Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ?

Forums Variable Stars Nova in Perseus Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ?

#583421
Robin Leadbeater
Participant

When I first saw it I expected it to be atomic in origin because it looks so narrow (Think NaD or K 7699 interstellar lines) but I found no matches. Apparently it is probably (I should say possibly, nothing seems very clear from the literature I have found) formed by a high molecular weight PAH molecule but exactly which one is not clear. It is fascinating that something  that is seen in so many spectra and has been known about for many decades is still a mystery

Cheers

Robin