Structure of the time-dependent interstellar shocks and grain destruction in the interstellar medium

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/165403· OSTI ID:6119935

Mckee, C F; Hollenbach, D J; Seab, G C; Tielens, A G.G.M.

A new theoretical analysis of the structure of interstellar shocks and the grain dynamics of these shocks is presented. The basic hydrodynamic equations for J-shocks in interstellar gas are given in which shock-driving pressure is allowed to be weakly time-dependent and the grains are treated as a separate two-dimensional fluid. Specific equations for the grain dynamics in the cooling postshock gas are derived. An analytic theory for the propagation of a shock driven into an interstellar cloud by the blast wave of a supernova remnant which sweeps over the cloud is developed. An improved calculation of the grain charge in postshock gas is described, giving a simple analytic approximation for the results. The consequences of including these processes in the numerical code of Seab and Shull (1983) are addressed, including the effect of realistic magnetic fields in low-density gas. 40 references.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Berkeley; NASA, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
• OSTI ID: 6119935
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 318; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COOLING
COSMIC DUST
COSMIC GASES
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DUSTS
FLUIDS
GASES
GRAIN SIZE
INTERSTELLAR GRAINS
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MICROSTRUCTURE
NEBULAE
PARTICLES
SHOCK WAVES
SIZE
SPACE
SUPERNOVA REMNANTS
TIME DEPENDENCE