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First Astronomical Detection of the CF+ Ion
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 March 2006
Abstract
We report the first astronomical detection of the CF$^+$ (fluoromethylidynium) ion, obtained by recent observations of its $J = 1-0$ (102.6 GHz), $J = 2-1$ (205.2 GHz), and $J = 3-2$ (307.7 GHz) pure rotational emissions toward the Orion Bar. Our search for CF$^+$ — carried out using the IRAM 30m and APEX 12m telescopes—was motivated by recent theoretical models that predict CF$^+$ abundances of a $\rm few \times 10^{-10}$ in UV-irradiated molecular regions where C$^+$ is present. The measurements confirm the predictions. They provide support for our current theories of interstellar fluorine chemistry, which suggest that hydrogen fluoride should be ubiquitous in interstellar gas clouds.
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- Contributed Papers
- Information
- Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 1 , Symposium S231: Astrochemistry: Recent Successes and Current Challenges , August 2005 , pp. 163 - 164
- Copyright
- 2006 International Astronomical Union
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