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Title:
The Abundance of Interstellar Krypton
Authors:
Cardelli, Jason A.; Meyer, David M.
Affiliation:
AA(Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085), AB(Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208; )
Publication:
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 477, Issue 1, pp. L57-L60. (ApJL Homepage)
Publication Date:
03/1997
Origin:
APJ; UCP
Astronomy Keywords:
ISM: ABUNDANCES, ISM: ATOMS, ISM: Abundances, ISM: Atoms
Abstract Copyright:
(c) 1997: The American Astronomical Society
DOI:
10.1086/310513
Bibliographic Code:
1997ApJ...477L..57C

Abstract

We present high signal-to-noise ratio HST Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS) observations of the weak interstellar Kr I λ1236 absorption toward the stars τ CMa, κ Ori, ɛ Ori, λ Ori, δ Sco, ω1 Sco, ɛ Per, and ζ Per. In combination with previous GHRS measurements of Kr I in two other sight lines (ζ Oph and 1 Sco), these new observations yield a mean interstellar gas-phase krypton abundance (per 109 H atoms) of 109 Kr/H = 0.96 +/- 0.05. There is no statistically significant variation from sight line to sight line in the measured Kr I abundance and, in particular, no evidence for any correlation with the fraction of hydrogen in molecular form. Since Kr, as a noble gas, is not expected to deplete into dust grains, its gas-phase abundance should reflect the total interstellar abundance. Consequently, the GHRS observations imply that the interstellar Kr abundance in the vicinity of the Sun is about 60% of the solar system value of 109 Kr/H = 1.70 +/- 0.30. This interstellar abundance deficit is similar to that recently found for oxygen with GHRS.

Based on observations obtained with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope through the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NASA-26555.


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