2008/10/15 by J. Cernicharo, M. Guélin, M. Agúndez +2 · 4 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/595583
Accepted for publication in ApJ Letters
arxiv created 2008/10/15 · openalex publication_date 2008/10/29 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
We report the detection in the envelope of the C-rich star IRC +10216 of four series of lines with harmonically related frequencies: B1389, B1390, B1394, and B1401. The four series must arise from linear molecules with mass and size close to those of C 6 H and C 5 N. Three of the series have half-integer rotational quantum numbers; we assign them to the 2 Δ and 2 Σ − vibronic states of C 6 H in its lowest (ν 11 ) bending mode. The fourth series, B1389, has integer J with no evidence of fine or hyperfine structure; it has a rotational constant of 1388.860(2) MHz and a centrifugal distortion constant of 33(1) Hz; it is almost certainly the C 5 N − anion.