Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
J. Ferrer Asensio, S. Spezzano, P. Caselli, F. O. Alves, O. Sipilae, E. Redaelli, L. Bizzocchi, F. Lique, A. Mullins
Summary: In this study, the double-peaked spectral profiles of (O-17 HCO+)-O-17 J=1-0 molecules in the pre-stellar core L1544 were observed and found to be due to the contraction motions at densities close to the critical density of the transition and the decreasing HCO+ fractional abundance towards the centre.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
O. Sipilae, P. Caselli, E. Redaelli, S. Spezzano
Summary: The effect of chemistry on the infall velocity in the prestellar core L1544 was quantified. The study found that chemical evolution does not have a large impact on infall velocity but does have a significant influence on the core's lifetime.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
K. Giers, S. Spezzano, F. Alves, P. Caselli, E. Redaelli, O. Sipilae, M. Ben Khalifa, L. Wiesenfeld, S. Brunken, L. Bizzocchi
Summary: This study investigates the distribution of deuterated molecules in the pre-stellar core L1544 using emission maps of cyclopropenylidene. The results show that the highest deuterium fractions are found near the dust peak at the center of L1544, indicating a more efficient deuteration process in the core's center. The study also suggests the presence of carbon-chain molecules at high densities.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Y. Lin, S. Spezzano, O. Sipila, A. Vasyunin, P. Caselli
Summary: The physical and chemical structures of pre-stellar cores are crucial for understanding the star formation process. This study used multi-transition pointed observations of different molecular lines to reveal a local gas density enhancement in L1544, which may be due to the impact of accretion flows.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
M. Gerin, H. Liszt
Summary: The chemistry of the diffuse interstellar medium is influenced by cosmic rays, ultraviolet radiation, and turbulence. The non-detection of CO+ confirms that HCO+ is mainly produced by the reaction between oxygen and carbon hydrides, while CO+ and HOC+ result from reactions of C+ with OH and H2O. The densities required to form CO molecules at low extinction are consistent with this chemical process.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
S. Spezzano, A. Fuente, P. Caselli, A. Vasyunin, D. Navarro-Almaida, M. Rodriguez-Baras, A. Punanova, C. Vastel, V Wakelam
Summary: The study highlights the impact of physical conditions and surrounding environment on the efficient formation of methanol in starless cores. It suggests that irradiation from nearby protostars may play a role in accelerating the formation of methanol, influencing its distribution within the cores. Further experimental and theoretical work is needed to fully understand the distribution of methanol across starless cores.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
M. Houde, B. Lankhaar, F. Rajabi, M. A. Chamma
Summary: In this discussion, we explore the existence of elliptical polarization in rotational spectral lines of CO and other molecules within the framework of the Anisotropic Resonant Scattering (ARS) model. We demonstrate that the effect of ARS can lead to the transformation of background linear polarization into circular polarization (Faraday conversion), as well as the occurrence of Faraday rotation and the generation of elliptically polarized signals in an initially unpolarized radiation field. This collective behavior is a result of favoring forward scattering over other modes due to a large number of molecules acting as a diffraction ensemble.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
G. A. Galazutdinov, J. Krelowski
Summary: This paper describes the specific profile of the narrowest known strong diffuse interstellar band (DIB) 6196 & ANGS; in objects belonging to the Sco OB2 association. The split and broadened profiles of the 6196 DIB in reddened Sco OB2 objects cannot be explained by the presence of multiple clouds with different radial velocities. The split profiles may be composed of the band center and its head of an unknown molecule.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
K. Tursun, C. Henkel, J. Esimbek, X. D. Tang, T. L. Wilson, A. Malawi, E. Alkhuja, F. Wyrowski, R. Mauersberger, K. Immer, H. Asiri, J. J. Zhou, G. Wu
Summary: This study investigates the W33 star forming complex, which is a massive and luminous region containing infrared dark clouds and bright cloud cores. By measuring ammonia (NH3) inversion lines, the researchers determined the physical properties and evolutionary stages of the molecular clouds in W33. The results show variations in temperature, column densities, and abundance ratios, indicating different stages of star formation.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
E. Redaelli, O. Sipilae, M. Padovani, P. Caselli, D. Galli, A. Ivlev
Summary: Cosmic rays are important in the chemistry and dynamics of the interstellar medium, influencing the chemistry of molecular ions, ionization fraction, and gas heating. The study on the attenuation of cosmic rays in the low-mass pre-stellar core L1544 shows that high zeta(2) models are excluded by observations, while standard zeta(2) models do not agree well with the attenuation model based on Voyager observations.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
