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Published July 2008 | Published
Journal Article Open

Tentative detection of phosphine in IRC+10216

Abstract

Aims. The JK = 10−0_0 rotational transition of phosphine (PH_3) at 267 GHz has been tentatively identified with a TMB ~ 40 mK spectral line observed with the IRAM 30-m telescope in the C-star envelope IRC +10216. Methods. A radiative transfer model was used to fit the observed line profile. Results. The derived PH_3 abundance relative to H_2 is 6 × 10^−9, although it may have a large uncertainty due to the lack of knowledge about the spatial distribution of this species. If our identification is correct, it implies that PH3 has a similar abundance to what is reported for HCP in this source and that these two molecules (HCP and PH_3) together take up about 5% of phosphorus in IRC +10216. The abundance of PH_3, like that of other hydrides in this source, is not well explained by conventional gas-phase LTE and non-LTE chemical models, and may imply formation on grain surfaces.

Additional Information

© 2008. Received 14 May 2008 / Accepted 27 May 2008. We thank the IRAM staff, especially C. Thum, for their kindness during the 30-m observations. We also acknowledge funding support from Spanish MEC trough grants AYA2006-14876 and ESP2004-665, and from Spanish CAM under PRICIT project S-0505/ESP-0237 (ASTROCAM). M.A. also acknowledges grant AP2003-4619 from Spanish MEC.

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Created:
September 14, 2023
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October 23, 2023