title: Direct spectroscopic evidence for ionized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the interstellar medium.
abstract: Long-slit 8-13 micrometers spectroscopy of the nebula around NGC 1333 SVS 3 reveals spatial variations in the strength and shape of emission features that are probably produced by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Close to SVS 3, the 11.2 micrometers feature develops an excess at approximately 10.8-11.0 micrometers and a feature appears at approximately 10 micrometers. These features disappear with increasing distance from the central source, and they show striking similarities to recent laboratory data of PAH cations, providing the first identification of emission features arising specifically from ionized PAHs in the interstellar medium.
authors.affiliation: School of Physics, Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Sloan
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Hayward
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Allamandola
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bregman
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: DeVito
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hudgins
mesh_terms: D055580:Astronomical Phenomena; D001256:Astronomy; D002412:Cations; D019443:Cosmic Dust; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D019443:Cosmic Dust; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons