Pressure effects in polycyclic aromatic nitrogenated heterocycles (PANHs): Diagnostic qualities and cosmobarometry potential
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Montgomery, W
Sephton, MA
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The influence of polycyclic aromatic nitrogen heterocycles (PANHs), which have been suggested as contributors to the interstellar IR emission bands, on interstellar emission features is difficult to constrain because their infrared characteristics are strongly similar to those for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). One possible solution is to seek a means of visualising the presence of PANHs that provides information which is distinct from that for PAHs. Although PANHs and PAHs have similar infrared characteristics in many settings, this relationship may not be universally maintained. We have used in-situ high pressure synchrotron-source Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to determine that the responses of two representative molecules, acridine and anthracene, differ at high pressures (> ca. 1 GPa). Because there are a number of high pressure environments that can be remotely observed by infrared spectroscopy they represent a potential to glimpse the distribution of PANHs across the Cosmos.
Date Issued
2016-02-29
Date Acceptance
2016-01-05
Citation
The Astrophysical Journal, 2016, 819 (1)
ISSN
0004-637X
Publisher
Institute of Physics
Journal / Book Title
The Astrophysical Journal
Volume
819
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
©2016 IOP Publishing Ltd.
Sponsor
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Grant Number
ST/K000551/1
Subjects
Astronomy & Astrophysics
0201 Astronomical And Space Sciences
0305 Organic Chemistry
0306 Physical Chemistry (Incl. Structural)
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
64