Discovery of Thionylimide, HNSO, in Space: The first N-, S-, and O-bearing Interstellar Molecule

We present the first detection in space of thionylimide (HNSO) toward the Galactic center molecular cloud G + 0.693-0.027, thanks to the superb sensitivity of an ultradeep molecular line survey carried out with the Yebes 40 m and IRAM 30 m telescopes. This molecule is the first species detected in t...

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Main Authors: Miguel Sanz-Novo, Víctor M. Rivilla, Holger S. P. Müller, Izaskun Jiménez-Serra, Jesús Martín-Pintado, Laura Colzi, Shaoshan Zeng, Andrés Megías, Álvaro López-Gallifa, Antonio Martínez-Henares, Belén Tercero, Pablo de Vicente, David San Andrés, Sergio Martín, Miguel A. Requena-Torres
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2024-01-01
Series:The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad3945
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author Miguel Sanz-Novo
Víctor M. Rivilla
Holger S. P. Müller
Izaskun Jiménez-Serra
Jesús Martín-Pintado
Laura Colzi
Shaoshan Zeng
Andrés Megías
Álvaro López-Gallifa
Antonio Martínez-Henares
Belén Tercero
Pablo de Vicente
David San Andrés
Sergio Martín
Miguel A. Requena-Torres
author_facet Miguel Sanz-Novo
Víctor M. Rivilla
Holger S. P. Müller
Izaskun Jiménez-Serra
Jesús Martín-Pintado
Laura Colzi
Shaoshan Zeng
Andrés Megías
Álvaro López-Gallifa
Antonio Martínez-Henares
Belén Tercero
Pablo de Vicente
David San Andrés
Sergio Martín
Miguel A. Requena-Torres
author_sort Miguel Sanz-Novo
collection DOAJ
description We present the first detection in space of thionylimide (HNSO) toward the Galactic center molecular cloud G + 0.693-0.027, thanks to the superb sensitivity of an ultradeep molecular line survey carried out with the Yebes 40 m and IRAM 30 m telescopes. This molecule is the first species detected in the interstellar medium containing, simultaneously, N, S, and O. We have identified numerous K _a = 0, 1, and 2 transitions belonging to HNSO covering from J _up = 2 to J _up =10, including several completely unblended features. We derive a molecular column density of N = (8 ± 1)×10 ^13 cm ^−2 , yielding a fractional abundance relative to H _2 of ∼6 × 10 ^−10 , which is about ∼37 and ∼4.8 times less abundant than SO and SO _2 , respectively. Although there are still many unknowns in the interstellar chemistry of NSO-bearing molecules, we propose that HNSO is likely formed through the reaction of the NSO radical and atomic H on the surface of icy grains, with alternative routes also deserving exploration. Finally, HNSO appears as a promising link between N, S, and O interstellar chemistry, and its discovery paves the route to the detection of a new family of molecules in space.
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spelling doaj.art-b869b440ecc94a28a5d3639424af56e82024-04-17T12:48:48ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal Letters2041-82052024-01-019652L2610.3847/2041-8213/ad3945Discovery of Thionylimide, HNSO, in Space: The first N-, S-, and O-bearing Interstellar MoleculeMiguel Sanz-Novo0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9629-0257Víctor M. Rivilla1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2887-5859Holger S. P. Müller2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0183-8927Izaskun Jiménez-Serra3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4493-8714Jesús Martín-Pintado4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4561-3508Laura Colzi5https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8064-6394Shaoshan Zeng6https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3721-374XAndrés Megías7https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6389-7172Álvaro López-Gallifa8https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6049-9366Antonio Martínez-Henares9https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5191-2075Belén Tercero10https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4782-5259Pablo de Vicente11https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5902-5005David San Andrés12https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7535-4397Sergio Martín13https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9281-2919Miguel A. Requena-Torres14https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5346-7329Centro de Astrobiología (CAB) , INTA-CSIC, Carretera de Ajalvir km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850 Madrid, SpainCentro de Astrobiología (CAB) , INTA-CSIC, Carretera de Ajalvir