153^rd Uchu Forum

Carbon-Chain Chemistry in Active Star-Forming Regions

Kotomi Taniguchi

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

Abstract

Carbon chain molecules, which consist of a series of carbon atoms, are molecules unique to interstellar space. Of the approximately 320 types of interstellar molecules discovered to date, approximately 40% are classified as carbon chain molecules. The chemistry of carbon chain molecules has been studied in low-mass star-forming regions in the vicinity of the solar system. On the other hand, observational studies of carbon chain molecules in high-mass star forming regions and cluster regions, where massive stars eight times more massive than the Sun are being born, have lagged behind. In this talk, I will first introduce the basic knowledge on the chemistry of carbon chain molecules established in low-mass star forming regions, and then present the results of ALMA studies of carbon chain molecules in massive star forming regions. I will also present Q-band line survey observations of starless pre-cluster clumps in the Serpens South cluster region using the newly installed extended Q-band (eQ) receiver on the Nobeyama 45m radio telescope. In addition, recent observations with the Green Bank 100 m telescope and the Yebes 40 m telescope have revealed a fundamental issue regarding the assumption of interstellar chemistry. We will discuss our research plan to resolve this issue.