The connection between warm carbon chain chemistry and interstellar irradiation of star-forming cores

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that interstellar irradiation, including cosmic rays, significantly enhances carbon chain chemistry in star-forming cores, suggesting irradiation exposure as a key factor in warm carbon chain chemistry phenomena.

Contribution

The paper provides the first detailed chemical simulation comparing high and low interstellar irradiation levels, highlighting irradiation's role in WCCC.

Findings

Higher carbon-chain abundances with increased irradiation

Cosmic-ray ionization rate is crucial for WCCC peaks

Full irradiation reduces complex organic molecules

Abstract

Some observations of warm carbon chain chemistry (WCCC) cores indicate that they are often located near the edges of molecular clouds. This finding may suggest that WCCC is promoted in star-forming cores exposed to radiation from the interstellar medium. We aim to investigate the chemistry of carbon chains in such a core. A chemical simulation of a gas parcel in a low-mass star-forming core with a full level of irradiation by interstellar photons and cosmic rays was compared to a simulation of a core receiving only one-tenth of such irradiation. In the full irradiation model, the abundances of carbon chains were found to be higher by a factor of few to few hundred, compared to the model with low irradiation. Higher carbon-chain abundances in the prestellar stage and, presumably, in the extended circumstellar envelope, arise because of irradiation of gas and dust by interstellar photons and cosmic rays. A full standard rate of cosmic-ray induced ionization is essential for a high carbon-chain abundance peak to occur in the circumstellar envelope, which is heated by the protostar (the "true" WCCC phenomenon). The full irradiation model has lower abundances of complex organic molecules than the low-irradiation model. We conclude that WCCC can be caused by exposure of a star-forming core to interstellar radiation, or even just to cosmic rays. The Appendix describes an updated accurate approach for calculating the rate of cosmic-ray induced desorption.