The hyperfine structure in the rotational spectrum of CF+
  Context. CF+ has recently been detected in the Horsehead and Orion Bar
photo-dissociation regions. The J=1-0 line in the Horsehead is double-peaked in
contrast to other millimeter lines. The origin of this double-peak profile may
be kinematic or spectroscopic. Aims. We investigate the effect of hyperfine
interactions due to the fluorine nucleus in CF+ on the rotational transitions.
Methods. We compute the fluorine spin rotation constant of CF+ using high-level
quantum chemical methods and determine the relative positions and intensities
of each hyperfine component. This information is used to fit the theoretical
hyperfine components to the observed CF+ line profiles, thereby employing the
hyperfine fitting method in GILDAS. Results. The fluorine spin rotation
constant of CF+ is 229.2 kHz. This way, the double-peaked CF+ line profiles are
well fitted by the hyperfine components predicted by the calculations. The
unusually large hyperfine splitting of the CF+ line therefore explains the
shape of the lines detected in the Horsehead nebula, without invoking intricate
kinematics in the UV-illuminated gas.
