English

Exploring molecular complexity with ALMA (EMoCA): Complex isocyanides in Sgr B2(N)

Astrophysics of Galaxies 2020-04-15 v1

Abstract

We used the EMoCA survey data to search for isocyanides in Sgr B2(N2) and their corresponding cyanide analogs. We then used the coupled three-phase chemical kinetics code MAGICKAL to simulate their chemistry. Several new species, and over 100 new reactions have been added to the network. In addition, a new single-stage simultaneous collapse/warm-up model has been implemented, thus eliminating the need for the previous two-stage models. A variable, visual extinction-dependent ζ\zeta was also incorporated into the model and tested. We report the tentative detection of CH3_3NC and HCCNC in Sgr B2(N2), which represents the first detection of both species in a hot core of Sgr B2. Our updated chemical models can reproduce most observed NC:CN ratios reasonably well depending on the physical parameters chosen. The model that performs best has an extinction-dependent cosmic-ray ionization rate that varies from ~2 ×\times 1015^{-15} s1^{-1} at the edge of the cloud to ~1 ×\times 1016^{-16} s1^{-1} in the center. Models with higher extinction-dependent ζ\zeta than this model generally do not agree as well, nor do models with a constant ζ\zeta greater than the canonical value of 1.3 ×\times 1017^{-17} s1^{-1} throughout the source. Radiative transfer models are run using results of the best-fit chemical model. Column densities produced by the radiative transfer models are significantly lower than those determined observationally. Inaccuracy in the observationally determined density and temperature profiles is a possible explanation. Excitation temperatures are well reproduced for the true ``hot core'' molecules, but are more variable for other molecules such as HC3_3N, for which fewer lines exist in ALMA Band 3.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2003.07423,
  title  = {Exploring molecular complexity with ALMA (EMoCA): Complex isocyanides in Sgr B2(N)},
  author = {E. R. Willis and R. T. Garrod and A. Belloche and H. S. P. Müller and C. J. Barger and M. Bonfand and K. M. Menten},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2003.07423},
  year   = {2020}
}

Comments

29 pages, 24 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics

R2 v1 2026-06-23T14:16:42.223Z