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Silicon Nitride

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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology

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Synonyms

SiN

Definition

The diatomic radical SiN is referred to by astronomers as silicon nitride, although that nomenclature is used by chemists for Si3N4, which is a solid at room temperature and which has been found in meteorites. Gas phase SiN has been detected by radio astronomers in both the envelopes expelled by evolved stars and in the molecular clouds toward the center of our Milky Way galaxy. It has been suggested that the SiN in the interstellar medium is produced by gas phase chemistry after silicon has been released from interstellar dust grains by sputtering in shocks.

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References

  • Schilke P, Leurini S, Menten KM, Alcolea J (2003) Interstellar SiN. Astron Astrophys 412:L15–L18

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  • Turner BE (1992) Detection of SiN in IRC+10216. Astrophys J 388:L35–L38

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Astronomy, University of Massachusetts, Lederle Graduate Research Tower B 619E, 710 North Pleasant Street, 01003-9305, Amherst, MA, USA

    William M. Irvine

Authors
  1. William M. Irvine
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Correspondence to William M. Irvine .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  2. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  3. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Irvine, W.M. (2014). Silicon Nitride. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1801-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1801-4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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