Photoproduction of H₃⁺ from gaseous methanol inside dense molecular clouds

Abstract

We present experimental results obtained from photoionization and photodissociation processes of abundant interstellar methanol (CH₃OH) as an alternative route for the production of H₃⁺ in dense clouds. The measurements were taken at the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS) employing soft X-ray and time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Mass spectra were obtained using the photoelectron-photoion coincidence techniques. Absolute averaged cross sections for the production of H₃⁺ due to molecular dissociation of methanol by soft X-rays (C1s edge) were determined. The H₃⁺'s photoproduction rate and column density were been estimated adopting a typical soft X-ray luminosity inside dense molecular and the observed column density of methanol. Assuming a steady state scenario, the highest column density value for the photoproduced H₃⁺ was about 10¹¹ cm², which gives the ratio photoproduced/observed of about 0.05%, as in the case of dense molecular cloud AFGL 2591. Despite the small value, this represent a new and alternative source of H₃⁺ into dense molecular clouds and it is not been considered as yet in interstellar chemistry models.