GHz, respectively, were observed toward Sgr B2(M). The column density derived for N2O in this source is Ntot ∼ 1015 cm-2, which corresponds to a fractional abundance of ∼ 10-9, relative to H2. This value implies abundance ratios of N2O/NO ∼ 0.1 and N2O/HNO ∼ 3 in the Galactic center. Such ratios are in excellent agreement with predictions of ion-molecule models of interstellar chemistry using early-time calculations and primarily neutral-neutral reactions. N2O is the third interstellar molecule detected thus far containing an N-O bond. Such bonds cannot be so rare as previously thought.",

keywords = "ISM: Galaxy: center, ISM: abundances, ISM: molecules, Line: identification",

author = "Ziurys, {L. M.} and Apponi, {A. J.} and Hollis, {J. M.} and Snyder, {L. E.}",

year = "1994",

month = dec,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1086/187662",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "436",

pages = "L181--L184",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

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publisher = "American Astronomical Society",

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}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Detection of interstellar N2O

T2 - A new molecule containing an N-O bond

AU - Ziurys, L. M.

AU - Apponi, A. J.

AU - Hollis, J. M.

AU - Snyder, L. E.

PY - 1994/12/1

Y1 - 1994/12/1

N2 - A new interstellar molecule, N2O, known as nitrous oxide or "laughing gas," has been detected using the NRAO 12 m telescope. The J = 3 → 2, 4 → 3, 5 → 4, and 6 → 5 rotational transitions of this species at 75, 100, 125, and 150 GHz, respectively, were observed toward Sgr B2(M). The column density derived for N2O in this source is Ntot ∼ 1015 cm-2, which corresponds to a fractional abundance of ∼ 10-9, relative to H2. This value implies abundance ratios of N2O/NO ∼ 0.1 and N2O/HNO ∼ 3 in the Galactic center. Such ratios are in excellent agreement with predictions of ion-molecule models of interstellar chemistry using early-time calculations and primarily neutral-neutral reactions. N2O is the third interstellar molecule detected thus far containing an N-O bond. Such bonds cannot be so rare as previously thought.

AB - A new interstellar molecule, N2O, known as nitrous oxide or "laughing gas," has been detected using the NRAO 12 m telescope. The J = 3 → 2, 4 → 3, 5 → 4, and 6 → 5 rotational transitions of this species at 75, 100, 125, and 150 GHz, respectively, were observed toward Sgr B2(M). The column density derived for N2O in this source is Ntot ∼ 1015 cm-2, which corresponds to a fractional abundance of ∼ 10-9, relative to H2. This value implies abundance ratios of N2O/NO ∼ 0.1 and N2O/HNO ∼ 3 in the Galactic center. Such ratios are in excellent agreement with predictions of ion-molecule models of interstellar chemistry using early-time calculations and primarily neutral-neutral reactions. N2O is the third interstellar molecule detected thus far containing an N-O bond. Such bonds cannot be so rare as previously thought.

KW - ISM: Galaxy: center

KW - ISM: abundances

KW - ISM: molecules

KW - Line: identification

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