Discovery of molecular hydrogen fluorescence in the diffuse interstellar medium
- Columbia Univ., New York, NY (USA) California Univ., Berkeley (USA)
The first detection of molecular hydrogen fluorescence in the diffuse interstellar medium is reported. Using the Berkeley UVX Shuttle Spectrometer, H2 Lyman band fluorescence has been observed in four directions, each with high significance. Molecular hydrogen fluorescence is detected in all directions that have previously been found to contain significant CO emission. A simple equilibrium model has been developed that includes attenuation of the incident UV radiation field by H2 line and dust continuum absorption. Evidence is found that the gas in the CO emission portions of the clouds may be clumpy, with a filling factor less than 0.2 and an average density greater than 30/cu cm in most cases. 24 refs.
- OSTI ID:
- 6699214
- Journal Information:
- Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Vol. 354; ISSN 0004-637X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GENERAL PHYSICS
HYDROGEN
FLUORESCENCE
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CARBON MONOXIDE
COSMIC DUST
COSMIC GASES
DENSITY
EMISSION SPECTRA
LYMAN LINES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MOLECULES
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
DUSTS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
LUMINESCENCE
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATIONS
SPACE
SPECTRA
640105* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Galaxies