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First Astronomical Detection of the CF+ Ion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2006

D. A. Neufeld
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
P. Schilke
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, Bonn, Germany
K. M. Menten
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, Bonn, Germany
M. G. Wolfire
Affiliation:
Astronomy Department, University of Maryland, College Park, USA
J. H. Black
Affiliation:
Onsala Space Observatory, Onsala, Sweden
F. Schuller
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, Bonn, Germany
H. Müller
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, Bonn, Germany Universität zu Köln, Köln, Germany
S. Thorwirth
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, Bonn, Germany
R. Güsten
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, Bonn, Germany
S. Philipp
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, Bonn, Germany
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Abstract

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We report the first astronomical detection of the CF$^+$ (fluoromethylidynium) ion, obtained by recent observations of its $J = 1-0$ (102.6 GHz), $J = 2-1$ (205.2 GHz), and $J = 3-2$ (307.7 GHz) pure rotational emissions toward the Orion Bar. Our search for CF$^+$ — carried out using the IRAM 30m and APEX 12m telescopes—was motivated by recent theoretical models that predict CF$^+$ abundances of a $\rm few \times 10^{-10}$ in UV-irradiated molecular regions where C$^+$ is present. The measurements confirm the predictions. They provide support for our current theories of interstellar fluorine chemistry, which suggest that hydrogen fluoride should be ubiquitous in interstellar gas clouds.

Type
Contributed Papers
Copyright
2006 International Astronomical Union