15min:

D. L. KOKKIN, IRAP; Université de Toulouse, UPS; CNRS; 9 Av. Colonel Roche, BP 44346, F-31028 Toulouse Cedex 4, France; R. G. SHARP, Research School of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Mount Stromlo Observatory, Cotter Road, Weston Creek, ACT 2611, Australia; M. NAKAJIMA, Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; T. W. SCHMIDT, School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.

Following the initial detection of the C₂ Swan origin bands in the Red Rectangle, an unusual biconical protoplanetary nebula, a concerted effort has been undertaken in understanding this key astrophysical molecule from both the theoretical and experimental standpoint. In this talk we will present integral field observations on the Red Rectangle paying particular attention to the Swan Bands and the 5800Å Red Rectangle band (RRB), an unassigned molecular emission feature. Integral field astronomy allows us to spectrally map the nebula, tracing the RRBs and C₂, and how they relate to one another across the object. By analysis of the C₂ Swan bands of the RR, and assuming that the RRBs arise from photoexcitation and emission, we relate the abundance of C₂ to the product of the oscillator strength and the column density of the RRB carrier.