HCN/HNC ratio: A new chemical thermometer at 3 mm

Autor(en)

Alvaro Hacar Gonzalez, Sümeyye Suri

Abstrakt

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(en)

Institut für Astrophysik

Anzahl der Seiten

4

Publikationsdatum

04-2022

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ÖFOS 2012

103004 Astrophysik, 103003 Astronomie

Link zum Portal

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/f7f2f003-fc93-4c08-8e5d-5ace271415a9