We present high quality data of HCN double isotopomer ratios observed
in the J=1-0 line of 11 warm, dense molecular clouds in the galactic d
isk. After fitting C-12/C-13 ratios from published data as a function
of galactocentric distance, we obtained the N-14/N-15 ratios. From the
se results and previously published data, we have determined the galac
tic disk gradient of the nitrogen isotope ratio using a linear regress
ion. We have obtained a gradient of 19.7 +/- 8.9 kpc(-1). We have comp
ared our result with the theoretical model of Matteucci & D'Antona (19
91) and conclude that N-15 is a purely secondary element; N-14 must al
so be secondary, but with a significant primary contribution. We brief
ly discuss the production of nitrogen isotopes involving massive stars
; however, it may be difficult to fit the C-12/C-13 gradient into this
scenario.