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On buckyonions as a carrier of the 2175 Å interstellar extinction feature
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2008
Abstract
In recent years buckyonions have been suggested as a carrier of the 2175 Å interstellar extinction feature, based on the close similarity between the electronic transition spectra of buckyonions and the 2175 Å interstellar extinction feature. We examine this hypothesis by calculating the interstellar extinction with buckyonions as a dust component. It is found that dust models containing buckyonions (in addition to amorphous silicates, PAHs, graphite or amorphous carbon) can closely reproduce the observed interstellar extinction curve. However, a more severe challenge to the buckyonion hypothesis is provided by the non-detection of the ~7–8 μm C–H stretching bands expected from buckyonions in the diffuse interstellar medium. This will allow us to place an upper limit on the abundance of buckyonions.
- Type
- Contributed Papers
- Information
- Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 4 , Symposium S251: Organic Matter in Space , February 2008 , pp. 71 - 72
- Copyright
- Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2008
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