On the thermal stability of slabs, cylinders, and spheres. [Applied to interstellar medium, solar atmosphere and stellar nuclei]

Journal Article · Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/169857· OSTI ID:5732266

Ibanez, M H; Plachco, F P ^[1]

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1. Universidad de Los Andes, Merida (Venezuela)

The range of values of the parameters characterizing the energy transport mechanisms and boundary conditions, for which slablike, cylindrical, or spherical configurations are thermally stable, are determined. The configurations are assumed to be heated (or cooled) by a net heat (or heat loss) function of about the exp alpha times T exp beta and cooled (or heated) by thermal diffusion with a conductivity coefficient of about rho exp alpha times T exp b. The extreme cases (isochoric and isobaric configurations) are analyzed. In particular, the results are applied to (1) an optically thin plasma with solar abundances (different regions of the interstellar medium and the solar atmosphere); and (2) the nucleus of the stars where the p-p or C-N thermonuclear cycle proceeds. 22 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5732266
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Vol. 370; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
STABILITY
SOLAR ATMOSPHERE
STARS
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
ENERGY TRANSFER
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
THERMAL DIFFUSION
THERMONUCLEAR REACTIONS
ATMOSPHERES
DIFFUSION
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
MECHANICS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SPACE
SYNTHESIS
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
640105* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Galaxies
640104 - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Solar Phenomena
640102 - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources