HCN/HNC ratio: A new chemical thermometer at 3 mm
- Author(s)
- Alvaro Hacar Gonzalez, Sümeyye Suri
- Abstract
The gas kinetic temperature (TK) determines the physical and chemical evolution of the interstellar medium (ISM). This work explores the use of HCN/HNC (J=1-0) line ratio as new probe of the gas kinetic temperature in the molecular ISM. Based on a new set of IRAM-30m observations at 30 arcsec resolution towards Orion Nebula Cluster, we find a two-part linear correlation of the observed HCN/HNC line ratio and TK. This empirical calibration allows to obtain direct estimates of the TK values across a wide range of column densities (AV ≳ 5 mag) and up to scales of ~ 10 pc. Comparisons with additional studies highlight the potential use of the HCN/HNC line ratio as novel chemical thermometer at 3mm.
- Organisation(s)
- Department of Astrophysics
- No. of pages
- 4
- Publication date
- 04-2022
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 103004 Astrophysics, 103003 Astronomy
- Portal url
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/f7f2f003-fc93-4c08-8e5d-5ace271415a9