title: Nitrogen sulfide in quiescent dark clouds.
abstract: We report the first detection of interstellar nitrogen sulfide (NS) in cold dark clouds. Several components of the 2 pi 1/2, J = 3/2 --> 1/2 and J = 5/2 --> 3/2 transitions were observed in TMC-1 and L134N. The inferred column density for TMC-1 is NNS approximately 8 x 10(12)cm-2 toward the NH3 peak in that cloud, and in L134N is NNS approximately 3 x 10(12)cm-2 toward the position of peak NH3 emission. These values correspond to fractional abundances relative to molecular hydrogen of fNS approximately 8 x 10(-10) for TMC-1, and fNS approximately 6 x 10(-10) for L134N. The NS emission is extended along the TMC-1 ridge and is also extended in L134N. The measured abundances are significantly higher than those predicted by some recent gas phase ion-molecule models.
authors.affiliation: Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory, University of Massachusetts at Amherst 01003, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McGonagle
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Irvine
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohishi
mesh_terms: D055580:Astronomical Phenomena; D001256:Astronomy; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D005740:Gases / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D008956:Models, Chemical; D017672:Nitrogen Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D016011:Normal Distribution; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D013440:Sulfides / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013455:Sulfur / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D017672:Nitrogen Compounds; D013440:Sulfides; D013455:Sulfur