Discovery of the first Ca-bearing molecule in space: CaNC

Abstract

We report on the detection of calcium isocyanide, CaNC, in the carbon-rich evolved star IRC+10216. We derived a column density for this species of (2.0$\pm$0.5)$\times$10${}^{11}$ cm${}^{-2}$. Based on the observed line profiles and the modelling of its emission through the envelope, the molecule has to be produced in the intermediate and outer layers of the circumstellar envelope where other metal-isocyanides have previously been found in this source. The abundance ratio of CaNC relative to MgNC and FeCN is $\simeq$1/60 and $\simeq$1, respectively. We searched for the species CaF, CaCl, CaC, CaCCH, and CaCH${}_3$ for which accurate frequency predictions are available. Only upper limits have been obtained for these molecules.

5 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in A&A

References in corpus (8)

• Detection of C5N- and vibrationally excited C6H in IRC +10216
• Oxygen Chemistry in the Circumstellar Envelope of the Carbon-Rich Star IRC+10216
• New molecules in IRC+10216: confirmation of C${}_5$S and tentative identification of MgCCH, NCCP, and SiH${}_3$CN
• Detection of circumstellar CH2CHCN, CH2CN, CH3CCH and H2CS
• Discovery of SiCSi in IRC+10216: A missing link between gas and dust carriers of SiC bonds
• Molecular shells in IRC+10216: tracing the mass loss history
• Discovery of Time Variation of the Intensity of Molecular Lines in IRC+10216 in The Submillimeter and Far Infrared Domains
• Si-bearing molecules towards IRC+10216: ALMA unveils the molecular envelope of CWLeo

Cited by in corpus (4)

• Chemical equilibrium in AGB atmospheres: Successes, failures, and prospects for small molecules, clusters, and condensates
• The magnesium paradigm in IRC+10216: Discovery of MgC${}_4$H${}^{+}$, MgC${}_3$N${}^{+}$, MgC${}_6$H${}^{+}$, and MgC${}_5$N${}^{+}$
• Magnesium radicals MgC${}_5$N and MgC${}_6$H in IRC+10216
• Discovery of two metallic cyanoacetylides in IRC+10216: HMgCCCN and NaCCCN