Effect of a quasi-stellar object on its host galaxy: dynamical and physical processes in the interstellar medium around a QSO

Thesis/Dissertation · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5556523

Chang, C A

The dynamical and physical processes in the interstellar medium around a quasi-stellar object (QSO) were calculated for the purpose of understanding the effects of QSO radiation on its host galaxy. Numerical hydrodynamical solutions were calculated for both one-dimensional and two-dimensional cases. Shock waves driven by QSO radiation were simulated and followed under a MacCormmack differencing scheme to understand the density, pressure, temperature, and velocity components of the gas. Physical processes and their effects on the dynamics are calculated, including the change of the size of a dust grain due to ion sputtering, ion-field emission, the change of dust grain surface charge, charge equilibrium, ionization equilibrium, thermal equilibrium and the coupling between the dust grain and the interstellar gas ions and atoms. Results are obtained under different initial conditions and different physical parameters. This work shows that dust grains play an important role in determining the dynamics of the ISM around a QSO. Previous work did not consider the dust grains. Grains are well coupled with gas ions. Behind the shock is the condensed ring. Few dust grains can survive inside the expanding shell, since they are destroyed by ion-field emission and sputtering when the shock passes through that region.

• Research Organization: Pittsburgh Univ., PA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5556523
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640103* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Quasi-Stellar
Radio
& X-Ray Sources-- (-1987)
640105 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC DUST
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
DUSTS
DYNAMICS
FLUID MECHANICS
GALAXIES
HYDRODYNAMICS
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
MECHANICS
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
QUASARS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION FLUX
SHOCK WAVES
SPACE
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS