The C/CO ratio in B335 and the decaying dark matter neutrino hypothesis |
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| Authors: | Murphy Little & Kelly |
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| Institution: | Electronic Engineering Laboratories, University of Kent at Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NT |
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| Abstract: | C18O J = 2–1, C17O J = 2–1 and C I ] 3P1–3P0 emission from the dense cold cloud B335 has been observed and modelled in order to determine the C/CO ratio. The observed ratio is compared with a prediction by Tarafdar who assumes a mechanism in which the CO dissociation is caused by photons of energy ∼ 13.8 eV. These were postulated by Sciama to result from the decay of dark matter neutrinos. Our value for the C/CO ratio sets an upper limit to the strength of the neutrino decay dissociation process, thus providing a significant datum for interstellar chemistry theory. |
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| Keywords: | elementary particles ISM: abundances ISM: individual: B335 ISM: molecules dark matter |
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