Identification of interstellar cyanamide towards the hot molecular core G358.93-0.03 MM1

The amide-related molecules are essential for the formation of the other complex bio-molecules and an understanding of the prebiotic chemistry in the interstellar medium (ISM). We presented the first detection of the rotational emission lines of the amide-like molecule cyanamide (NH2CN) towards the hot molecular core G358.93-0.03 MM1 using the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA). Using the rotational diagram model, the derived column density of NH2CN towards the G358.93-0.03 MM1 was (5.9 +/- 2.5)x10(14) cm(-2) with a rotational temperature of 100.6 +/- 30.4 K. The derived fractional abundance of NH2CN towards the G358.93-0.03 MM1 with respect to H-2 was (4.72 +/- 2.0)x10(-10), which is very similar to the existent three-phase warm-up chemical model abundances of NH2CN. We compare the estimated abundance of NH2CN towards G358.93-0.03 MM1 with other sources, and we observe the abundance of NH2CN towards G358.93-0.03 MM1 is nearly similar to that of the sculptor galaxy NGC 253 and the low-mass protostars IRAS 16293-2422 B and NGC 1333 IRAS4A2. We also discussed the possible formation mechanisms of NH2CN towards the hot molecular cores and hot corinos, and we find that the NH2CN molecule was created in the grain-surfaces of G358.93-0.03 MM1 via the neutral-neutral reaction between NH2 and CN.

Automated summary

We detected the rotational emission lines of the amide-like molecule cyanamide (NH2CN) in the hot molecular core G358.93-0.03 MM1 for the first time, using the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA). The derived column density of NH2CN in G358.93-0.03 MM1 was (5.9 +/- 2.5)x10(14) cm(-2) with a rotational temperature of 100.6 +/- 30.4 K. The fractional abundance of NH2CN with respect to H-2 in G358.93-0.03 MM1 was (4.72 +/- 2.0)x10(-10), which is similar to the abundances in other sources like the sculptor galaxy NGC 253 and the low-mass protostars IRAS 16293-2422 B and NGC 1333 IRAS4A2. The NH2CN molecule in G358.93-0.03 MM1 was found to be created on grain surfaces through the neutral-neutral reaction between NH2 and CN.