The ionization equilibrium inside the RHO Ophiuchi cloud

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (14) References (27) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS The ionization equilibrium inside the rho Ophiuchi cloud. Snow, T. P., Jr. Abstract Observational technology is now reaching the point where optical absorption-line studies of dark interstellar clouds are becoming feasible. Such studies are of great interest. In particular, it will be important to discover the degree of depletion which has occurred in dark clouds. In order to assess depletions on the basis of observations of a limited range of ionization stages, it is necessary to analyze the ionization balance. The present investigation is concerned with such an analysis. The two key parameters necessary for deducing the ionization balance are the electron density and the radiation field intensity. A summary is provided regarding the existing data on the cloud density using data from the literature, and the radiation field intensity is derived from the observed H2 rotational excitation. The implications of both the density and radiation field data for the ionization balance of several species are discussed. It is found that for all species treated the first ion is dominant in the line of sight toward HD 147889. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: March 1983 DOI: 10.1086/160805 Bibcode: 1983ApJ...266..576S Keywords: Interstellar Matter; Ionization; Molecular Clouds; Nebulae; Absorption Spectra; Abundance; Calcium; Electron Density (Concentration); Line Of Sight; Radiation Distribution; Astrophysics full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (2)