Detection of Possible Maser Emission Near 3.48 Millimeters from an Unidentified Molecular Species in Orion

Abstract

We have detected a group of unidentified molecular emission lines near 86,24S MHz ( 3.48 mm) in the direction of the Orion Nebula molecular cloud. The narrow line widths and the compactness of the Orion emission region suggest that we have observed the first millimeter-wave maser. Subject headings: masers - Orion Nebula - spectra, molecular