Refractory grain destruction in low-velocity shocks

Journal Article · Wed Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1978 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/156553· OSTI ID:6501817

Cowie, L L

Recent abundance determinations in intermediate-velocity clouds near the Orion association have shown that silicon abundances may be nearly cosmic even in clouds with a velocity as low as 40 to 50 km s/sup -1/. We argue that grain destruction in radiative shocks traveling perpendicular to the magnetic field may be much more effective than was previously considered. The destruction mechanism consists of acceleration of the gyromotion of the grains about their drift center owing to magnetic field compression, followed by sputtering of the high-velocity grains by He and (CNO) atoms. We find that MgSiO/sub 3/ grains may be almost fully destroyed in shcoks of velocity greater than 80 km s/sup -1/ and graphite grains substantially destroyed at shock velocities of 100 km s/sup -1/.

• Research Organization: Princeton University Observatory
• OSTI ID: 6501817
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 225:3; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CHEMISTRY
COSMIC GASES
COSMOCHEMISTRY
ELEMENTS
FLUID MECHANICS
FLUIDS
GASES
HYDRODYNAMICS
INTERSTELLAR GRAINS
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
IONIZATION
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MECHANICS
PARTICLES
PLASMA
SEMIMETALS
SHOCK WAVES
SILICON
SPACE
SPUTTERING