Interstellar C_2 Molecule Detected in UV Spectra of Reddened Stars

TL;DR

This study reports the detection of interstellar C₂ molecules in UV spectra of reddened stars using HST data, exploring their potential correlation with diffuse interstellar bands.

Contribution

It provides new observational evidence of interstellar C₂ molecules in UV spectra and investigates their relationship with diffuse interstellar bands.

Findings

Detected interstellar C₂ lines in UV spectra of reddened stars.

Explored correlation between C₂ line intensity and diffuse interstellar bands.

Utilized HST STIS UV data for molecular detection.

Abstract

$C_2$ molecule is sometimes considered as a crucial component of carriers of some diffuse interstellar bands. Using UV data achieved by spectrometer STIS fed with HST we detected interstellar $C_2$ lines for few reddened target stars. We tried to verify the idea that intensity of $C_2$ lines around 2313 \AA is correlated with some diffuse interstellar bands.