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Ionization in nearby interstellar gasDue to dielectric recombination, neutral magnesium represents an important tracer for the warm low-density gas around the solar system. New Mg I 2852 absorption-line data from IUE are presented, including detections in a few stars within 40 pc of the sun. The absence of detectable Mg I in Alpha CMa and other stars sets limits on the combined size and electron density of the interstellar cloud which gives rise to the local interstellar wind. For a cloud radius greater than 1 pc and density of 0.1/cu cm, the local cloud has a low fractional ionization, n(e)/n(tot) less than 0.05, if magnesium is undepleted, equilibrium conditions prevail, the cloud temperature is 11,750 K, and 80 percent of the magnesium in the sightline is Mg II.
Document ID
19900054740
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Frisch, P. C.
(Chicago Univ. Chicago, IL, United States)
Welty, D. E.
(Chicago Univ. Chicago, IL, United States)
York, D. G.
(Chicago, University IL, United States)
Fowler, J. R.
(New Mexico State University Las Cruces, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
July 10, 1990
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal, Part 1
Volume: 357
ISSN: 0004-637X
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
90A41795
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF AST-83-17120
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-704
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-286
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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