Time evolution of interstellar dust and far-infrared luminosity of disk galaxies

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Astrophysical Journal; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/170135· OSTI ID:5318071

Wang, Boqi ^[1]

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1. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA (USA) California, University, Berkeley (USA)

The evolution of interstellar dust in disk galaxies is modeled, assuming that dust forms predominantly in molecular clouds associated with star formation. Analytical solutions for the dust abundance in disk galaxies as a function of galaxy age are obtained for the prompt initial enrichment and accretion models of chemical evolution, consistent with observations of the heavy element abundance in the Galaxy. Star formation rates in the disks of galaxies are taken as either constant or decreasing exponentially with time. It is found that the total amount of dust in the early history of galaxies can be up to 4 times the value observed today. The total emission from dust in galaxies is calculated, using an average dust temperature derived from IRAS observations. In the strongly evolving models, the far-infrared luminosity from galaxies can be roughly two orders of magnitude larger than the current value. 61 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5318071
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (United States) Vol. 374; 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
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COSMIC DUST
COSMIC GASES
DUSTS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENT ABUNDANCE
FAR INFRARED RADIATION
FLUIDS
GALACTIC EVOLUTION
GALAXIES
GASES
INFRARED RADIATION
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
LUMINOSITY
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MILKY WAY
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATIONS
SPACE
STAR EVOLUTION