Semiempirical model for heavy element depletion in the interstellar medium

Journal Article · Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/159181· OSTI ID:5800273

Trivedi, B M.P.; Larimer, J W

One important process operating in interstellar space is grain sputtering which preferentially destroys grains with weak binding energies and returns the constituent elements to the gas. An empirical relationship has been derived which reproduces the observed depletion factors (A/A/sub sun/) in interstellar gas by relating them to some preshock distribution factor (C) and the binding energy of the elements (B) in appropriate compounds: log (A/A/sub sun/ = C(B-B/sub 0//B)/sup 1/2/.

• Research Organization: Department of Geology and Center for Meteorite Studies, Arizona State University
• OSTI ID: 5800273
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Vol. 248:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
INTERSTELLAR GRAINS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
STABILITY
ABUNDANCE
BINDING ENERGY
CONDENSATES
COSMIC GASES
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
SPUTTERING
ENERGY
FLUIDS
GASES
PARTICLES
SPACE
640105* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Galaxies