Formation of molecular CH/sup +/ in interstellar shocks

Journal Article · Thu Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · Astrophys. J., Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/182711· OSTI ID:6827220

Elitzur, M; Watson, W D

Formation of CCH/sup +/ is considered in the hot gas immediately behind shock fronts that may be present in the neutral gas clouds of the interstellar medium. Special attention is given to shocks which can result from expansion of the H II region around the stars toward which the observations are made. Column densities near 10/sup 13/ cm/sup -2/ in agreement with observations of diffuse clouds are obtained for likely values of uncertain physical parameters. Column densities for other species, including CH, OH, and H/sub 2/O, are also computed and are compatible with observations of diffuse clouds. Formation by shocks is thus proposed as a solution to the long-standing CH/sup +/ abundance problem which has been clarified by a recent laboratory measurement for the reaction rate of CH/sup +/+e.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Illinois, Urbana
• OSTI ID: 6827220
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J., Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J., Lett.; (United States) Vol. 222:3; ISSN AJLEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABUNDANCE
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COLLISIONS
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
CROSS SECTIONS
H2 REGIONS
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
MOLECULE COLLISIONS
MOLECULE-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
MOLECULES
SHOCK WAVES
SPACE