Hunt for cold H2 molecules

Abstract

The bulk of the molecular component in galaxies is made of cold H2, which is not observed directly, but which abundance is derived from indirect tracers such as CO emission. The CO to H2 conversion ratio remains uncertain, and may vary by large factors in special environments with different excitation or metallicity. Recent cold gas discoveries (through gamma-rays or cold dust emission) are reviewed and the most promising tracers in the future are discussed, such as the primordial molecules HD and LiH, or the pure rotational lines of excited H2*.