The C($^{\mathrm{3}}$P) $+$ NH$_{\mathrm{3}}$ reaction in interstellar chemistry.

ORAL

Abstract

The kinetics and product formation channels of ground state carbon atoms, C($^{\mathrm{3}}$P), reacting with ammonia, NH$_{\mathrm{3}}$, have been investigated using two complementary experiments and electronic structure calculations. Reaction products are detected in a gas flow tube experiment (330 K, 4 Torr) using tunable vacuum-ultraviolet photoionization coupled with time of flight mass spectrometry. Temporal profiles of the species formed and photoionization spectra are used to identify primary products of the C $+$ NH$_{\mathrm{3}}$ reaction. In addition, C($^{\mathrm{3}}$P) decay and H-atom formation are monitored by laser induced fluorescence from room temperature to 50 K in a supersonic gas flow. The combination of experiments supported by theoretical calculations indicates that in the temperature and pressure range investigated, the H $+$ H$_{\mathrm{2}}$CN production channel represents 100{\%} of the product yield for this reaction. The effects of the new rate constants on interstellar nitrogen hydride abundances using a model of dense interstellar clouds are discussed.

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Authors

  • Fabien Goulay

    Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University

  • Scott Cushing

    National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, New York University Abu Dhabi, Naval Research Laboratory, CSIRO Astronomy and Space Sciences, George Mason University, ASTRON, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee,, Station de radioastronomie de Nancay, Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory, Max-Planck-Institut fur Physik, West Virginia Univ, West Virginia University, Lehigh University, Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), Pennsylvania State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Minnesota, Pennsylvania State Univ, University of Maryland, Towson University, Department of Physics, Villanova University, University of Virginia, Boston University, Univ of Maryland-College Park, Harvard University, The Pennsylvania State Unversity, University of Wisconsin-Madison, McMaster University, California State University - Long Beach, National Chiao Tung University, National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan, Ohio University, University of Rennes, UMR CNRS 6251, Rennes, France, University of Bordeaux, UMR 5804, Floirac, France, University of Bordeaux, UMR 5255, Talence, France, Sandia National laboratories, Livermore, CA, Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantwon, WV, The Pennsylvania State University, University of Toronto, Departamento de F\'isica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 653, Santiago, Chile, Cinvestav-Unidad Queretaro, Queretaro-76230, Mexico, Department of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV-26505-6315, USA, The University of Arizona, TU Dortmund, Dortmund, Naval Air Warfare Center - Aircraft Division

  • Scott Cushing

    National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, New York University Abu Dhabi, Naval Research Laboratory, CSIRO Astronomy and Space Sciences, George Mason University, ASTRON, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee,, Station de radioastronomie de Nancay, Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory, Max-Planck-Institut fur Physik, West Virginia Univ, West Virginia University, Lehigh University, Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), Pennsylvania State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Minnesota, Pennsylvania State Univ, University of Maryland, Towson University, Department of Physics, Villanova University, University of Virginia, Boston University, Univ of Maryland-College Park, Harvard University, The Pennsylvania State Unversity, University of Wisconsin-Madison, McMaster University, California State University - Long Beach, National Chiao Tung University, National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan, Ohio University, University of Rennes, UMR CNRS 6251, Rennes, France, University of Bordeaux, UMR 5804, Floirac, France, University of Bordeaux, UMR 5255, Talence, France, Sandia National laboratories, Livermore, CA, Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantwon, WV, The Pennsylvania State University, University of Toronto, Departamento de F\'isica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 653, Santiago, Chile, Cinvestav-Unidad Queretaro, Queretaro-76230, Mexico, Department of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV-26505-6315, USA, The University of Arizona, TU Dortmund, Dortmund, Naval Air Warfare Center - Aircraft Division

  • Scott Cushing

    National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, New York University Abu Dhabi, Naval Research Laboratory, CSIRO Astronomy and Space Sciences, George Mason University, ASTRON, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee,, Station de radioastronomie de Nancay, Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory, Max-Planck-Institut fur Physik, West Virginia Univ, West Virginia University, Lehigh University, Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), Pennsylvania State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Minnesota, Pennsylvania State Univ, University of Maryland, Towson University, Department of Physics, Villanova University, University of Virginia, Boston University, Univ of Maryland-College Park, Harvard University, The Pennsylvania State Unversity, University of Wisconsin-Madison, McMaster University, California State University - Long Beach, National Chiao Tung University, National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan, Ohio University, University of Rennes, UMR CNRS 6251, Rennes, France, University of Bordeaux, UMR 5804, Floirac, France, University of Bordeaux, UMR 5255, Talence, France, Sandia National laboratories, Livermore, CA, Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantwon, WV, The Pennsylvania State University, University of Toronto, Departamento de F\'isica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 653, Santiago, Chile, Cinvestav-Unidad Queretaro, Queretaro-76230, Mexico, Department of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV-26505-6315, USA, The University of Arizona, TU Dortmund, Dortmund, Naval Air Warfare Center - Aircraft Division

  • Scott Cushing

    National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, New York University Abu Dhabi, Naval Research Laboratory, CSIRO Astronomy and Space Sciences, George Mason University, ASTRON, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee,, Station de radioastronomie de Nancay, Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory, Max-Planck-Institut fur Physik, West Virginia Univ, West Virginia University, Lehigh University, Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), Pennsylvania State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Minnesota, Pennsylvania State Univ, University of Maryland, Towson University, Department of Physics, Villanova University, University of Virginia, Boston University, Univ of Maryland-College Park, Harvard University, The Pennsylvania State Unversity, University of Wisconsin-Madison, McMaster University, California State University - Long Beach, National Chiao Tung University, National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan, Ohio University, University of Rennes, UMR CNRS 6251, Rennes, France, University of Bordeaux, UMR 5804, Floirac, France, University of Bordeaux, UMR 5255, Talence, France, Sandia National laboratories, Livermore, CA, Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantwon, WV, The Pennsylvania State University, University of Toronto, Departamento de F\'isica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 653, Santiago, Chile, Cinvestav-Unidad Queretaro, Queretaro-76230, Mexico, Department of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV-26505-6315, USA, The University of Arizona, TU Dortmund, Dortmund, Naval Air Warfare Center - Aircraft Division

