The C4H radical and the diffuse interstellar bands. An ab initio study

Abstract

An ab initio study of the low-lying electronic states of C4H has been presented where the species studied has a chi(2)sigma(+) ground state and two low lying pi states. Based on the vertical and adiabatic excitation energies between those states it is suggested that the 4428 A diffuse interstellar band is not carried by C4H. The application of the particle in a box model shows strong coincidences between the strong DIB's and predicted wavelengths of pi-pi transitions in C(2n)H series. Based on those coincidences, it is suggested the C(2n)H species as good candidates for carriers of diffuse interstellar bands.