INVESTIGATION OF PREBIOTIC HYDROXYLAMINE (NH 2 OH) -
POTENTIAL PRECURSOR OF GLYCINE : POTENTIAL SPECTRAL
LINES

Having two functional groups, −NH_2 and −OH, hydroxylamine (NH_2OH) is the simplest
inorganic compound, and is considered as a possible reactant precursor for glycine. Its small
electric dipole moment has components μ a = 0.586 D and μ c = 0.060 D, showing that a-
type transitions are very strong as compared to the c-types. Terahertz rotational spectra of
NH 2 OH is analyzed by Morino et al.. Pulliam et al. made an unsuccessful attempt for search
of hydroxylamine toward IRC+10216, Orion KL, Orion S, Sgr B2(N), Sgr B2(OH), W3IRS5,
and W51M.Another unsuccessful attempt for detection of NH 2 OH toward the molecular
outflow L1157, targeting the B1 and B2 shocked regions was made by McGuire et al.
Knowing rotational and centrifugal distortion constants in conjunction with electric dipole
moment μ a , we have calculated energies for rotational levels, and probabilities for radiative
transitions between the levels. The radiative transition probabilities in conjunction with
scaled values for rate coefficients for collisional transitions between the levels, the Large
Velocity Gradient analysis for NH_2OH is carried out and 12 emission transitions are observed,
which may help in the detection of NH _2 OH in a cosmic object.
1. I. Morino, K.M.T. Yamada, H. Klein, S.P. Belov, G. Winnewisser et al., J. Mol. Struct.
517-518, 367 (2000).
2. R.L. Pulliam, B.A. McGuire and A.J. Remijan, Astrophys. J. 751, 1 (2012).
3. B.A. McGuire, P.B. Carroll, N.M. Dollhopf, N.R. Crockett, J.F. Corby, R.A. Loomis et
al., Astrophys. J. 812, 76 (2015).