Detection of Doubly Deuterated Interstellar Formaldehyde (D 2CO): an Indicator of Active Grain Surface Chemistry
Abstract
A multiply deuterated interstellar molecule, D2CO, has been detected via four transitions in the compact ridge component of Ori(KL), the same component from which H2CO and HDCO largely arise. Derived abundance ratios are given. It is shown that the D2CO/HDCO and HDCO/H2CO ratios cannot be produced by ion-molecule gas-phase reactions, but they fit the model of Tielens for the active grain surface catalysis of these species. The NH2D/NH3 and (NH2D/Nh3)/(D2CO/HDCO) ratios are also found to agree quantitatively with the model. This is considered as evidence of the active, catalytic role of the grain surface chemistry.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- October 1990
- DOI:
- 10.1086/185840
- Bibcode:
- 1990ApJ...362L..29T
- Keywords:
-
- Deuterium Compounds;
- Formaldehyde;
- Interstellar Chemistry;
- Interstellar Matter;
- Surface Properties;
- Ammonia;
- Brightness Temperature;
- Catalysis;
- Hydrocyanic Acid;
- Water;
- Astrophysics;
- DEUTERIUM;
- INTERSTELLAR: MOLECULES;
- MOLECULAR PROCESSES