V.B.4.e  A Comparison of Laboratory and ALMA Spectra

The hot core of Orion KL (R. A. = 05^hr 35^m 14.35^s, Dec = -05^o 22’ 35” (J2000)) [1] was chosen as one of the targets of ALMA’s Science Verification program for Band 6 (211-275 GHz) because it is one of the most studied molecular sources and one for which a number of spectral surveys exist for comparison [2-5]. Preliminary data for a single pixel (of a 1024 x 1024 array of pixels) centered on the hot core of Orion KL is used in this comparison.

Here we will consider how well simple models based on CES can simulate this ALMA spectrum for a number of the astrophysical ‘weed’ molecules.  Issues that are addressed include the completeness of the laboratory spectroscopic basis in the context of this real astrophysical example and how well the simplest LTE models of the interstellar medium can account for the astrophysical spectrum.

V.B.4.e.1.  How Complete are Astrophysical Catalogs?

V.B.4.e.2.  A Simple Model

V.B.4.e.3.  Spectral Comparisons

Back to V.B.Astronomical Spectroscopy

[1] D.N. Friedel, L.E. Snyder, ApJ, 672 (2008) 962-973.

[2] R. Genzel, J. Stutzki, Ann. Rev. A & A, 27 (1989) 41-85.

[3] G.A. Blake, L.G. Mundy, J.E. Carlstrom, S. Padin, S.L. Scott, N.Z. Scoville, D.P. Woody, Ap J, 472 (1996) L49-L52.

[4] B. Tercero, J. Cernicharo, J.R. Pardo, J.R. Goicoechea, A&A, 517:A96 (2010).

[5] C. Favre, H.A. Wootten, A.J. Remijan, N. Brouillet, T.L. Wilson, D. Despois, A. Baudry, Ap J Lett, 739:L12 (2011).