An Introduction to the Physics of Interstellar Dust

Abstract

The Dielectric Permeability How the electromagnetic field acts on dust The harmonic oscillator Waves in a conducting medium How to Evaluate Grain Cross Sections Defining cross sections The optical theorem Mie theory for a sphere Polarization and scattering The discrete dipole approximation The Kramers-Kronig relations Composite grains Very Small and Very Big Particles Tiny spheres Tiny ellipsoids The fields inside a dielectric particle Very large particles Grains of small refractive index Case Studies of Mie Calculus Efficiencies of bare spheres Scattering by bare spheres Linear polarization through extinction Coated spheres Surface modes in small grains Structure and Composition of Dust Crystal structure Binding in crystals Carbonaceous grains and silicate grains Optical constants of dust materials Grain sizes Dust Radiation Kirchhoff's law The temperature of big grains The emission of big grains Calorific properties of solids Temperature fluctuations of very small grains The emission spectrum of very small grains Dust and Its Environment Grain charge Grain motion Dust in the solar system Grain destruction Grain formation Grain Surfaces Gas accretion on grains Mobility of atoms on grain surfaces Grain surface chemistry Ice mantles PAHs and Spectral Features of Dust Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ERE and DIBs The silicate bands at 10 m and 18 m Crystalline silicates The feature at 3.4 m Interstellar Reddening and Dust Models Reddening by interstellar grains Dust models Radiative Transport Basic transfer relations Spherical clouds Passive disks Galactic nuclei The pursuit of random photons Spectral Energy Distribution of Dusty Objects Early stages of star formation Accretion disks Reflection nebulae Starburst nuclei Mass loss giants The effective extinction curve Appendix A: Various Dust Related Physics Boltzmann statistics Quantum statistics Thermodynamics Blackbody radiation The classical Hamiltonian The Hamiltonian in quantum mechanics The Einstein coefficients A and B Potential wells and tunneling Appendix B: Miscellaneous Mathematical notations Mathematical formulae Cosmic constants Problem set List of symbols Bibliography Index