Detecting Carbon monoxide (CO) in hot air 10 million degrees Celsius

The group of scientists using the Japanese AKARI Infrared Observatory of Japan found the carbon monoxide (CO) molecule in the hot air 10 million degrees Celsius emitted from the remnants of young supernova explosions called Cassiopeia A (Cas A).

Leading the group is JeongHee Rho from SETI Academy and SOFIA Science Center at NASA Ames Research Center, both centers are located in Mountain View City, California. In theory, no one had predicted or expected the discovery of the carbon monoxide molecule in the supernova remnants that contained tremendous energy. Electrons filled with energy and atoms of heavy elements, produced by nuclear fission in supernova explosions, should have destroyed molecular bonds. This discovery could alter the current understanding of the carbon cycle and molecules in interstellar gas and dust clouds.

Infrared spectrum obtained The AKARI radio helps detect a wide feature with a two-peak profile. A dozen spectroscopes show similar properties of CO along the corners of Cas A. supernovae. In particular, CO emission is not only found in the light loop to release impulsive matter but also to find found in the center of the material does not impulse. CO in the center of Cas A contains an unmodified form of matter for several years after the supernova explosion. The model applied to these spectra indicates that the wide characteristic consists of several tens of thousands of spectral bands produced by CO. At the age of 330 years, Cas A is about 11,000 light-years from Earth, located in the well-known constellation W-constellation.

'When I saw these beautiful spectra at AKARI, I was excited about the fact that carbon monoxide molecules exist in a hot gas gas of 10 million degrees. It's like finding a CO molecule right in the center of the Sun. The universe contains many surprises! ' Rho said. CO molecules are quite common in interstellar space, but they are often in a cold state. The science team captured the signals of rare, hot and extremely concentrated CO molecules (10 million molecules per cm³) when detecting the wide spectral properties of CO in the infrared region.

Observations from many Earth and Space Stations contributed to the discovery of CO gas in the Cas A. ru of the Cas A infrared image recorded by NASA's Spitzer telescope infrared camera (IRAC). 4.5 micron waves unexpectedly showed light emitted from Cas A. supernovae, which resulted in its authors questioning whether emission could be generated by CO, as well as emission by elements. Other heavy. Subsequent near-infrared images from the 200-inch Hale telescope of the Palomar Observatory show that the possibility of CO is present in the Cas A. ru, however, until AKARI finds CO by optical observation spectrum, the presence of this molecule in the proven supernova remnants.

By combining AKARI's observations with Spitzer's image, CO molecule 'bullets' have been proven to exist. These "bullets" survived 10 million degrees of hot gas in the 330-year-old supernova remnant. 'This finding challenges our understanding of how molecules form in matter released from stellar explosions, and how they evolve over time.' Isabelle Cherchneff from the University of Basel, Switzerland confirms. "Are the CO molecules discovered by AKARI produced after the explosion? Do they exist so far and encase in these blocks? Is this hot CO recreating itself in the ruins? Many questions have arisen. curious from this interesting observation data ".

Supernova explosions are one of the sources of interstellar heavy elements. However, this finding implies that Carbon is locked up in CO bonds, and thus a large amount of Carbon cannot freely return to the interstellar medium. If CO locks down carbon and oxygen in molecular bonds, it is also possible that other types of molecules such as silicon / monoxide are blocking other heavy elements. The discovery of CO molecules in matter released from supernova explosions changed the scientific understanding of celestial chemistry, the formation of cosmic dust and the origin of a large amount of cosmic dust observed. seen at the time of the early universe.