The Composition of the Diffuse Interstellar Medium

Details The Composition of the Diffuse Interstellar Medium The Composition of the Diffuse Interstellar Medium

Dec 1996

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1996apj...473l..55f&link_type=abstract

Astrophysical Journal Letters v.473, p.L55

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

47

Ism: Abundances, Ism: Clouds, Ism: Dust, Extinction, Galaxy: Halo, Ultraviolet: Ism

Scientific paper

Recent Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph measurements of Si, S, Cr, Mn, Fe, and Zn in interstellar clouds along lines of sight in the Galactic disk and into the lower halo are discussed. The gas-phase abundance of S relative to H in the interstellar clouds appears to be indistinguishable from the solar value. For the other elements, we find well-defined upper limits in the gas-phase abundances at significantly subsolar values. For Fe, Mn, and Cr (and probably Ti), there are no convincing cases in which the relative gas-phase abundances exceed roughly -0.5 dex, i.e., these elements are not seen in interstellar gas with an abundance greater than about one-third solar. For Si, the limit is roughly -0.15 dex, and for Zn a constant abundance of -0.13 dex is found from seven clouds along one halo sight line. These subsolar maximum abundances have two possible interpretations: (1) they indicate the presence of an essentially indestructible component of interstellar dust, which contains about two-thirds of the Ti, Mn, Cr, and Fe and about one-third of the Si (based on solar composition), or (2) they indicate that the true total abundances of these elements are substantially less than in the Sun.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The Composition of the Diffuse Interstellar Medium does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with The Composition of the Diffuse Interstellar Medium, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Composition of the Diffuse Interstellar Medium will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-819706