G. C. MacLeod, Derck P. Smits, J. A. Green, S. P. van den Heever
Summary: This study reports the first confirmed periodically varying 6.031 and 6.035 GHz hydroxyl masers, which vary contemporaneously with the 6.7 GHz methanol masers in G323.459-0.079. Historical excited-state hydroxyl maser observations set a stricter upper limit, and time lags in methanol were confirmed.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
F. Fontani, L. Colzi, L. Bizzocchi, V. M. Rivilla, D. Elia, M. T. Beltran, P. Caselli, L. Magrini, A. Sanchez-Monge, L. Testi, D. Romano
Summary: This paper presents a new observational project called CHEMOUT, which aims to investigate the chemical composition in star-forming regions of the outer Galaxy. The results show that organic molecules and tracers of protostellar activity are ubiquitous in the low metallicity environment of the outer Galaxy.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
F. Fontani, L. Colzi, E. Redaelli, O. Sipilae, P. Caselli
Summary: Studying the chemical processes in high-mass star-forming regions is crucial for understanding the chemical heritage of the Solar System and most stellar systems in the Galaxy. The abundance ratios of HCNH+ can be useful astrochemical tools to distinguish between different evolutionary phases in the process of star formation.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
X. D. Tang, C. Henkel, K. M. Menten, Y. Gong, C-H R. Chen, D. L. Li, M-Y Lee, J. G. Mangum, Y. P. Ao, S. Muehle, S. Aalto, S. Garcia-Burillo, S. Martin, S. Viti, S. Muller, F. Costagliola, H. Asiri, S. A. Levshakov, M. Spaans, J. Ott, C. M. Impellizzeri, Y. Fukui, Y. X. He, J. Esimbek, J. J. Zhou, X. W. Zheng, X. Zhao, J. S. Li
Summary: The study on the kinetic temperature structure of two massive star-forming regions in the Large Magellanic Cloud found that the dense gas's kinetic temperature is influenced by embedded infrared sources and/or young stellar objects. Lower temperatures were measured at the outskirts of H2CO-traced dense gas distributions, while turbulence may be correlated with higher kinetic temperatures.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Yan Gong, Shu Liu, Junzhi Wang, Weishan Zhu, Guang-Xing Li, Wenjin Yang, Jixian Sun
Summary: Through large-scale mapping observations, we discovered that the Oph N1 molecular cloud exhibits widespread subsonic turbulence and a steep relation between size and linewidth. The cloud is magnetized and primarily supported against gravity by the magnetic field.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Silvia Alessandrini, Mattia Melosso, Ningjing Jiang, Luca Bizzocchi, Luca Dore, Cristina Puzzarini
Summary: Cyclopropanecarboxaldehyde (CPCA) has two main conformers, syn and anti, that are renowned for being very close in energy. The stability order of these two main species is constantly reversed by changing the level of theory or the experimental technique employed in its determination.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mattia Melosso, Luca Bizzocchi, Houda Gazzeh, Francesca Tonolo, Jean-Claude Guillemin, Silvia Alessandrini, Victor M. Rivilla, Luca Dore, Vincenzo Barone, Cristina Puzzarini
Summary: This study identifies and characterizes (Z)-1,2-ethenediol by rotational spectroscopy and provides accurate spectral data for its detection in interstellar space.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
F. Tonolo, L. Bizzocchi, M. Melosso, F. Lique, L. Dore, V. Barone, C. Puzzarini
Summary: This study aims to provide improved scattering parameters for the HCO+ and He collisional system, validate the accuracy of the methodology used for potential well calculation, and derive pressure broadening and shift coefficients for rotational transitions of HCO+ through solving close-coupling scattering equations.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luca Bizzocchi, Silvia Alessandrini, Mattia Melosso, Victor M. Rivilla, Cristina Puzzarini
Summary: Phosphorous-containing molecules play a crucial role in prebiotic chemistry and their understanding in the interstellar medium (ISM) is still limited. This study provides a theoretical spectroscopic characterization of the rotational spectrum of POH, shedding light on its properties in space and simulating its appearance in different environments. The predicted hyperfine structures are identified as crucial patterns for detection in laboratory and interstellar spectra.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Paola Caselli, Jaime E. Pineda, Olli Sipilae, Bo Zhao, Elena Redaelli, Silvia Spezzano, Maria Jose Maureira, Felipe Alves, Luca Bizzocchi, Tyler L. Bourke, Ana Chacon-Tanarro, Rachel Friesen, Daniele Galli, Jorma Harju, Izaskun Jimenez-Serra, Eric Keto, Zhi-Yun Li, Marco Padovani, Anika Schmiedeke, Mario Tafalla, Charlotte Vastel
Summary: Prestellar cores, which represent the initial conditions in star and planet formation, have been found to have high abundances of N-bearing species such as NH3. However, carbon- and oxygen-bearing species like CO are heavily depleted in these cores due to freeze-out onto cold dust grains. New observations using ALMA provide the first clear evidence of NH2D freeze-out in a prestellar core, suggesting the presence of a complete depletion zone within a certain radius. This study is important for understanding the chemical processes in star and planet formation.
