Exploring molecular complexity in the Galactic Center with ALMA

TL;DR

This paper reports on ALMA observations of the Sgr B2(N) region, detecting complex organic molecules and providing insights into molecular complexity and astrochemical processes in the Galactic Center.

Contribution

It presents new observational detections of complex molecules in the Galactic Center, advancing understanding of interstellar chemistry.

Findings

Tentative detection of N-methylformamide

Detection of deuterated COMs

Identification of a branched alkyl molecule

Abstract

The search for complex organic molecules (COMs) in the ISM has revealed chemical species of ever greater complexity. This search relies heavily on the progress made in the laboratory to characterize the rotational spectra of these molecules. Observationally, the advent of ALMA with its high angular resolution and sensitivity has allowed to reduce the spectral confusion and detect low-abundance molecules that could not be probed before. We present results of the EMoCA survey conducted with ALMA toward the star-forming region Sgr B2(N). This spectral line survey aims at deciphering the molecular content of Sgr B2(N) in order to test the predictions of astrochemical models and gain insight into the chemical processes at work in the ISM. We report on the tentative detection of N-methylformamide, on deuterated COMs, and on the detection of a branched alkyl molecule. Prospects for probing molecular complexity in the ISM even further are discussed at the end.