Detection of the hydroperoxyl radical HO₂ toward ρ Ophiuchi A

Additional constraints on the water chemical network^⋆

¹ Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, Auf dem Hügel 69, 53121 Bonn, Germany
e-mail: bparise@mpifr-bonn.mpg.de
² Onsala Space Observatory, Chalmers University of Technology, 43992 Onsala, Sweden

Received: 10 April 2012
Accepted: 25 April 2012

Abstract

Context. Hydrogen peroxide (HOOH) was recently detected toward ρ Oph A. Subsequent astrochemical modeling that included reactions in the gas phase and on the surface of dust grains was able to explain the observed abundance, and highlighted the importance of grain chemistry in the formation of HOOH as an intermediate product in water formation. This study also predicted that the hydroperoxyl radical HO₂, the precursor of HOOH, should be detectable.

Aims. We aim at detecting the hydroperoxyl radical HO₂ in ρ Oph A.

Methods. We used the IRAM 30 m and the APEX telescopes to target the brightest HO₂ lines at about 130 and 260 GHz.

Results. We detect five lines of HO₂ (comprising seven individual molecular transitions). The fractional abundance of HO₂ is found to be about 10^-10, a value similar to the abundance of HOOH. This observational result is consistent with the prediction of the above mentioned astrochemical model, and thereby validates our current understanding of the water formation on dust grains.

Conclusions. This detection, anticipated by a sophisticated gas-grain chemical model, demonstrates that models of grain chemistry have improved tremendously and that grain surface reactions now form a crucial part of the overall astrochemical network.