N$_2$H$^+$ and N$^{15}$NH$^+$ towards the prestellar core 16293E in L1689N

TL;DR

This study measures the $^{14}$N/$^{15}$N ratio in N$_2$H$^+$ towards the prestellar core 16293E, expanding the sample of such measurements in low-mass star-forming regions to better understand nitrogen isotope fractionation.

Contribution

It provides the first $^{14}$N/$^{15}$N ratio measurement in N$_2$H$^+$ for the 16293E core, using detailed radiative transfer modeling and new collisional data.

Findings

The N$_2$H$^+$ / N$^{15}$NH$^+$ ratio is approximately 330.

The ratio aligns with the local ISM elemental isotopic ratio.

Values vary across different cores, indicating diverse nitrogen fractionation processes.

Abstract

Understanding the processes that could lead to enrichment of molecules in $^{15}$N atoms is of particular interest in order to shed light on the relatively large variations observed in the $^{14}$N/$^{15}$N ratio in various solar system environments. Currently, the sample of molecular clouds where $^{14}$N/$^{15}$N ratios have been measured is small and has to be enlarged in order to allow statistically significant studies. In particular, the N$_2$H$^+$ molecule currently shows the largest spread of $^{14}$N/$^{15}$N ratios in high-mass star forming regions. However, the $^{14}$N/$^{15}$N ratio in N$_2$H$^+$ was obtained in only two low-mass star forming regions (L1544 and B1b). The current work extends this sample to a third dark cloud. We targeted the 16293E prestellar core, where the N$^{15}$NH$^+$ $J$=1-0 line was detected. Using a model previously developed for the physical structure of the source, we solved the molecular excitation with a non-local radiative transfer code. For that purpose, we computed specific collisional rate coefficients for the N$^{15}$NH$^+$-H$_2$ collisional system. As a first step of the analysis, the N$_2$H$^+$ abundance profile was constrained by reproducing the N$_2$H$^+$ $J$=1-0 and 3-2 maps. A scaling factor was then applied to this profile to match the N$^{15}$NH$^+$ $J$=1-0 spectrum. We derive a column density ratio N$_2$H$^+$ / N$^{15}$NH$^+$ = $330^{+170}_{-100}$. The current estimate $\sim$330 agrees with the value typical of the elemental isotopic ratio in the local ISM. It is however lower than in some other cores, where values as high as 1300 have been reported.