TMC-1: probing the onset of chemical complexity in space
Marcelino Agundez, Jose Cernicharo
TLDR
This paper reviews the QUIJOTE survey of TMC-1, discussing its chemical composition and evaluating current chemical models, especially regarding PAHs.
Key contributions
- Provides an overall view of the QUIJOTE line survey (31-50 GHz) of TMC-1.
- Summarizes the current observational status and chemical composition of TMC-1.
- Discusses the successes and failures of state-of-the-art chemical models.
- Highlights the unresolved origin of PAHs in cold dark clouds.
Why it matters
This paper significantly boosts knowledge of cold dark cloud chemistry in TMC-1 through the QUIJOTE survey. It evaluates current chemical models, pinpointing successes and failures, especially regarding the mysterious origin of PAHs. This work is crucial for refining astrochemical theories.
Original Abstract
In recent years, the obsessive interest in the observation of TMC-1 has brought a boost in our knowledge of the chemistry of cold dark clouds. The number of molecules detected in this particular cloud has been more than doubled. Two observational programmes, GOTHAM and QUIJOTE, are responsible for this spectacular achievement. Here we provide an overall view of QUIJOTE, which is a line survey carried out in the Q band (31-50 GHz) with the Yebes 40m radiotelescope, summarize the actual observational status of TMC-1, and discuss the chemistry of this remarkable source. We highlight the successes and failures of state-of-the-art chemical models to describe its chemical composition, with a particular emphasis on the origin of PAHs, which is yet far from being understood.
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