  • Scott Cushing

    National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, New York University Abu Dhabi, Naval Research Laboratory, CSIRO Astronomy and Space Sciences, George Mason University, ASTRON, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee,, Station de radioastronomie de Nancay, Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory, Max-Planck-Institut fur Physik, West Virginia Univ, West Virginia University, Lehigh University, Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), Pennsylvania State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Minnesota, Pennsylvania State Univ, University of Maryland, Towson University, Department of Physics, Villanova University, University of Virginia, Boston University, Univ of Maryland-College Park, Harvard University, The Pennsylvania State Unversity, University of Wisconsin-Madison, McMaster University, California State University - Long Beach, National Chiao Tung University, National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan, Ohio University, University of Rennes, UMR CNRS 6251, Rennes, France, University of Bordeaux, UMR 5804, Floirac, France, University of Bordeaux, UMR 5255, Talence, France, Sandia National laboratories, Livermore, CA, Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantwon, WV, The Pennsylvania State University, University of Toronto, Departamento de F\'isica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 653, Santiago, Chile, Cinvestav-Unidad Queretaro, Queretaro-76230, Mexico, Department of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV-26505-6315, USA, The University of Arizona, TU Dortmund, Dortmund, Naval Air Warfare Center - Aircraft Division

  • Scott Cushing

    National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, New York University Abu Dhabi, Naval Research Laboratory, CSIRO Astronomy and Space Sciences, George Mason University, ASTRON, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee,, Station de radioastronomie de Nancay, Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory, Max-Planck-Institut fur Physik, West Virginia Univ, West Virginia University, Lehigh University, Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), Pennsylvania State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Minnesota, Pennsylvania State Univ, University of Maryland, Towson University, Department of Physics, Villanova University, University of Virginia, Boston University, Univ of Maryland-College Park, Harvard University, The Pennsylvania State Unversity, University of Wisconsin-Madison, McMaster University, California State University - Long Beach, National Chiao Tung University, National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan, Ohio University, University of Rennes, UMR CNRS 6251, Rennes, France, University of Bordeaux, UMR 5804, Floirac, France, University of Bordeaux, UMR 5255, Talence, France, Sandia National laboratories, Livermore, CA, Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantwon, WV, The Pennsylvania State University, University of Toronto, Departamento de F\'isica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 653, Santiago, Chile, Cinvestav-Unidad Queretaro, Queretaro-76230, Mexico, Department of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV-26505-6315, USA, The University of Arizona, TU Dortmund, Dortmund, Naval Air Warfare Center - Aircraft Division

  • Scott Cushing

    National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, New York University Abu Dhabi, Naval Research Laboratory, CSIRO Astronomy and Space Sciences, George Mason University, ASTRON, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee,, Station de radioastronomie de Nancay, Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory, Max-Planck-Institut fur Physik, West Virginia Univ, West Virginia University, Lehigh University, Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), Pennsylvania State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Minnesota, Pennsylvania State Univ, University of Maryland, Towson University, Department of Physics, Villanova University, University of Virginia, Boston University, Univ of Maryland-College Park, Harvard University, The Pennsylvania State Unversity, University of Wisconsin-Madison, McMaster University, California State University - Long Beach, National Chiao Tung University, National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan, Ohio University, University of Rennes, UMR CNRS 6251, Rennes, France, University of Bordeaux, UMR 5804, Floirac, France, University of Bordeaux, UMR 5255, Talence, France, Sandia National laboratories, Livermore, CA, Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantwon, WV, The Pennsylvania State University, University of Toronto, Departamento de F\'isica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 653, Santiago, Chile, Cinvestav-Unidad Queretaro, Queretaro-76230, Mexico, Department of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV-26505-6315, USA, The University of Arizona, TU Dortmund, Dortmund, Naval Air Warfare Center - Aircraft Division

  • Scott Cushing

    National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, New York University Abu Dhabi, Naval Research Laboratory, CSIRO Astronomy and Space Sciences, George Mason University, ASTRON, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee,, Station de radioastronomie de Nancay, Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory, Max-Planck-Institut fur Physik, West Virginia Univ, West Virginia University, Lehigh University, Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), Pennsylvania State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Minnesota, Pennsylvania State Univ, University of Maryland, Towson University, Department of Physics, Villanova University, University of Virginia, Boston University, Univ of Maryland-College Park, Harvard University, The Pennsylvania State Unversity, University of Wisconsin-Madison, McMaster University, California State University - Long Beach, National Chiao Tung University, National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan, Ohio University, University of Rennes, UMR CNRS 6251, Rennes, France, University of Bordeaux, UMR 5804, Floirac, France, University of Bordeaux, UMR 5255, Talence, France, Sandia National laboratories, Livermore, CA, Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantwon, WV, The Pennsylvania State University, University of Toronto, Departamento de F\'isica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 653, Santiago, Chile, Cinvestav-Unidad Queretaro, Queretaro-76230, Mexico, Department of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV-26505-6315, USA, The University of Arizona, TU Dortmund, Dortmund, Naval Air Warfare Center - Aircraft Division