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25 years of PAH hypothesis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 March 2011

A.G.G.M. Tielens*
Affiliation:
Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, PO Box 9513, Leiden, The Netherlands

Abstract

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Strong IR emission features at 3.3,6.2,7.7,8.6,and 11.2 μm are acommon characteristic of the interstellar medium of the Milky Way and nearby galaxies andout to redshifts of3. Here,we review the history of the PAH hypothesis which attributesthese emission features to vibrational fluorescence of large (~50 carbon-atomPolycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon molecules pumped by ultraviolet photons from nearby starsor the average interstellar radiation field. Over the last 25 years,our insight in thecharacteristics of these molecules and their role in the Universe has greatly improved andthe PAH hypothesis is alive and well; not in the least due a remarkable adaptability. Notsurprisingly,the precise characteristics of these species remains to be defined.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© EAS, EDP Sciences 2011

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