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PAHs IN REFLECTION NEBULAE, FULLERENES IN THE ISM

C. Moutou (1), K. Sellgren (2), A. Léger (3), L. Verstraete (3), P. Le Coupanec (4)

1 Observatoire de Haute Provence, CNRS, F-04870 St Michel l'Observatoire, France
2 Astronomy Department, Ohio State University, Columbus OH 43210, USA
3 Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale, CNRS, F-91400 Orsay, France
4 DESPA, Observatoire de Paris, F-92195 Meudon, France



To appear in "Solid interstellar matter : the ISO revolution", Les Houches, February 1998

Abstract. The problem of IR emission band identification is presently emphasized by the availability of ISO data. It carries new constraints on the astrophysical interpretation and thus allows us to make progress in the knowledge of large molecule presence and role in the interstellar environments. The recent advances in this field are reported, including: behaviour of IR bands in reflection nebulae, new aromatic features and their possible assignments, and the eventual presence of fullerenes (in particular C60 and its cation) in the interstellar clouds, which are at the present time under debate. The discussion will be mostly held on the newly obtained high resolution spectrum of the bright reflection nebulae NGC7023. Some results on diffuse interstellar bands in reflection nebulae will also be described.



 


10/8/1998