DENSE KNOTS IN HIGH-LATITUDE MOLECULAR CLOUDS

The high latitude molecular clouds are discussed in the context of the formation of very low mass condensations: protojupiters. The ability to identify such objects is intimately tied to the resolution of the current debate concerning the density of the condensations inferred from observations of high density tracers. At the heart of the debate is whether inclusion of electron excitation plays an important role in the determination of column densities. A brief review of molecular abundances shows that with the possible exception of H2CO, the molecular abundances in the high latitude molecular clouds are not abnormal.