Formation of cyanopolyyne anions in the interstellar medium: The possible role of permanent dipoles

The possibility of attaching near-threshold electrons to N-terminated carbon chains, like those observed in the outer envelopes of carbon-rich stars, is examined via accurate quantum chemistry orbital structures evaluation and quantum scattering analysis of the corresponding extra-electron wavefunctions at meV energies. It is shown that the differences in the signs and sizes of the permanent dipole moments which exist for both the neutral and anionic species of the CnN series of molecules play a significant role in suggesting or excluding possible energy paths to permanent anion formations of cyanopolyynes, for which the cases with n from 1 to 7 are examined in more detail. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.