First measurement of the 14N/15N ratio in the analogue of the Sun progenitor OMC-2 FIR4

TL;DR

This study measures the 14N/15N isotopic ratio in the Sun's progenitor OMC-2 FIR4, revealing a ratio consistent with the local galactic value but differing from cometary ratios, using spectral survey data.

Contribution

First comprehensive measurement of 14N/15N ratio in OMC-2 FIR4 using IRAM-30m spectral survey, providing new insights into isotopic compositions in Sun-like protostellar environments.

Findings

14N/15N ratio is approximately 270 +/- 30.

No significant difference between amine and nitrile species.

The ratio aligns with galactic values but differs from comet measurements.

Abstract

We present a complete census of the 14N/15N isotopic ratio in the most abundant N-bearing molecules towards the cold envelope of the protocluster OMC-2 FIR4, the best known Sun progenitor. To this scope, we analysed the unbiased spectral survey obtained with the IRAM-30m telescope at 3mm, 2mm and 1mm. We detected several lines of CN, HCN, HNC, HC3N, N2H+, and their respective 13C and 15N isotopologues. The lines relative fluxes are compatible with LTE conditions and moderate line opacities have been corrected via a Population Diagram method or theoretical relative intensity ratios of the hyperfine structures. The five species lead to very similar 14N/15N isotopic ratios, without any systematic difference between amine and nitrile bearing species as previously found in other protostellar sources. The weighted average of the 14N/15N isotopic ratio is 270 +/- 30. This 14N/15N value is remarkably consistent with the [250-350] range measured for the local galactic ratio but significantly differs from the ratio measured in comets (around 140). High-angular resolution observations are needed to examine whether this discrepancy is maintained at smaller scales. In addition, using the CN, HCN and HC3N lines, we derived a 12C/13C isotopic ratio of 50 +/- 5.