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Title: The interstellar tunnel of neutral-free gas toward Beta Canis Majoris

Abstract

Using high-resolution sodium absorption observations of early-type stars to determine the distribution of neutral interstellar gas in the direction of the star Beta CMa, the contours of a large feature in the local interstellar medium, some 50 pc in diameter and 300 pc long, that appears to be virtually free of neutral gas have been mapped. This rarefied 'interstellar tunnel' is an extension of a region of very low gas density surrounding the sun called the Local Bubble, which may well have been formed by the interaction of expanding interstellar cavities produced by multiple supernova events. This large region of unusually low gas density will be a prime area for study in the soft X-ray and EUV spectral regions. 21 refs.

Authors:
 [1]
  1. California, University, Berkeley (USA)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
5587273
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Astrophysical Journal; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 373; Journal ID: ISSN 0004-637X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; COSMIC GASES; SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION; INTERSTELLAR SPACE; CAVITIES; EXTREME ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION; IONIZED GASES; MASS DISTRIBUTION; MILKY WAY; SOFT X RADIATION; SUPERNOVAE; DISTRIBUTION; ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; ERUPTIVE VARIABLE STARS; FLUIDS; GALAXIES; GASES; IONIZING RADIATIONS; RADIATIONS; SPACE; STARS; ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION; VARIABLE STARS; X RADIATION; 640105* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Galaxies

Citation Formats

Welsh, B Y. The interstellar tunnel of neutral-free gas toward Beta Canis Majoris. United States: N. p., 1991. Web. doi:10.1086/170074.
Welsh, B Y. The interstellar tunnel of neutral-free gas toward Beta Canis Majoris. United States. https://doi.org/10.1086/170074
Welsh, B Y. 1991. "The interstellar tunnel of neutral-free gas toward Beta Canis Majoris". United States. https://doi.org/10.1086/170074.
@article{osti_5587273,
title = {The interstellar tunnel of neutral-free gas toward Beta Canis Majoris},
author = {Welsh, B Y},
abstractNote = {Using high-resolution sodium absorption observations of early-type stars to determine the distribution of neutral interstellar gas in the direction of the star Beta CMa, the contours of a large feature in the local interstellar medium, some 50 pc in diameter and 300 pc long, that appears to be virtually free of neutral gas have been mapped. This rarefied 'interstellar tunnel' is an extension of a region of very low gas density surrounding the sun called the Local Bubble, which may well have been formed by the interaction of expanding interstellar cavities produced by multiple supernova events. This large region of unusually low gas density will be a prime area for study in the soft X-ray and EUV spectral regions. 21 refs.},
doi = {10.1086/170074},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5587273}, journal = {Astrophysical Journal; (United States)},
issn = {0004-637X},
number = ,
volume = 373,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991},
month = {Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991}
}