Abstract
Abstract
Photodissociation regions (PDRs) illuminated by high temperature (T > 104 K) radiation fields display characteristic optical to midinfrared spectral features: emission bands that cluster around the blue limits of hydrogen series, an extended red emission (ERE) in the vicinity of Hα, and a continuum in the infrared part of the spectrum only. The spectral footprint of ERE and its intensity at maximum unequivocally designate Raman scattering by hydrogen of photons near Lyβ as responsible for the feature, thus suggesting PDR spectra be considered Raman spectra. This finding challenges the currently accepted hypothesis that yet-to-be-identified complex carbonaceous molecules, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, are the source of PDRs’ unidentified infrared bands. It has, therefore, significant implications for the field of astrochemistry.
Publisher
American Astronomical Society
Subject
Space and Planetary Science,Astronomy and Astrophysics
Cited by
1 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献