Dust evolution, a global view: II. Top-down branching, nanoparticle fragmentation and the mystery of the diffuse interstellar band carriers

The origin of the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs), one of the longest-standing mysteries of the interstellar medium (ISM), is explored within the framework of The Heterogeneous dust Evolution Model for Interstellar Solids (THEMIS). The likely nature of the DIB carriers and their evolution is here explored within the framework of the structures and sub-structures inherent to doped hydrogenated amorphous carbon grains in the ISM. Based on the natural aromatic-rich moieties (asphaltenes) recovered from coal and oil, the likely structure of their interstellar analogues is investigated within the context of the diffuse band problem. It is here proposed that the top-down evolution of interstellar carbonaceous grains, and, in particular, a-C(:H) nanoparticles, is at the heart of the formation and evolution of the DIB carriers and their associations with small molecules and radicals, such as C 2 , C 3 , CH and CN. It is most probable that the DIBs are carried by dehydrogenated, ionized, hetero-cyclic, olefinic and aromatic-rich moieties that form an integral part of the contiguous structure of hetero-atom-doped hydrogenated amorphous carbon nanoparticles and their daughter fragmentation products. Within this framework, it is proposed that polyene structures in all their variants could be viable DIB carrier candidates.

Diffuse Interstellar Bands in Emission

Recent Fabry-Pérot observations towards the galaxy NGC 1325 with the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) led to the serendipitous discovery of an emission feature centered at 661.3 nm arising from material in the interstellar medium (ISM) of our Galaxy; this emission feature lies at the wavelength of one of the sharper and stronger diffuse bands normally seen in absorption. The flux of the feature is 4.2 ± 0.5 × 10−18 es−1 cm−2 arcsec−2. It appears that this is the first observation of emission from a diffuse band carrier in the ISM, excited in this case by the interstellar radiation field. We present the discovery spectra and describe follow-up measurements proposed for SALT.

Diffuse Interstellar Band Profiles

A short review of the profiles of diffuse interstellar bands and their possible interpretation is given, largely from the perspective of absorption by gas-phase molecules. Potentially a crucial source of information on the nature of the diffuse band carriers, profile studies provide a promising avenue of research towards finding the solution to their identification. Detection and modelling of fine structure in particular offers a valuable benchmark against which any proposed carriers(s) can be tested.

The Diffuse Interstellar Bands: an Elderly Astro-Puzzle Rejuvenated

The interstellar medium constitutes a physically and chemically complex component of galaxies and is important in the cycle of matter and the evolution of stars. From various spectroscopic clues we now know that the interstellar medium is rich in organic compounds. However, identifying the exact nature of all these components remains a challenge. In particular the identification of the so-called diffuse band carriers has been alluding astronomers for almost a century.In recent decades, observational, experimental and theoretical advances have rapidly lead to renewed interest in the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs). This has been instigated partly by their perceived relation to the infrared aromatic emission bands, the UV extinction bump and far-UV rise, and the growing number of (small) organic molecules identified in space.This chapter gives an overview of the observational properties and behaviour of the DIBs, and their presence throughout the Universe. I will highlight recent progress in identifying their carriers and discuss their potential as tracers and probes of (extra)-Galactic ISM conditions.