Investigating the limits of chemical complexity in sagittarius B2(N): A rigorous attempt to confirm 1,3-dihydroxyacetone

A. J. Apponi; D. T. Halfen; L. M. Ziurys; J. M. Hollis; Anthony J. Remijan; F. J. Lovas

doi:10.1086/504979

Investigating the limits of chemical complexity in sagittarius B2(N): A rigorous attempt to confirm 1,3-dihydroxyacetone

A. J. Apponi, D. T. Halfen, L. M. Ziurys, J. M. Hollis, Anthony J. Remijan, F. J. Lovas

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29 Scopus citations

Abstract

A search for confirming transitions of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone, (CH ₂OH)₂CO (hereafter DHA), has been made toward Sgr B2(N) using the Arizona Radio Observatory Submillimeter Telescope (SMT) and 12 m telescope at millimeter wavelengths. In addition, data for this species have been obtained at the Green Bank Telescope. In all, 63 new transitions of DHA were sought; no plausible emission was detected at 97% of these frequencies. Typical peak-to-peak limits of 10-30 mK were achieved, indicating that DHA is not present in Sgr B2(N) at the level reported by Widicus Weaver & Blake in 2005, by at least a factor of 300. The upper limit to the DHA column density is N_tot < 5 × 10¹³ cm^-2, suggesting that this species, a three-carbon keto sugar, is less abundant than the two-carbon aldehyde sugar, glycolaldehyde (CH₂OHCHO), by a factor of at least 4. If sugars of higher complexity are formed in interstellar clouds, their synthesis may proceed one carbon atom at a time, possibly through aldehyde intermediates.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	L29-L32
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	643
Issue number	1 II
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/504979
State	Published - May 29 2006

Keywords

Astrobiology
Astrochemistry
ISM: abundances
ISM: individual (Sagittarius B2)
ISM: molecules

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1086/504979

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@article{e540ee18f05545f58c906f5b88707eab,

title = "Investigating the limits of chemical complexity in sagittarius B2(N): A rigorous attempt to confirm 1,3-dihydroxyacetone",

abstract = "A search for confirming transitions of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone, (CH 2OH)2CO (hereafter DHA), has been made toward Sgr B2(N) using the Arizona Radio Observatory Submillimeter Telescope (SMT) and 12 m telescope at millimeter wavelengths. In addition, data for this species have been obtained at the Green Bank Telescope. In all, 63 new transitions of DHA were sought; no plausible emission was detected at 97% of these frequencies. Typical peak-to-peak limits of 10-30 mK were achieved, indicating that DHA is not present in Sgr B2(N) at the level reported by Widicus Weaver & Blake in 2005, by at least a factor of 300. The upper limit to the DHA column density is Ntot < 5 × 1013 cm-2, suggesting that this species, a three-carbon keto sugar, is less abundant than the two-carbon aldehyde sugar, glycolaldehyde (CH2OHCHO), by a factor of at least 4. If sugars of higher complexity are formed in interstellar clouds, their synthesis may proceed one carbon atom at a time, possibly through aldehyde intermediates.",

keywords = "Astrobiology, Astrochemistry, ISM: abundances, ISM: individual (Sagittarius B2), ISM: molecules",

author = "Apponi, {A. J.} and Halfen, {D. T.} and Ziurys, {L. M.} and Hollis, {J. M.} and Remijan, {Anthony J.} and Lovas, {F. J.}",

note = "Funding Information: 1The 12 m telescope and the SMT are operated by the Arizona Radio Observatory (ARO), Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, with partial support from the Research Corporation. Funding Information: This research is supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration through the NASA Astrobiology Institute under cooperative agreement CAN-02 OSS02 issued through the Office of Space Science. We would also like to thank the reviewer for useful comments and suggestions. Funding Information: 2The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation, operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.",

year = "2006",

month = may,

day = "29",

doi = "10.1086/504979",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "643",

pages = "L29--L32",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

publisher = "IOP Publishing Ltd.",

number = "1 II",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Investigating the limits of chemical complexity in sagittarius B2(N)

T2 - A rigorous attempt to confirm 1,3-dihydroxyacetone

AU - Apponi, A. J.

AU - Halfen, D. T.

AU - Ziurys, L. M.

AU - Hollis, J. M.

AU - Remijan, Anthony J.

AU - Lovas, F. J.

N1 - Funding Information: 1The 12 m telescope and the SMT are operated by the Arizona Radio Observatory (ARO), Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, with partial support from the Research Corporation. Funding Information: This research is supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration through the NASA Astrobiology Institute under cooperative agreement CAN-02 OSS02 issued through the Office of Space Science. We would also like to thank the reviewer for useful comments and suggestions. Funding Information: 2The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation, operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.

PY - 2006/5/29

Y1 - 2006/5/29

N2 - A search for confirming transitions of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone, (CH 2OH)2CO (hereafter DHA), has been made toward Sgr B2(N) using the Arizona Radio Observatory Submillimeter Telescope (SMT) and 12 m telescope at millimeter wavelengths. In addition, data for this species have been obtained at the Green Bank Telescope. In all, 63 new transitions of DHA were sought; no plausible emission was detected at 97% of these frequencies. Typical peak-to-peak limits of 10-30 mK were achieved, indicating that DHA is not present in Sgr B2(N) at the level reported by Widicus Weaver & Blake in 2005, by at least a factor of 300. The upper limit to the DHA column density is Ntot < 5 × 1013 cm-2, suggesting that this species, a three-carbon keto sugar, is less abundant than the two-carbon aldehyde sugar, glycolaldehyde (CH2OHCHO), by a factor of at least 4. If sugars of higher complexity are formed in interstellar clouds, their synthesis may proceed one carbon atom at a time, possibly through aldehyde intermediates.

AB - A search for confirming transitions of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone, (CH 2OH)2CO (hereafter DHA), has been made toward Sgr B2(N) using the Arizona Radio Observatory Submillimeter Telescope (SMT) and 12 m telescope at millimeter wavelengths. In addition, data for this species have been obtained at the Green Bank Telescope. In all, 63 new transitions of DHA were sought; no plausible emission was detected at 97% of these frequencies. Typical peak-to-peak limits of 10-30 mK were achieved, indicating that DHA is not present in Sgr B2(N) at the level reported by Widicus Weaver & Blake in 2005, by at least a factor of 300. The upper limit to the DHA column density is Ntot < 5 × 1013 cm-2, suggesting that this species, a three-carbon keto sugar, is less abundant than the two-carbon aldehyde sugar, glycolaldehyde (CH2OHCHO), by a factor of at least 4. If sugars of higher complexity are formed in interstellar clouds, their synthesis may proceed one carbon atom at a time, possibly through aldehyde intermediates.

KW - Astrobiology

KW - Astrochemistry

KW - ISM: abundances

KW - ISM: individual (Sagittarius B2)

KW - ISM: molecules

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U2 - 10.1086/504979

DO - 10.1086/504979

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:33745834710

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 643

SP - L29-L32

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 1 II

ER -

Investigating the limits of chemical complexity in sagittarius B2(N): A rigorous attempt to confirm 1,3-dihydroxyacetone

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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