Chemisputtering of interstellar graphite grains

Journal Article · Tue May 15 00:00:00 EDT 1979 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/157066· OSTI ID:6093662

Draine, B T

The rate of erosion of interstellar graphite grains as a result of chemical reaction with H, N, and O is estimated using the available experiment evidence. It is argued that ''chemical sputtering'' yields for interstellar graphite grains will be much less than unity, contrary to earlier estimates by Barlow and Silk. Chemical sputtering of graphite grains in evolving H II regions is found to be unimportant, except in extremely compact (n/sub H/> or approx. =10/sup 5/ cm/sup -3/) H II regions. Alternative explanations are considered for the apparent weakness of the lambda=2175 A extinction ''bump'' in the direction of several early type stars.

• Research Organization: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
• OSTI ID: 6093662
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 230:1; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CARBON
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
COSMOCHEMISTRY
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GRAPHITE
H2 REGIONS
HYDROGEN
INTERSTELLAR GRAINS
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
MAIN SEQUENCE STARS
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
OXYGEN
PARTICLES
SPACE
SPUTTERING
STARS