Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widely accepted as the carriers of the Aromatic Infrared Bands (AIBs), but an unambiguous identification of any specific interstellar PAH is still missing. For polar PAHs, pure rotational transitions can be used as fingerprints for identification. Combining dedicated experiments, detailed simulations and observations, we explored the mm domain to search for specific rotational transitions of corannulene (C20H10). We performed high-resolution spectroscopic measurements and a simulation of the emission spectrum of UV-excited C20H10 in the environment of the Red Rectangle, calculating its synthetic rotational spectrum. Based on these results, we conducted a first observational campaign at the IRAM 30m telescope towards this source to search for several high-J rotational transitions of (C20H10). The laboratory detection of the J = 112 <- 111 transition of corannulene showed that no centrifugal splitting is present up to this line. Observations with the IRAM 30m telescope towards the Red Rectangle do not show any corannulene emission at any of the observed frequencies, down to a rms noise level of Tmb = 8 mK for the J =135 -> 134 transition at 137.615 GHz. Comparing the noise level with the synthetic spectrum, we are able to estimate an upper limit to the fraction of carbon locked in corannulene of about 1.0x10(-5) relative to the total abundance of carbon in PAHs. The sensitivity achieved shows that radio spectroscopy can be a powerful tool to search for polar PAHs. We compare this upper limit with models for the PAH size distribution, emphasising that small PAHs are much less abundant than predicted. We show that this cannot be explained by destruction but is more likely related to the chemistry of their formation in the environment of the Red Rectangle.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in MNRA

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Context. In the laboratory, hydrogen peroxide (HOOH) was proven to be an intermediate product in the solid-state reaction scheme that leads to the formation of water on icy dust grains. When HOOH desorbs from the icy grains, it can be detected in the gas phase. In combination with water detections, it may provide additional information on the water reaction network. Hydrogen peroxide has previously been found toward ρ Oph A. However, further searches for this molecule in other sources failed. Hydrogen peroxide plays a fundamental role in the understanding of solid-state water formation and the overall water reservoir in young stellar objects (YSOs). Without further HOOH detections, it is difficult to assess and develop suitable chemical models that properly take into account the formation of water on icy surfaces. Aims. The objective of this work is to identify HOOH in YSOs and thereby constrain the grain surface water formation hypothesis. Methods. Using an astrochemical model based on previous work in combination with a physical model of YSOs, the sources R CrA-IRS 5A, NGCC1333-IRAS 2A, L1551-IRS 5, and L1544 were identified as suitable candidates for an HOOH detection. Long integration times on the APEX 12m and IRAM 30m telescopes were applied to search for HOOH signatures in these sources. Results. None of the four sources under investigation showed convincing spectral signatures of HOOH. The upper limit for HOOH abundance based on the noise level at the frequency positions of this molecule for the source R CrA-IRS 5A was close to the predicted value. For NGC1333-IRAS 2A, L1544, and L1551-IRS 5, the model overestimated the hydrogen peroxide abundances. Conclusions. HOOH remains an elusive molecule. With only one secure cosmic HOOH source detected so far, namely ρ Oph A, the chemical model parameters for this molecule cannot be sufficiently well determined or confirmed in existing models. Possible reasons for the nondetections of HOOH are discussed.

Context. Young stellar objects (YSOs) and their environments are generally geometrically and dynamically challenging to model, and the corresponding chemistry is often dominated by regions in non-thermal equilibrium. In addition, modern astrochemical models have to consider not only gas-phase reactions, but also solid-state reactions on icy dust grains. Solving the geometrical, physical, and chemical boundary conditions simultaneously requires a high computational effort and still runs the risk of false predictions due to the intrinsically non-linear effects that can occur. As a first step, solving problems of reduced complexity is helpful to guide more sophisticated approaches. Aims. The objective of this work is to test a model that uses shell-like structures (i.e., assuming a power-law number density and temperature gradient of the environment surrounding the YSO) to approximate the geometry and physical structure of YSOs, that in turn utilizes an advanced chemical model that includes gas-phase and solid-state reactions to model the chemical abundances of key species. A special focus is set on formaldehyde (H2CO) and methanol (CH3OH) as these molecules can be traced in the gas phase but are produced on icy dust grains. Furthermore, this kind of molecule is believed to be key to understanding the abundance of more complex species. We compare the influence of the geometry of the object on the molecular abundances with the effect induced by its chemistry. Methods. We set up a model that combines a grain-gas phase chemical model with a physical model of YSOs. The model ignores jets, shocks, and external radiation fields and concentrates on the physical conditions of spherically symmetric YSOs with a density and temperature gradient derived from available spectral energy distribution observations in the infrared. In addition, new observational data are presented using the APEX 12 m and the IRAM 30 m telescopes. Formaldehyde and methanol transitions have been searched for in three YSOs (R CrA-IRS 5A, C1333-IRAS 2A, and L1551-IRS 5) that can be categorized as Class 0 and Class 1 objects, and in the pre-stellar core L1544. The observed abundances of H2CO and CH3OH are compared with those calculated by the spherical physical-chemical model. Results. Compared to a standard “ρ and T constant” model, i.e., a homogeneous (flat) density and temperature distribution, using number density and temperature gradients results in reduced abundances for the CO hydrogenation products formaldehyde and methanol. However, this geometric effect is generally not large, and depends on the source and on the molecular species under investigation. Although the current model uses simplified geometric assumptions the observed abundances of H2CO and CH3OH are well reproduced for the quiescent Class 1 object R CrA-IRS 5A. Our model tends to overestimate formaldehyde and methanol abundances for sources in early evolutionary stages, like the pre-stellar core L1544 or NGC 1333-IRS 2A (Class 0). Observational results on hydrogen peroxide and water that have also been predicted by our model are discussed elsewhere.