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Energy degradation of fast electrons in hydrogen gasAn equation is derived for calculating the energy distribution of fast electrons in a partially ionized gas and a method is provided to solve for the electron degradation spectrum and the energy deposition in different forms (ionization, excitation, or heating). As an example, the energy degradation of fast electrons in a gas of pure hydrogen is calculated, considering excitations to the lowest 10 atomic levels. The Bethe approximation and the continuous slowing-down approximation are discussed and it is concluded that these approximations are accurate to the order of 20 percent for electrons with initial energy of greater than about keV. The method and results can be used to determine heating, excitations, and ionizations by high-energy photoelectrons or cosmic-ray particles in various astrophysical circumstances, such as the interstellar medium, supernova envelopes, and QSO emission-line clouds.
Document ID
19910057569
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Xu, Yueming
(Institute for Advanced Study Princeton, NJ, United States)
Mccray, Richard
(Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics Boulder, CO, United States)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 1991
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal, Part 1
Volume: 375
ISSN: 0004-637X
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
91A42192
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-766
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-7128
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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