2007/09/27 by Seth Redfield, Jeffrey L. Linsky, Redfield, Seth +1
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysics (astro-ph) #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Atmospheric Ozone and Climate #FOS: Physical sciences #Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.0709.4480
65 pages, 24 figures; Accepted for publication in ApJ
arxiv created 2007/09/27 · openalex publication_date 2007/09/27 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
We present an empirical dynamical model of the local interstellar medium based on 270 radial-velocity measurements for 157 sight lines toward nearby stars. Physical-parameter measurements (i.e., temperature, turbulent velocity, depletions) are available for 90 components, or one-third of the sample, enabling initial characterizations of the physical properties of LISM clouds. The model includes 15 warm clouds located within 15 pc of the Sun, each with a different velocity vector. We derive projected morphologies of all clouds and estimate the volume filling factor of warm partially ionized material in the LISM to be between ~5.5% and 19%. Relative velocities of potentially interacting clouds are often supersonic, consistent with heating, turbulent, and metal-depletion properties. Cloud-cloud collisions may be responsible for the filamentary morphologies found in ~1/3 of LISM clouds, the distribution of clouds along the boundaries of the two nearest clouds (LIC and G), the detailed shape and heating of the Mic Cloud, the location of nearby radio scintillation screens, and the location of a LISM cold cloud. Contrary to previous claims, the Sun appears to be located in the transition zone between the LIC and G Clouds.