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Stromgren trails of hot white dwarfs

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5749892

High resolution IUE spectra of Feige 24 reveal sharp C IV absorption features at both the stellar velocity and the velocity of the interstellar lines. It was shown that the ionization zone created by Feige 24 itself accounts for the interstellar components of C IV and Si IV, and that the density of hot white dwarfs in the galaxy implies that similar ionized zones around hot white dwarfs make a significant contribution to the C IV column densities observed toward distant O and B stars. Typical white dwarf velocities of around 30 km/s and C IV ionization zone diameters less than 1 pc imply that the crossing time is comparable to the ionization time, so that nonequilibrium ionization models are required. Models of the resulting elongated trails are presented.

Research Organization:
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA (USA)
OSTI ID:
5749892
Report Number(s):
N-85-15589
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English