An Analysis of the Shapes of Ultraviolet Extinction Curves. IV. Extinction without Standards

Details An Analysis of the Shapes of Ultraviolet Extinction Curves. IV. Extinction without Standards An Analysis of the Shapes of Ultraviolet Extinction Curves. IV. Extinction without Standards

2005-06-17

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0506416v1

Astron.J.130:1127-1140,2005

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

To appear in the Astronomical Journal (September 2005); 28 pages including 9 figures

Scientific paper

10.1086/431900

We present a new method for deriving UV-through-IR extinction curves, based on the use of stellar atmosphere models to provide estimates of the intrinsic (i.e., unreddened) stellar spectral energy distributions (SEDs), rather than unreddened (or lightly reddened) standard stars. We show that this ``extinction-without-standards'' technique greatly increases the accuracy of the derived extinction curves and allows realistic estimations of the uncertainties. An additional benefit of the technique is that it simultaneously determines the fundamental properties of the reddened stars themselves, making the procedure valuable for both stellar and interstellar studies. We demonstrate how the extinction-without-standards curves make it possible to: 1) study the uniformity of extinction in localized spatial regions with unprecedented precision; 2) determine the relationships between different aspects of curve morphology; 3) produce high quality extinction curves from low color excess sightlines; and 4) derive reliable extinction curves for mid-late B stars, thereby increasing spatial coverage and allowing the study of extinction in open clusters and associations dominated by such stars. The application of this technique to the available database of UV-through-IR SEDs, and to future observations, will provide valuable constraints on the nature of interstellar grains and on the processes which modify them, and will enhance our ability to remove the multi-wavelength effects of extinction from astronomical energy distributions.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

An Analysis of the Shapes of Ultraviolet Extinction Curves. IV. Extinction without Standards 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 An Analysis of the Shapes of Ultraviolet Extinction Curves. IV. Extinction without Standards, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and An Analysis of the Shapes of Ultraviolet Extinction Curves. IV. Extinction without Standards will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-448684