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Victor M. Rivilla, Laura Colzi, Izaskun Jimenez-Serra, Jesus Martin-Pintado, Andres Megias, Mattia Melosso, Luca Bizzocchi, Alvaro Lopez-Gallifa, Antonio Martinez-Henares, Sarah Massalkhi, Belen Tercero, Pablo de Vicente, Jean-Claude Guillemin, Juan Garcia de la Concepcion, Fernando Rico-Villas, Shaoshan Zeng, Sergio Martin, Miguel A. Requena-Torres, Francesca Tonolo, Silvia Alessandrini, Luca Dore, Vincenzo Barone, Cristina Puzzarini
Summary: We report the first detection of (Z)-1,2-ethenediol, the enol form of glycolaldehyde, in a molecular cloud near the Galactic Center. The molecular abundance with respect to molecular hydrogen is determined, and the possible formation routes and its relation to glyceraldehyde are discussed.
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Luca Dore, Luca Bizzocchi, Valerio Lattanzi, Mattia Melosso, Filippo Tamassia, Michael C. McCarthy
Summary: This study reports the laboratory measurements of the rotational spectrum of the NCO- anion, along with the detection of additional lines. The new data allows for the prediction of the rotational spectrum of both isotopologues with high accuracy and provides a semi-experimental equilibrium structure for the anion. The study highlights the importance of understanding the properties of the cyanate anion in astrophysics.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY A
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ningjing Jiang, Mattia Melosso, Luca Bizzocchi, Silvia Alessandrini, Jean-Claude Guillemin, Luca Dore, Cristina Puzzarini
Summary: As N-substituted unsaturated species, azabutadienes have potential relevance in astrochemistry. In this study, the rotational spectrum of 2-azabutadiene was investigated up to 330 GHz to enable future astronomical searches. The experimental work was supported by accurate computational characterization, and the stability and spectroscopic properties of trans and gauche-2-azabutadiene were studied.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY A
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alessio Melli, Mattia Melosso, Kevin G. Lengsfeld, Luca Bizzocchi, Victor M. Rivilla, Luca Dore, Vincenzo Barone, Jens-Uwe Grabow, Cristina Puzzarini
Summary: The processes and reactions that led to the formation of the first biomolecules on Earth are crucial in understanding the origin of life. This study provides accurate rotational frequencies of 3-aminoisoxazole, a key reactive species in the RNA-world hypothesis, to aid astronomers in their interstellar search. By utilizing advanced spectroscopic techniques, the rotational spectrum of 3-aminoisoxazole was successfully analyzed, leading to the production of accurate line catalogs for astronomical observations.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
F. Tonolo, F. Lique, M. Melosso, C. Puzzarini, L. Bizzocchi
Summary: The formyl cation (HCO+) is abundant in molecular clouds and plays a significant role in interstellar chemistry. This study determined the hyperfine resolved rate coefficients of (HCO+)-O-17 in collision with H-2, providing important data for astrophysical modeling.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Silvia Alessandrini, Mattia Melosso, Victor M. Rivilla, Luca Bizzocchi, Cristina Puzzarini
Summary: By applying a new computational protocol based on the minimum-energy principle, we identified vinylisocyanate as the most stable isomer in the C3H3NO family, followed by oxazole. Pyruvonitrile, cyanoacetaldehyde, and cyanovinylalcohol were also found to be stable according to our calculations. We provided new rotational and vibrational spectroscopic data for these species.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Bernardo Ballotta, Tainah D. Marforio, Sergio Rampino, Emilio Martinez-Nunez, Vincenzo Barone, Mattia Melosso, Andrea Bottoni, Luca Dore
Summary: In this study, a detailed quantum chemical investigation of a new reaction mechanism leading to the formation of cyanoketene in the interstellar medium (ISM) was conducted. Different reaction channels were discovered and characterized at the density functional theory level. The results indicate that the barrier-less association reaction of the formyl radical to the cyanocarbene radical can lead to the formation of cyanoketene under the harsh conditions of the ISM. The study also suggests potential astronomical sources where cyanoketene can be detected based on the presence of HCO and HCCN.
ACS EARTH AND SPACE CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Cristina Puzzarini, Silvia Alessandrini, Luca Bizzocchi, Mattia Melosso
Summary: Interstellar molecules, including radicals, ions, and unsaturated carbon chains, are highly reactive and unstable under terrestrial conditions. Detecting them in space relies on observing their rotational fingerprints. However, producing and preserving these molecules during rotational spectroscopy measurements present challenges in the laboratory.
FARADAY DISCUSSIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Luca Bizzocchi, Silvia Alessandrini, Mattia Melosso, Cristina Puzzarini
Summary: This study introduces the use of dipolar spin-spin coupling constants as an additional source of structural information to support the standard SE approach. Testing this new strategy on prototypical species such as water, ammonia, phosphine, and their fluorinated counterparts, the results indicate that using dipolar spin-spin coupling constants can improve accuracy and reduce correlations among geometric parameters, even when a large set of isotopic rotational constants is available.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)