Disruption and sputtering of grains in intermediate-velocity interstellar clouds

Journal Article · Fri Dec 15 04:00:00 EST 1978 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/156666· OSTI ID:6198783

Shull, J M

We present numerical models of grain sputtering and disruption by grain-grain collisions in intermediate-velocity (50--120 km s/sup -1/) interstellar clouds. The grain's gyromotion about the magnetic field may be increased by field compression behind a radiating shock, but the presence of collisional and plasma drag limits the effectiveness of this mechanism to dense grains of radius approx.10/sup -5/ cm. At velocities approx.100 km s/sup -1/, approximately half the Fe and MgSiO/sub 3/ grains entering the cloud may be destroyed, providing a plausible explanation for the recently observed pattern of refractory element depletion in intermediate-velocity gas.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics and Astrophysics, University of Colorado
• OSTI ID: 6198783
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 226:3; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC GASES
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS OF MOTION
FLUIDS
GASES
INTERSTELLAR GRAINS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PARTICLES
PLASMA
SHOCK WAVES
SPUTTERING