Molecular collisions in the interstellar medium / David Flower.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Flower, D. R. (David Roger), 1945-

Contributor:

Cambridge University Press.

Craig M. Merrihue Memorial Fund.

Series:

Cambridge astrophysics series ; 42.

Cambridge astrophysics series ; 42

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Interstellar matter.

Molecular dynamics.

Molecular astrophysics.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (viii, 187 pages) : illustrations.

Edition:

Second edition.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, UK ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2007.

System Details:

text file

Summary:

In the interstellar medium - which occupies the space between the stars in galaxies - new stars are born from material that is replenished by the debris ejected by stars when they die. This book presents a detailed account of the atomic and molecular processes that give rise to the radiation we observe from the interstellar medium, knowledge that is essential to understanding star formation in our own and other galaxies.

This Second Edition has been thoroughly updated and extended to cover related topics in radiation theory. It considers the chemistry of the interstellar medium, both in the present epoch and the early Universe. The book discusses the physics and chemistry of shock waves, which are produced by the jets of matter generated as a consequence of star formation. The methods for calculating rates of collisional excitation of interstellar molecules and atoms are explained, with emphasis on the quantum mechanical method.

A comprehensive manual for studying collisional and radiative processes in the interstellar medium, this book will be ideal for researchers involved in calculating the rates of such processes, for those studying the interstellar medium and star formation, as well as for physical chemists specializing in collision theory or in the measurement of the rates of collision processes.

Contents:

1 Interstellar molecules 1

1.2 Chemistry in interstellar clouds 3

1.3 Chemical bistability in dense clouds 9

2 Interstellar shocks and chemistry 12

2.2 The MHD conservation equations 13

2.3 The structure of interstellar shock waves 21

2.4 Shock waves in dark clouds 29

2.5 Shock waves in diffuse clouds 33

3 The primordial gas 36

3.2 The governing equations 36

3.3 The role of molecules 39

3.4 Chemistry 42

3.5 Gravitational collapse 44

4 The rotational excitation of molecules 49

4.2 The Born-Oppenheimer approximation 49

4.3 The scattering of an atom by a rigid rotator 52

4.4 The rotational excitation of non-linear molecules 69

5 The vibrational excitation of linear molecules 82

5.2 The scattering of an atom by a vibrating rotor 82

5.3 Excitation of H[subscript 2] and HD in collisions with H[subscript 2] molecules 92

5.4 Cooling functions 93

6 The excitation of fine structure transitions 98

6.2 Theory of fine structure excitation processes 99

7 Radiative transfer in molecular lines 118

7.2 The radiative transfer equation 119

7.3 The OH radical 124

7.4 Producing population inversion 128

7.5 Rotational excitation of OH by H[subscript 2] 129

8 Charge transfer processes 139

8.2 The Landau-Zener model 140

8.3 The 'orbiting' model 143

8.4 The quantum mechanical model 145

8.5 Selective population of excited states 151

9 Electron collisions 153

9.2 Selection rules and LS-coupling 154

9.3 Electron collisional excitation 156

9.4 Resonances 158

9.5 Forbidden line emission from Herbig-Haro objects 161

10 Photon collisions 163

10.2 The oscillator strength 163

10.3 The transition probability 165

10.4 Photoionization and radiative recombination 166

10.5 Radiative transitions in molecules 169

Appendix 1 The atomic system of units 172

Appendix 2 Reaction rate coefficients 173.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 177-184) and index.

Electronic reproduction. Cambridge Available via World Wide Web.

Description based on print version record.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Craig M. Merrihue Memorial Fund.

ISBN:

9780511536229

0511536224

Publisher Number:

99984067781

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.