The detection of the FlPi(u)-XlSigma(+)g system of diatomic carbon toward X Persei

The 0-0 vibrational band of the F1Pi(u)-X1Sigma(+)g electronic system of C2 has been detected with the IUE in the interstellar medium along the line of sight toward X Per. A column density of 3 (+ or - 1) x 10 to the 12th/f(00) per sq cm was derived by a profile fitting method. The lower limit for 0-0 band oscillator strength was determined from a comparison of the upper limits of observations of the A-X and D-X systems, and an excitation temperature of 40 K was also obtained from the profile fitting. A statistical calculation of the level population with radiative pumping shows that the 0-0 band profile corresponds to a range of values for kinetic temperature, density, and near-IR radiation. An upper limit of 50 K for kinetic temperature was determined from the statistical equilibrium analysis.