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PAHs, They’re Everywhere!

  • Chapter
The Cosmic Dust Connection

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASIC,volume 487))

Abstract

A brief history of the observations and experiments which have led to the hypothesis that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread throughout the interstellar medium is presented. The PAH signature spectrum is associated with dense molecular clouds (reflection nebulae, HII regions), proto-planetary and planetary nebulae, M supergiants, and a nova. Since it is difficult to imagine a plausible mechanism to exclude PAHs from being distributed throughout the diffuse interstellar medium, it is concluded that they must be there as well, implying that they are among the carriers of the Diffuse Interstellar Bands (DIBs). The spectral evidence in support of this is reviewed. This is followed by a very short survey of studies on Solar System objects and extraterrestrial materials (including comet Halley, meteorites and interplanetary dust particles) which have been recently shown to contain PAHs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NASA Ames Research Center, MS 245-6, Moffett Field, CA, 94035-1000, USA

    L. J. Allamandola

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  1. L. J. Allamandola
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  1. Laboratory Astrophysics, University of Leiden, Niels Bohrweg 2, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands

    J. Mayo Greenberg

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Allamandola, L.J. (1996). PAHs, They’re Everywhere!. In: Greenberg, J.M. (eds) The Cosmic Dust Connection. NATO ASI Series, vol 487. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5652-3_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5652-3_4

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