The abundances of atomic carbon and carbon monoxide compared with visual extinction in the Ophiuchus molecular cloud complex

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/167799· OSTI ID:5288312

Frerking, M A; Keene, J; Blake, G A; Phillips, T G ^[1]

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1. California Institute of Technology, Pasadena (USA)

Emission from the 492 GHz lines of C I have been observed toward six positions in the Ophiuchus molecular cloud complex for which accurate visual extinctions are available. The column density of C I increases with A(V) to greater than 2 x 10{sup 17}/sq cm at 100 mag, the column-averaged fractional abundance reaches a peak of about 2.2 x 10{sup {minus}5} for A(V) in the range 4-11 mag and the column-averaged abundance ratio of C I to CO decreases with A(V) from about 1 at 2 mag to greater that about 0.03 at 100 mag. These results imply that, while C I is not the primary reservoir of gaseous carbon even at cloud edges, its fractional abundance remains high for at least 10 mag into the cloud and may be significant at even greater depths. 43 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5288312
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 344; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABUNDANCE
CARBON
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COSMIC GASES
ELEMENTS
EMISSION SPECTRA
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
FLUIDS
GASES
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SPACE
SPECTRA
STAR EVOLUTION