The albedo and scattering phase function of interstellar dust and the diffuse background at far-ultraviolet wavelengths

Journal Article · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Astrophysical Journal; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/169962· OSTI ID:5503457

Hurwitz, M; Bowyer, S; Martin, C ^[1]

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1. California, University, Berkeley (USA) Columbia University, New York (USA)

The diffuse FUV background in a variety of targets has been observed with a nebular spectrometer designed specifically to eliminate potential sources of contamination. The intensity of the background near the Galactic plane is found to be much lower than previously published. The data are analyzed using a radiative transfer model with a limited set of free parameters, including those which describe the scattering properties of the interstellar dust. Strong evidence is presented that scattering of starlight by Galactic dust associated with neutral hydrogen produces the major part of the FUV diffuse background. Few assumptions are necessary to conclude that the albedo of the grains is low in the FUV. The grains, at least at high latitude, scatter fairly isotropically in the FUV. The low FUV albedo and the usual phase factor g are not consistent with predictions of standard models for the size distribution and composition of interstellar grains. 81 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5503457
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (United States) Vol. 372; 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
ALBEDO
BACKGROUND RADIATION
COSMIC DUST
DUSTS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FAR ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
GALAXIES
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
LIGHT SCATTERING
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MILKY WAY
RADIATIONS
SCATTERING
SPACE
SPECTROMETERS
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION