Physics of the interstellar medium

Book · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:7027434

Dyson, J E ^[1]; Williams, D A ^[2]

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1. Manchester, Victoria University, Manchester, England
2. University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, Manchester, England

The physics of various significant processes in the interstellar medium is treated. Following a brief review of galactic evolution and the role of interstellar matter, the means by which information is obtained about the interstellar medium are examined, with particular attention given to the physics of spectral line formation and the emission and absorption of interstellar radiation. The microphysical processes occurring between atoms, ions and molecules and the effects of these processes on the interstellar gas are discussed, and the evidence for, formation and destruction, physical properties and roles of interstellar grains are considered. Attention is also given to the radiatively excited interstellar regions known as diffuse nebulae, and an introduction to gas dynamics is presented to serve as a basis for a discussion of examples of some of the dynamical events in the interstellar medium, including nebular expansion, stellar winds and supernova explosions. Finally, the physics of the interstellar medium are examined in regard to some of the processes involved in star formation.

• OSTI ID: 7027434
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABSORPTION SPECTRA
ABSTRACTS
COSMIC DUST
COSMIC GASES
DOCUMENT TYPES
DUSTS
EMISSION SPECTRA
ERUPTIVE VARIABLE STARS
FLUIDS
GALACTIC EVOLUTION
GASES
INTERSTELLAR GRAINS
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
LEADING ABSTRACT
MEETINGS
NEBULAE
PARTICLES
SPACE
SPECTRA
STAR EVOLUTION
STARS
SUPERNOVAE
VARIABLE STARS