C/CO ratio in dense interstellar clouds
The cosmic-ray-induced photodestruction (CRIP) of CO in dense interstellar clouds is investigated by means of numerical simulations to determine the C/CO abundance ratio. The model takes the dependence of C/CO on the rotational temperature, abundance, and velocity distribution of the CO into account. The results are presented in a table and briefly characterized. A uniform 30-K cloud with CO/H/sub 2/ = 0.00015 is found to have steady-state C/CO = 0.005 when CRIP is included, about 1000 times the ratio without CRIP. The unusually high C/CO of 0.1 seen in some clouds (Keene et al., 1985) is explained in terms of a C depletion factor of 0.001 relative to O and a velocity difference through the cloud of about 10 km/s. 22 references.
- Research Organization:
- Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5293308
- Journal Information:
- Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 323; ISSN ASJOA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Some implications for interstellar molecules of a low electron abundance in dense clouds
Chlorine in dense interstellar clouds - the abundance of HCl in OMC-1
Related Subjects
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABUNDANCE
CARBON
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
COSMIC GASES
COSMIC RADIATION
COSMOCHEMISTRY
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
EXCITED STATES
FLUIDS
GASES
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
IONIZATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIATIONS
RYDBERG STATES
SPACE
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS