Methane detected in Orion A

Abstract

This letter reports the detection of line emission from the Orion Molecular Cloud corresponding to six distinct pure-rotational delta J = 0 transitions in CH4. The transitions observed and the transition frequencies are: J = 11 E(2) - E(1), 4600.359 MHz; J = 18 F1(4) - F2(1), 76,231.45 MHz; J = 18 A1(2) - A2(1), 76,700.02 MHz; J = 19 F1(4) - F2(1), 75,944.99 MHz; J = 19 F2(4) - F1(1), 78,233.59 MHz; and J = 20 F2(5) - F1(2), 82,873.59 MHz. The observed spectra at the six transition frequencies are plotted, and all but two of the methane lines are found to be very narrow (about 2 km/s). It is noted that the small velocity widths of the four weaker lines and an observed variability of the J = 18 A line are classic characteristics of a maser and that the excitation appears to be nonthermal. An effective excitation temperature of 1100 to 2100 K is estimated for the methane in Orion A.