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Steps Toward Identifying PAHs: A Child's Garden of Recent ResultsBased on over two decades of experimental, observational and theoretical studies by scientists around the world. It is now widely accepted that the composite emission of mixtures of vibrationally-excited PAHs and PAH ions can accommodate the general pattern of band positions, intensities, and profiles observed in the discreet IR emission features of carbon-rich interstellar dust, as well as the variations in those characteristics. These variations provide insight into the detailed nature of the emitting PAH population and reflect conditions within the emitting regions giving the population enormous potential as probes of astrophysical environments. Moreover, the ubiquity and abundance of this material has impacts that extend well beyond the IR. In this presentation we will examine recent, combined experimental, theoretical, and observational studies that indicate that nitrogen-substituted PAHs represent an important component of the interstellar dust population, and we will go on to explore some of the ramifications of this result. We will also explore the results of recent experimental studies of the strong, low-lying electronic transitions of ionized PAH ions in the Near-IR (0.7 - 2.5 microns) and explore the role that these transitions might play in pumping the PAH IR emission in regions of low-excitation.
Document ID
20060017069
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Hudgins, Douglas M.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Date Acquired
August 23, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2005
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Meeting Information
Meeting: IAU Symposium 231 Astrochemistry Throughout the Universe: Recent Successes and Current challenges
Location: Pacific Grove, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: August 29, 2005
Sponsors: International Astronomical Union
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: 21-344-58-3H
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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