ALMA Detection of Interstellar Methoxymethanol (CH₃OCH₂OH)

2017/12/08 by Brett A. McGuire, Christopher N. Shingledecker, Eric R. Willis +10 · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #astro-ph.GA

paper · pdf · doi:10.3847/2041-8213/aaa0c3

Accepted in Astrophysical Journal Letters

arxiv created 2017/12/08 · arxiv updated 2017/12/27

Abstract

We report the detection of interstellar methoxymethanol (CH₃OCH₂OH) in ALMA Bands 6 and 7 toward the MM1 core in the high-mass star-forming region NGC 6334I at ~0.1" - 1" spatial resolution. A column density of 4(2) x 10¹⁸ cm^-2 at T_ex = 200 K is derived toward MM1, ~34 times less abundant than methanol (CH₃OH), and significantly higher than predicted by astrochemical models. Probable formation and destruction pathways are discussed, primarily through the reaction of the CH₃OH photodissociation products, the methoxy (CH₃O) and hydroxymethyl (CH₂OH) radicals. Finally, we comment on the implications of these mechanisms on gas-phase vs grain-surface routes operative in the region, and the possibility of electron-induced dissociation of CH₃OH rather than photodissociation.

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