Physical conditions in classical H2 regions in the Magellanic Clouds

Details Physical conditions in classical H2 regions in the Magellanic Clouds Physical conditions in classical H2 regions in the Magellanic Clouds

Jan 1992

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1992phdt........11w&link_type=abstract

Ph.D. Thesis Washington Univ., Seattle.

Other

4

Electron Density (Concentration), Electron Energy, H Ii Regions, Interstellar Extinction, Luminosity, Lyman Alpha Radiation, Magellanic Clouds, Massive Stars, Photons, Brightness, Continuums, Ionization, Mathematical Models, Morphology, Spectra

Scientific paper

Presented is an analysis of the physical properties of a sample of classical H2 regions in the Magellanic Clouds. The morphology, H(alpha) luminosity, flux of Lyman continuum photons, spectral type of ionizing source(s), electron temperature, electron density, and dust content, the primary parameters upon which H2 regions can be compared, are considered. The results presented here show that H2 regions in the clouds bear a close resemblance to similar Galactic H2 regions such as Orion. The primary exception to this is that the electron temperatures in this sample of H2 regions are systematically higher than those found in similar Galactic H2 regions. These classical H2 regions are found to be primarily ionized by a single massive star; in the brighter H2 regions the source of ionization tends to be of spectral type O5-O7, while the fainter H2 regions are primarily ionized by a B0-O9 star. In most cases the main ionizing source is accompanied by several other stars of equal or later spectral type. The data also shows that the amount of interstellar extinction varies from one star-forming region to the next and suggests that the dust distribution is clumpy and internal to the H2 regions. In addition to these general trends, evidence for the presence of low-velocity shocks exists in at least one H2 region. Four of the H2 regions in this sample are dominated by bright, compact cores, and the data suggests that these are unevolved H2 regions. Given the observational results of this thesis, the optical spectra of these H2 regions are well fit by the standard H2 region models. Taken together, a wide array of observational data and the theoretical models provide a detailed description of the physical conditions within H2 regions.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Physical conditions in classical H2 regions in the Magellanic Clouds 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 Physical conditions in classical H2 regions in the Magellanic Clouds, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Physical conditions in classical H2 regions in the Magellanic Clouds will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-939706