Observational evidence of dust evolution in galactic extinction curves

Journal Article · Thu Apr 10 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/785/1/41· OSTI ID:22357154

Cecchi-Pestellini, Cesare ^[1]; Casu, Silvia; Mulas, Giacomo ^[2]; Zonca, Alberto ^[3]

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1. INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo, P.zza Parlamento 1, I-90134 Palermo (Italy)
2. INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Cagliari, Via della Scienza, I-09047 Selargius (Italy)
3. Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Cagliari, Strada Prov.le Monserrato-Sestu Km 0.700, I-09042 Monserrato (Italy)

Although structural and optical properties of hydrogenated amorphous carbons are known to respond to varying physical conditions, most conventional extinction models are basically curve fits with modest predictive power. We compare an evolutionary model of the physical properties of carbonaceous grain mantles with their determination by homogeneously fitting observationally derived Galactic extinction curves with the same physically well-defined dust model. We find that a large sample of observed Galactic extinction curves are compatible with the evolutionary scenario underlying such a model, requiring physical conditions fully consistent with standard density, temperature, radiation field intensity, and average age of diffuse interstellar clouds. Hence, through the study of interstellar extinction we may, in principle, understand the evolutionary history of the diffuse interstellar clouds.

• OSTI ID: 22357154
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 785, Issue 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTROPHYSICS
COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
AMORPHOUS STATE
CARBON
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COSMIC GASES
DENSITY
DUSTS
EVOLUTION
GALAXIES
HYDROGENATION
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
SIMULATION