A Rigorous Attempt to Verify Interstellar Glycine

Published

February 1, 2005

Author(s)

Lewis E. Snyder, Francis J. Lovas, J M. Hollis, Douglas N. Friedel, P R. Jewell, A Remijan, Vadim V. Ilyushin, E A. Alekseev, S K. Dyubko

Abstract

In 2003, Kuan, Charnley, and co-workers claimed the detection of interstellar glycine (NH2 CH2COOH) based on the detection of 27 lines in 19 different spectral bands in one or more of the sources Sgr B2(N-LMH), Orion KL, and W51 e1/e2. They supported their detection claim with rotational temperature diagrams for all three sources. In this paper, we use new laboratory measurements of glycine and other molecules as a basis to argue that key lines necessary to an interstellar glycine detection have been misassigned. We illustrate that rotational temperature diagrams used without the support of correct spectroscopic assignments are not a reliable tool for the identification of interstellar molecules. Our investigation conclusively demonstrates that the case for the detection of interstellar glycine has yet to be made.

Citation

Astrophysical Journal

Volume

619

Issue

No 2

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

abundances, glycine, interstellar clouds, interstellar molecules, radio astronomy, rotational transitions

Citation

Snyder, L. , Lovas, F. , Hollis, J. , Friedel, D. , Jewell, P. , Remijan, A. , Ilyushin, V. , Alekseev, E. and Dyubko, S. (2005), A Rigorous Attempt to Verify Interstellar Glycine, Astrophysical Journal (Accessed November 3, 2025)