Environmental impact study of Orion Nebula dust

Journal Article · Mon Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Astron. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/114651· OSTI ID:5275513

Cardelli, J A; Clayton, G C

In this paper, new high-quality extinction curves are presented for Theta-1 Ori A, C, and D, and Theta-2 Ori A and B, over the wavelength range 3300-6000 A. These are coupled with near-infrared and ultraviolet data to produce extinction curves from 0.12 to 3.5 microns. The Orion Nebula region is interesting in that most of the known processes of dust-grain growth, processing, and destruction may be operating nearly simultaneously in close proximity to one another. Each of these processes is considered with respect to the observed extinction curves and environmental conditions in the Orion Nebula and its associated molecular cloud. Plausible grain populations are fit to the observed extinction curves. A good fit to the average Theta Ori extinction curve can be obtained with: (1) a combination of larger than normal silicate grains produced through coagulation and accretion; (2) evaporation of volatile mantles; and (3) a reduction in the column density of small (smaller than 0.01 micron) grains responsible for the bump and far-ultraviolet extinction through differential acceleration due to radiation pressure and possible evaporation. It seems plausible to explain the observed peculiar extinction in the Orion Nebula simply by environmental effects on otherwise normal grains. 59 references.

• Research Organization: Washburn Observatory, Madison, WI (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5275513
• Journal Information: Astron. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astron. J.; (United States) Vol. 95; ISSN ANJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABSORPTION
COSMIC DUST
COSMIC GASES
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
DUSTS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FLUIDS
GASES
H2 REGIONS
INFRARED RADIATION
INTERSTELLAR GRAINS
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
NEAR INFRARED RADIATION
PARTICLES
RADIATIONS
SPACE
SPECTRA
ULTRAVIOLET SPECTRA
VISIBLE SPECTRA