The formation of silicon-carbon chain molecules in IRC+10216

Abstract Linear silicon-carbon chain molecules, SiCn (n = 3–6), have been detected in the circumstellar envelope of the carbon-rich AGB star IRC+10216. Here, we discuss the mechanisms likely to be at work in the synthesis of chains up to SiC8 and present for the first time a detailed comparison between observations and model calculations. Using a combination of measured and postulated rate coefficients, we show that the column densities of the silicon carbide molecules observed in IRC+10216 can be reproduced to with a factor of four. Furthermore, our model calculations suggest that the column densities of SiC7 and SiC8 are a factor of 2–4 less than that of SiC6. We discuss the influence of neutral-neutral reactions involving parent SiC2 on chain growth and show that their neglect leads to a reduction in column densities of carbides up to a maximum of about six for SiC6 and SiC7. Our results suggest that the detection of SiC7 and SiC8 in IRC+10216 will be challenging but that astronomical searches should be undertaken.