Formation Of Cn-, C3 N-, And C5 N- Molecules By Radiative Electron Attachment And Their Destruction By Photodetachment

Abstract

The existence of negative ions in interstellar clouds has been associated for several decades with the process of radiative electron attachment. In this Letter, we report compelling evidence supporting the fact that the radiative attachment of a low-energy electron is inefficient to form the carbon chain anions CN-, C3N-, and C5N- detected in interstellar clouds. The validity of the approach is confirmed by good agreement with experimental data obtained for the inverse photodetachment process, which represents the major cause of anion destruction in interstellar space. As a consequence, we suggest alternative models that could explain the formation of anions.

Publication Date

9-13-2016

Publication Title

Physical Review Letters

Volume

117

Issue

12

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.123001

Socpus ID

84990202377 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84990202377

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS