A spectral survey of molecules in the Orion nebula from 455 - 507 GHz: an inventory of prebiotic chemistry

The results of a submillimetre wavelength spectral line survey between 455.1 - 507.4 GHz of the Orion-KL hot cloud core are reported. 254 lines were detected, and are associated with 30 different molecular species or their isotopomeric variants. Apart from the abundant diatomic rotors such as CO and CS, the spectrum is dominated by SO, SO2 and CH3OH and large organic molecules such as (CH3)2O, CH3CN, C2H3CN, C2H5CN and HCOOCH3 which make up ~72% of the total number of lines; unidentified lines ~13%; and other lines the remaining ~15% of the total. Rotational temperatures and column densities derived using standard rotation diagram analysis techniques were found to range from 70 - 600 K, and 1014 - 1017cm2 respectively