Solid State Astrophysics: Probing Interstellar Dust and Gas Properties with X-rays

Details Solid State Astrophysics: Probing Interstellar Dust and Gas Properties with X-rays Solid State Astrophysics: Probing Interstellar Dust and Gas Properties with X-rays

2009-02-26

arxiv.org/abs/0902.4671v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena

8 pages, 6 figures. White paper submitted to the Astro2010 Decadal survey for Astronomy and Astrophysics

Scientific paper

The abundances of gas and dust (solids and complex molecules) in the interstellar medium (ISM) as well as their composition and structures impact practically all of astrophysics. Fundamental processes from star formation to stellar winds to galaxy formation all scale with the number of metals. However, significant uncertainties remain in both absolute and relative abundances, as well as how these vary with environment, e.g., stellar photospheres versus the interstellar medium (ISM). While UV, optical, IR, and radio studies have considerably advanced our understanding of ISM gas and dust, they cannot provide uniform results over the entire range of column densities needed. In contrast, X-rays will penetrate gas and dust in the cold (3K) to hot (100,000,000K) Universe over a wide range of column densities (log NH=20-24 cm^-2), imprinting spectral signatures that reflect the individual atoms which make up the gas, molecule or solid. *X-rays therefore are a powerful and viable resource for delving into a relatively unexplored regime for determining gas abundances and dust properties such as composition, charge state, structure, and quantity via absorption studies, and distribution via scattering halos.*

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Solid State Astrophysics: Probing Interstellar Dust and Gas Properties with X-rays 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 Solid State Astrophysics: Probing Interstellar Dust and Gas Properties with X-rays, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Solid State Astrophysics: Probing Interstellar Dust and Gas Properties with X-rays will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-570842