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Title:
Molecule formation and infrared emission in fast interstellar shocks. II - Dissociation speeds for interstellar shock waves
Authors:
Hollenbach, D.; McKee, C. F.
Affiliation:
AA(NASA, Ames Research Center, Space Science Div., Moffett Field, Calif.), AB(California, University, Berkeley, Calif.)
Publication:
Astrophysical Journal, Part 2 - Letters to the Editor, vol. 241, Oct. 1, 1980, p. L47-L50. (ApJL Homepage)
Publication Date:
10/1980
Category:
Astrophysics
Origin:
STI
NASA/STI Keywords:
Emission Spectra, Infrared Astronomy, Interstellar Matter, Molecular Clouds, Shock Waves, Hydrogen Atoms, Interstellar Chemistry, Particle Collisions, Transition Probabilities, Vibrational Spectra
DOI:
10.1086/183358
Bibliographic Code:
1980ApJ...241L..47H

Abstract

The postshock destruction of molecules is examined, including the processes of (1) collisions with neutral hydrogen atoms and molecules, (2) electronic collisions, and (3) neutral chemical reactions with atoms, particularly atomic hydrogen. By using conservative estimates of collisional dissociation rates from individual vibrational states, it is found that process (1) leads to the destruction of molecular hydrogen behind shocks with speeds equal to or greater than 25 km/s if the preshock molecular gas has hydrogen nucleus densities of equal to or greater than 10 to the 4th/cu cm. At lower densities (100 per cu cm), destruction occurs for shock speeds equal to or greater than 50 km/s and process (2) dominates. Dissociation of molecules such as CO, H2O, and O2 follows the destruction of H2, as the resultant hydrogen atoms chemically dissociate the metal atoms from their bonds (process 3) in the hot postshock gas. These results demonstrate that many of the observed high-speed interstellar molecules, if shock accelerated, must have dissociated and reformed in the postshock gas.

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