Glycolaldehyde Formation via the Dimerisation of the Formyl Radical

Paul M. Woods, Ben Slater, Zamaan Raza, Serena Viti, Wendy A. Brown, Daren J. Burke

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

66 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Glycolaldehyde, the simplest monosaccharide sugar, has recently been detected in low- and high-mass star-forming cores. Following our previous investigation into glycolaldehyde formation, we now consider a further mechanism for the formation of glycolaldehyde that involves the dimerization of the formyl radical, HCO. Quantum mechanical investigation of the HCO dimerization process upon an ice surface is predicted to be barrierless and therefore fast. In an astrophysical context, we show that this mechanism can be very efficient in star-forming cores. It is limited by the availability of the formyl radical, but models suggest that only very small amounts of CO are required to be converted to HCO to meet the observational constraints.
Original languageEnglish
Article number90
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume777
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Nov 2013

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Space and Planetary Science
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics

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