A.C.A. Boogert

Infrared Space Observatory with the observations of solid carbon dioxide in molecular clouds

Spectra of interstellar CO2 ice absorption features at a resolving power of lambda/Delta lambda approximate to 1500-2000 are presented for 14 lines of sight. The observations were made with the Short-Wavelength Spectrometer (SWS) of the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO). Spectral coverage includes the primary stretching mode of CO2 near 4.27 mu m in all sources; the bending mode near 15.2 mu m is also detected in 12 of them. The selected sources include massive protostars (Elias 29 [in rho Oph], GL 490, GL 2136, GL 2591, GL 4176, NGC 7538 IRS 1, NCC 7538 IRS 9, S140, W3 IRS 5, and W33 A), sources associated with the Galactic Center (Sgr A*, GCS 3 I, and GCS 4), and a background star behind a quiescent dark cloud in Taurus (Elias 16); they thus probe a diverse range of environments. Column densities of interstellar CO2 ice relative to H2O ice fall in the range 10%-23%: this ratio displays remarkably little variation for such a physically diverse sample. Comparison of the observed profiles with laboratory data for CO2-bearing ice mixtures indicates that CO2 generally exists in at least two phases, one polar (H2O dominant) and one nonpolar (CO2 dominant). The observed CO2 profiles may also be reproduced when the nonpolar components are replaced with thermally annealed ices. Formation and evolutionary scenarios for CO2 and implications for grain mantle chemistry are discussed. Our results support the conclusion that thermal annealing, rather than energetic processing due to UV photons or cosmic rays, dominates the evolution of CO2-bearing ices.

Infrared Spectroscopy of Dust in the Diffuse Interstellar Medium toward Cygnus OB2 No. 12

Observations made with the short-wavelength spectrometer of the Infrared Space Observatory are used to investigate the composition of interstellar dust in the line of sight to Cygnus OB2 No. 12, commonly taken as representative of the diffuse (low-density) interstellar medium. Results are compared with data for the Galactic center source Sgr A*. Nondetections of the 3.0 and 4.27 μm features of H2O and CO2 ices in Cyg OB2 No. 12 confirm the absence of dense molecular material in this line of sight, whereas the presence of these features in Sgr A* indicates that molecular clouds may contribute as much as 10 mag of visual extinction toward the Galactic center. The spectrum of Cyg OB2 No. 12 is dominated by the well-known 9.7 μm silicate feature; detection of a shallow feature near 2.75 μm indicates that the silicates are at least partially hydrated, with composition possibly similar to that of terrestrial phyllosilicates such as serpentine or chlorite. However, the 2.75 μm feature is not seen in the Galactic center spectrum, suggesting that silicates in this line of sight are less hydrated or of different composition. The primary spectral signatures of C-rich dust in the diffuse ISM are weak absorptions at 3.4 μm (the aliphatic C=H stretch) and 6.2 μm (the aromatic C=C stretch). We conclude, based on infrared spectroscopy, that the most probable composition of the dust toward Cyg OB2 No. 12 is a mixture of silicates and carbonaceous solids in a volume ratio of approximately 3:2, with the carbonaceous component primarily in an aromatic form such as amorphous carbon.

Detection of abundant CO2 ice in the quiescent dark cloud medium toward Elias 16

We report the first detection of solid carbon dioxide (CO2) in quiescent regions of a dark cloud in the solar neighborhood, a result that has important implications for models of ice formation and evolution in the interstellar medium. The K-type field star Elias 16 was previously known to display solid-state absorption features of H2O and CO ices arising in the Taurus Dark Cloud. Our detection of the CO2 feature at 4.27 μm in this line of sight implies a column density N(CO2)=4.6+ 1.3−0.6×1017 cm-2, equivalent to ~18% and 70% of the H2O and CO column densities, respectively. Comparison with laboratory data indicates that (unlike CO) the CO2 resides primarily in a polar (H2O-rich) component of the ices. CO2 is formed easily in the laboratory by the photolysis of ice mixtures containing CO, but the detection toward Elias 16 indicates that CO2 formation can occur in dark clouds in the absence of a local embedded source of radiation. Possible alternative mechanisms for CO2 production include grain surface reactions and energetic processing driven by the interstellar radiation field or cosmic rays.

Effects of CO2 on H2O band profiles and band strengths in mixed H2O:CO2 ices

Context. H2O is the most abundant component of astrophysical ices. In most lines of sight it is not possible to fit both the H 2O 3 µm stretching, the 6 µm bending and the 13 µm libration band intensities with a single pure H2O spectrum. Recent Spitzer observations have revealed CO2 ice in high abundances and it has been suggested that CO2 mixed into H2O ice can affect the positions, shapes and relative strengths of the 3 µm and 6 µm bands. Aims. We investigate whether the discrepancy in intensity between H2O bands in interstellar clouds and star forming regions can be explained by CO2 mixed into the observed H2O ice affecting the bands differently. Methods. Laboratory infrared transmission spectroscopy is used to record spectra of H2O:CO2 ice mixtures at astrophysically relevant temperatures and composition ratios. Results. The H2O peak profiles and band strengths are significantly di fferent in H2O:CO2 ice mixtures compared to pure H2O ice. The ratio between the strengths of the 3 µm and 6 µm bands drops linearly with CO2 concentration such that it is 50% lower in a 1:1 mixture compared to pure H2O ice. In all H2O:CO2 mixtures, a strong free-OH stretching band appears around 2.73 µm, which can be used to put an upper limit on the CO2 concentration in the H2O ice. The H2O bending mode profile also changes drastically with CO 2 concentration; the broad pure H2O band gives way to two narrow bands as the CO2 concentration is increased. This makes it crucial to constr ain the environment of H2O ice to enable correct assignments of other species contributing t o the interstellar 6 µm absorption band. The amount of CO2 present in the H2O ice of B5:IRS1 is estimated by simultaneously comparing the H2O stretching and bending regions and the CO2 bending mode to laboratory spectra of H2O, CO2, H2O:CO2 and HCOOH.

Infrared spectra of complex organic molecules in astronomically relevant ice matrices - I. Acetaldehyde, ethanol, and dimethyl ether

Context. The number of identified complex organic molecules (COMs) in inter- and circumstellar gas-phase environments is steadily increasing. Recent laboratory studies show that many such species form on icy dust grains. At present only smaller molecular species have been directly identified in space in the solid state. Accurate spectroscopic laboratory data of frozen COMs, embedded in ice matrices containing ingredients related to their formation scheme, are still largely lacking. Aims. This work provides infrared reference spectra of acetaldehyde (CH

Comparing ice composition in dark molecular clouds

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Bands of solid CO2 in the 2-3 mu m spectrum of S 140: IRS1

CHO), ethanol (CH

Weak ice absorption features at 7.24 and 7.41 mu m in the spectrum of the obscured young stellar object W 33A

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An ISO view of interstellar ices - first results

CH

Laboratory studies of thermally processed H2O-CH3OH-CO2 ice mixtures and their astrophysical implications

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