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Abstract Observations of HCN and HCO + have been carried out toward 13 planetary nebulae (PNe) using the facilities of the Arizona Radio Observatory (ARO). These nebulae represent a wide range of morphologies and ages (∼2000–28,000 yr). For both molecules, the J = 1 → 0 transitions at 88–89 GHz and the J = 3 → 2 lines at 265–267 GHz were measured, together with CO lines ( J = 1 → 0, 2 → 1, and 3 → 2, depending on the source), using the ARO 12 m and Submillimeter Telescopes. HCN and HCO + were detected with at least one transition in 10 nebulae: He 2-459, Hu 1-1, K3-52, K3-65, M1-8, M1-40, M1-59, M2-53, M4-17, and NGC 6445. HCO + was additionally identified via two transitions in Na 2. Some observed line profiles were complex, with multiple velocity components tracing varied outflows. From radiative transfer modeling, column densities were established for HCN and HCO + : N tot (HCN) = 0.005–1.1 × 10 14 and N tot (HCO + ) = 0.008–9.5 × 10 13 cm −2 . Gas densities of n (H 2 ) ∼ 10 5 –10 7 cm −3 were also determined for all PNe. Fractional abundances with respect to H 2 , calculated using CO as a proxy, are f (HCN) ∼ 0.2–1.5 × 10 −7 and f (HCO + ) ∼ 0.3–5.1 × 10 −8 . The abundances of HCN and HCO + did not significantly vary with nebular age to 28,000 yr. Combined with previous observations, at least 30 PNe contain HCN and/or HCO + , indicating that polyatomic molecules are common constituents of these objects. The data strongly support a scenario where dense ejecta from PNe seed the interstellar medium with molecular material.
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Expanding the Inventory of Molecule-rich Planetary Nebulae: New Observations of M4-17, Hu 1-1, M1-59, and Na 2
Abstract Molecular observations of four planetary nebulae (PNe), M4-17, Hu 1-1, M1-59, and Na 2, were conducted at 1–3 mm using the Arizona Radio Observatory’s 12 m antenna and Submillimeter Telescope, and the Institut de Radioastronomie Millimétrique 30 m Telescope. Toward M4-17, HNC (J= 3 → 2), CCH (N= 2 → 1,N= 3 → 2), CN (N= 1 → 0,N= 2 → 1), H2CO (JKa,Kc= 21,2→ 11,1,JKa,Kc= 20,2→ 10,1,JKa,Kc= 21,1→ 11,0), CS (J= 3 → 2,J= 5 → 4), and H13CN (J= 2 → 1) were detected. An almost identical set of transitions was identified toward Hu 1-1. Moreover, c–C3H2was detected in Hu 1-1 via three 2 mm lines:JKa,Kc= 31,2→ 22,1,JKa,Kc= 41,4→ 30,3, andJKa,Kc= 32, 2→ 21,1. HNC, CCH, CN, CS, and H13CN were found in M1-59, as well as H2S via itsJKa,Kc= 11,0→ 10,1line—the first detection of this key sulfur species in PNe. In addition, CCH and CN were identified in the 27,000 yr old Na 2. Among these four sources, CN and CCH were the most prevalent molecules (after CO and H2) with fractional abundances, relative to H2, off∼ 0.9–7.5 × 10−7and 0.8–7.5 × 10−7, respectively. CS and HNC have abundances in the rangef∼ 0.5–5 × 10−8, the latter resulting in HCN/HNC ∼ 3 across all three PNe. The unusual species H2CO, c–C3H2, and H2S hadf∼ 3–4 × 10−7, 10−8, and 6 × 10−8. This study suggests that elliptical PNe such as Hu 1-1 can have a diverse molecular composition. The presence of CN, CCH, and HCO+in Na 2, with comparable abundances to younger PNe, demonstrates that molecular content is maintained into the late PN stage.
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- PAR ID:
- 10556348
- Publisher / Repository:
- DOI PREFIX: 10.3847
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- The Astrophysical Journal
- Volume:
- 976
- Issue:
- 2
- ISSN:
- 0004-637X
- Format(s):
- Medium: X Size: Article No. 196
- Size(s):
- Article No. 196
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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