Open AccessExcitation and emission of H 2 , CO and H 2 O molecules in interstellar shock waves
Author(s) -
Flower D. R.,
Pineau des Forêts G.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.16834.x
Subject(s) - physics , shock wave , shock (circulatory) , shock waves in astrophysics , excitation , kinetic energy , interstellar medium , astrophysics , emission spectrum , atomic physics , dissipation , radiation , spectral line , astronomy , classical mechanics , mechanics , optics , quantum mechanics , galaxy , medicine
The dissipation of kinetic energy that occurs in interstellar shock waves is accompanied by the emission of radiation. In the case of shocks that are propagating into mainly molecular gas, the emission occurs principally in lines of the species H 2 , H, O, CO and H 2 O. The relative intensities of these emission lines are indicative of the type and speed of the shock wave and of the physical conditions in the ambient gas. We present the results of computations of the intensities of these lines, for small grids of models of C‐ and J‐type shock waves, and compare with the results of previous calculations. Our results should serve to aid the interpretation of observations made with the Herschel and other satellites.