Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2006-01-24
Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc. 367 (2006) 1757-1765
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
MNRAS LaTeX, 10 pages, 11 eps-figures to be published in MNRAS
Scientific paper
10.1111/j.1365-2966.2006.10079.x
Continuous-time, random-walk Monte Carlo simulations of H2 formation on grains have been performed for surfaces that are stochastically heated by photons. We have assumed diffuse cloud conditions and used a variety of grains of varying roughness and size based on olivine. The simulations were performed at different optical depths. We confirmed that small grains (r <= 0.02 micron) have low modal temperatures with strong fluctuations, which have a large effect on the efficiency of the formation of molecular hydrogen. The grain size distribution highly favours small grains and therefore H2 formation on these particles makes a large contribution to the overall formation rate for all but the roughest surfaces. We find that at A_V=0 only the roughest surfaces can produce the required amount of molecular hydrogen, but by A_V=1, smoother surfaces are possible alternatives. Use of a larger value for the evaporation energy of atomic hydrogen, but one still consistent with experiment, allows smoother surfaces to produce more H2.
Cuppen Herma M.
Herbst Eric
Morata Oscar
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