Oxygen Gas Phase Abundance Revisited

Details Oxygen Gas Phase Abundance Revisited Oxygen Gas Phase Abundance Revisited

2003-03-26

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0303586v1

Astrophys.J. 591 (2003) 1000-1012

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

9 figures, 37 pages

Scientific paper

10.1086/375530

We present new measurements of the interstellar gas-phase oxygen abundance along the sight lines towards 19 early-type galactic stars at an average distance of 2.6 kpc. We derive O {\small I} column densities from {\it HST}/STIS observations of the weak 1355 \AA intersystem transition. We derive total hydrogen column densities [N(H {\small I})+2N(H$_2$)] using {\it HST}/STIS observations of \lya and {\it FUSE} observations of molecular hydrogen. The molecular hydrogen content of these sight lines ranges from f(H$_2$) = 2N(H$_2$)/[N(H {\small I})+2N(H$_2$)] = 0.03 to 0.47. The average $$ of 6.3$\times10^{21}$ cm$^{-2}$ mag$^{-1}$ with a standard deviation of 15% is consistent with previous surveys. The mean oxygen abundance along these sight lines, which probe a wide range of galactic environments in the distant ISM, is 10$^6$ \oh = $408 \pm 13$ (1 $\sigma$ in the mean). %$({\rm O/H})_{gas} = 408 \pm 14$(1 $\sigma$). We see no evidence for decreasing gas-phase oxygen abundance with increasing molecular hydrogen fraction and the relative constancy of \oh suggests that the component of dust containing the oxygen is not readily destroyed. We estimate that, if 60% of the dust grains are resilient against destruction by shocks, the distant interstellar total oxygen abundance can be reconciliated with the solar value derived from the most recent measurements %by Holweger and by Allende Prieto, Lambert & Asplund: of 10$^6$ \oh$_\odot$ = 517 $\pm$ 58 (1 $\sigma$). We note that the smaller oxygen abundances derived for the interstellar gas within 500 pc %by Meyer, Cardelli & Jura or from nearby B star surveys are consistent with a local elemental deficit.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Oxygen Gas Phase Abundance Revisited 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 Oxygen Gas Phase Abundance Revisited, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Oxygen Gas Phase Abundance Revisited will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-76263