Electron Excitation of High Dipole Moment Molecules Re-examined

• Published in: The Astrophysical journal Vol. 841; no. 1; pp. 25 - 35
• Main Authors: Goldsmith, Paul F., Kauffmann, Jens
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia The American Astronomical Society 20.05.2017; IOP Publishing
• Subjects: Abundance; Astrochemistry; Astrophysics; ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY; CARBON IONS; CARBON MONOXIDE; CARBON NITRIDES; COLLISIONS; COSMIC GASES; CYANIDES; DENSITY; DIPOLE MOMENTS; ELECTRONS; ELEMENT ABUNDANCE; EMISSION; EXCITATION; GALAXIES; HYDROCYANIC ACID; HYDROGEN; ISM: molecules; Molecular clouds; molecular processes; MOLECULES; Organic chemistry; photon-dominated region (PDR); Spatial analysis; Star & galaxy formation; Star formation; STARS; Tracers

Emission from high-dipole moment molecules such as HCN allows determination of the density in molecular clouds, and is often considered to trace the "dense" gas available for star formation. We assess the importance of electron excitation in various environments. The ratio of the rate coef...