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Advances in the Theory of Benzenoid Hydrocarbons pp 1–25Cite as

Benzenoid hydrocarbons in space: The evidence and implications

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Part of the book series: Topics in Current Chemistry ((TOPCURRCHEM,volume 153))

Abstract

Many different celestial objects emit an infrared sprectrum which has been attributed to infrared fluorescence from a family of highly vibrationally excited benzenoid hydrocarbons referred to as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The most intense emitters contain between 20 to 50 carbon atoms, although larger species also contribute to the emission. This assignment is based on a rough resemblance of the interstellar emission spectra to the vibrational spectra of PAHs and related materials such as chars and soots which contain PAH mixtures. The spectroscopic assignments of the features between 3200 and 700 cm−1 are discussed in detail.

Much laboratory work on PAHs which are larger than those previously studied, isolated, ionized and dehydrogenated is called for to fully exploit this model. As PAHs are thought to be ubiquitous throughout the interstellar medium and more abundant than all other known polyatomic, interstellar molecules, they possess great potential as important probes of conditions in many different kinds of astronomical objects. Conversely, astronomical observations are extending our knowledge of these exotic materials by probing regions in which some conditions may be impossible to duplicate in the laboratory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NASA Ames Research Center 245-6, 94035, Moffett Field, California, USA

    Louis J. Allamandola

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  1. Louis J. Allamandola
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Ivan Gutman Sven J. Cyvin

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© 1990 Springer-Verlag

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Allamandola, L.J. (1990). Benzenoid hydrocarbons in space: The evidence and implications. In: Gutman, I., Cyvin, S.J. (eds) Advances in the Theory of Benzenoid Hydrocarbons. Topics in Current Chemistry, vol 153. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-51505-4_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-51505-4_15

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-51505-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-48185-0

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