[Previous] | [Session 42] | [Next]
J.L. Ballester (Emporia State Univ.), A.G.G.M. Tielens (Kapteyn Astron. Inst.)
There is significant evidence for the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in interstellar space. They have been suggested as carriers of diffuse interstellar bands and could also play a significant role in heating the interstellar gas.
Some theoretical models which incorporate PAHs must consider the charge state as an important variable. In order to help address the PAH charge issue we have developed a model for the electron-PAH cation interaction and are using it to calculate electron PAH cation recombination cross-sections and rates. We present results for coronene, a representative PAH and discuss the significance of various model details.
JLB gratefully acknowledges support through Kansas NASA EPSCoR and a spring 2000 sabbatical leave from Emporia State University.
The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: ballestj@emporia.edu