{
  "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.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Astrophysics Research Centre, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen’s University Belfast , University Road, Belfast BT7 1NN ,"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 1,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "T J Millar",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-5178-3656"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/68m9sc4hmkg3h.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1093/mnras/stag2050",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "68m9sc4hmkg3h",
  "issns": [
    "0035-8711",
    "1365-2966"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://academic.oup.com/mnras/advance-article/doi/10.1093/mnras/stag2050/9003260",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "3103|Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223829136",
  "pdf_url": "https://academic.oup.com/mnras/advance-article-pdf/doi/10.1093/mnras/stag2050/72541909/stag2050.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-27",
  "publisher": "Oxford University Press (OUP)",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/68m9sc4hmkg3h.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:17Z",
      "native_id": "10.1093/mnras/stag2050",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://academic.oup.com/mnras/advance-article/doi/10.1093/mnras/stag2050/9003260"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "astronomy",
      "origin": "openalex:3103|Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies",
      "subfield": "stellar"
    }
  ],
  "title": "The formation of silicon-carbon chain molecules in IRC+10216",
  "title_text": "The formation of silicon-carbon chain molecules in IRC+10216",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:17Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/68m9sc4hmkg3h",
  "venue": "Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society",
  "versions": [
    {
      "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2610.36369",
      "pid": "aa9wfe9tqz7hg",
      "relation": "preprint",
      "title": "The formation of silicon-carbon chain molecules in IRC+10216",
      "venue": "arXiv"
    }
  ]
}