km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850 Madrid, SpainI. Physikalisches Institut, Universität zu Köln , Zülpicher Str. 77, 50937 Köln, GermanyCentro de Astrobiología (CAB) , INTA-CSIC, Carretera de Ajalvir km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850 Madrid, SpainCentro de Astrobiología (CAB) , INTA-CSIC, Carretera de Ajalvir km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850 Madrid, SpainCentro de Astrobiología (CAB) , INTA-CSIC, Carretera de Ajalvir km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850 Madrid, SpainStar and Planet Formation Laboratory , Cluster for Pioneering Research, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, JapanCentro de Astrobiología (CAB) , INTA-CSIC, Carretera de Ajalvir km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850 Madrid, SpainCentro de Astrobiología (CAB) , INTA-CSIC, Carretera de Ajalvir km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850 Madrid, SpainCentro de Astrobiología (CAB) , INTA-CSIC, Carretera de Ajalvir km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850 Madrid, SpainObservatorio Astronómico Nacional (OAN-IGN) , Calle Alfonso XII, 3, 28014 Madrid, SpainObservatorio de Yebes (OY-IGN) , Cerro de la Palera SN, Yebes, Guadalajara, SpainCentro de Astrobiología (CAB) , INTA-CSIC, Carretera de Ajalvir km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850 Madrid, SpainEuropean Southern Observatory , Alonso de Córdova 3107, Vitacura 763 0355, Santiago, Chile; Joint ALMA Observatory , Alonso de Córdova 3107, Vitacura 763 0355, Santiago, ChileUniversity of Maryland , College Park, ND 20742-2421 USA; Department of Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences, Towson University , Towson, MD 21252, USAWe present the first detection in space of thionylimide (HNSO) toward the Galactic center molecular cloud G + 0.693-0.027, thanks to the superb sensitivity of an ultradeep molecular line survey carried out with the Yebes 40 m and IRAM 30 m telescopes. This molecule is the first species detected in the interstellar medium containing, simultaneously, N, S, and O. We have identified numerous K _a = 0, 1, and 2 transitions belonging to HNSO covering from J _up = 2 to J _up =10, including several completely unblended features. We derive a molecular column density of N = (8 ± 1)×10 ^13 cm ^−2 , yielding a fractional abundance relative to H _2 of ∼6 × 10 ^−10 , which is about ∼37 and ∼4.8 times less abundant than SO and SO _2 , respectively. Although there are still many unknowns in the interstellar chemistry of NSO-bearing molecules, we propose that HNSO is likely formed through the reaction of the NSO radical and atomic H on the surface of icy grains, with alternative routes also deserving exploration. Finally, HNSO appears as a promising link between N, S, and O interstellar chemistry, and its discovery paves the route to the detection of a new family of molecules in space.https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad3945Interstellar moleculesInterstellar cloudsGalactic centerSpectral line identificationAstrochemistry
spellingShingle Miguel Sanz-Novo
Víctor M. Rivilla
Holger S. P. Müller
Izaskun Jiménez-Serra
Jesús Martín-Pintado
Laura Colzi
Shaoshan Zeng
Andrés Megías
Álvaro López-Gallifa
Antonio Martínez-Henares
Belén Tercero
Pablo de Vicente
David San Andrés
Sergio Martín
Miguel A. Requena-Torres
Discovery of Thionylimide, HNSO, in Space: The first N-, S-, and O-bearing Interstellar Molecule
The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Interstellar molecules
Interstellar clouds
Galactic center
Spectral line identification
Astrochemistry
title Discovery of Thionylimide, HNSO, in Space: The first N-, S-, and O-bearing Interstellar Molecule
title_full Discovery of Thionylimide, HNSO, in Space: The first N-, S-, and O-bearing Interstellar Molecule
title_fullStr Discovery of Thionylimide, HNSO, in Space: The first N-, S-, and O-bearing Interstellar Molecule
title_full_unstemmed Discovery of Thionylimide, HNSO, in Space: The first N-, S-, and O-bearing Interstellar Molecule
title_short Discovery of Thionylimide, HNSO, in Space: The first N-, S-, and O-bearing Interstellar Molecule
title_sort discovery of thionylimide hnso in space the first n s and o bearing interstellar molecule
topic Interstellar molecules
Interstellar clouds
Galactic center
Spectral line identification
Astrochemistry
url https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad3945
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