Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Jul 1991
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1991apj...375..190x&link_type=abstract
Astrophysical Journal, Part 1 (ISSN 0004-637X), vol. 375, July 1, 1991, p. 190-201.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
30
Cosmic Rays, High Energy Electrons, Hydrogen, Ionized Gases, Particle Acceleration, Photoelectrons, Approximation, Energy Distribution, Energy Levels, Molecular Excitation, Photoionization
Scientific paper
An equation is derived for calculating the energy distribution of fast electrons in a partially ionized gas and a method is provided to solve for the electron degradation spectrum and the energy deposition in different forms (ionization, excitation, or heating). As an example, the energy degradation of fast electrons in a gas of pure hydrogen is calculated, considering excitations to the lowest 10 atomic levels. The Bethe approximation and the continuous slowing-down approximation are discussed and it is concluded that these approximations are accurate to the order of 20 percent for electrons with initial energy of greater than about keV. The method and results can be used to determine heating, excitations, and ionizations by high-energy photoelectrons or cosmic-ray particles in various astrophysical circumstances, such as the interstellar medium, supernova envelopes, and QSO emission-line clouds.
McCray Richard
Xu Yueming
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