Strengthening the link between fullerenes and a subset of diffuse interstellar bands

ABSTRACT A debate persists regarding the correlation between the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) 9577 and 9632 Å, and whether they share a common molecular carrier (i.e. C$_{60}^{+}$). A robust high correlation determination emerges after bridging the baseline across an order of magnitude ($\simeq 50 - 700$ mÅ, $r=0.93\pm 0.02$), and nearly doubling the important higher equivalent width domain by adding new Mg ii-corrected sightlines. Moreover, additional evidence is presented of possible DIB linkages to fullerenes, whereby attention is drawn to DIBs at 7470.38, 7558.44, and 7581.47 Å, which match the Campbell experimental results for C$_{70}^{+}$ within 1 Å, and the same is true of 6926.48 and 7030.26 Å for C$_{70}^{2+}$. Yet their current correlation uncertainties are unsatisfactory and exacerbated by expectedly low equivalent widths (e.g. $\overline{EW}=4$ mÅ for 6926.48 Å), and thus further observations are required to assess whether they represent a bona fide connection or numerical coincidence.