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Scientific paper
Jul 1996
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1996hst..prop.6457m&link_type=abstract
HST Proposal ID #6457
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Hst Proposal Id #6457 Interstellar Medium
Scientific paper
We propose to utilize the sensitivity of the GHRS onboard HSTto establish an accurate set of gas-phase nitrogen abundancesfrom high S/N observations of the interstellar N I absorptionin six sightlines characterized by low fractional abundancesof molecular hydrogen. Similar observations of interstellaroxygen and carbon have recently found ``underabundances'' ofthese elements with respect to their solar values even afterreasonable contributions from dust grains are considered. Thetotal (gas + dust) interstellar O abundance inferred (about2/3 solar) is remarkably similar to the median value found innearby B stars. Observations of interstellar nitrogen canpotentially provide a better understanding of the observed Cand O underabundances since N, unlike C and O, may not besignificantly present in dust. Our goal is to determine theabundance of nitrogen in the local ISM to an accuracy capableof discriminating between a solar and a B-star N abundance.Establishing the CNO underabundances as cosmic in naturewould be important in understanding similar deficits in theabundance of interstellar boron and krypton in the context ofGalactic chemical evolution. On the other hand, a set ofnitrogen abundances that are more consistent with dustdepletion from a solar standard would also be interesting interms of reconciling the B-star abundances and understandinghow to ``hide'' an appreciable fraction of the N and O in thediffuse ISM@.
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