Laboratory Studies of Interstellar Carbon/Nitrogen Ion Chemistry

Abstract

Laboratory measurements are reported for ion-molecule reactions involving CN+, HCN+, C2N+ and HCN, and their implications for interstellar synthesis for C/N compounds are discussed. The reaction of C+ with HCN was found not to constitute a major loss process for HCN, which is regenerated by reactions of C2N+ with NH3, H20, CH4, C2H2 and H2S. These latter reactions lead to C addition rather than C-N bond formation. Rapid association reactions were observed for CH3+ and C2H2+ with HCN. These suggest efficient radiative association reactions under interstellar conditions to form ions which may form larger C/N compounds upon neutralization.