1986/09/01 by E. F. van Dishoeck, J. H. Black · 3 citations
Physics and Astronomy · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Atmospheric Ozone and Climate #Astro and Planetary Science
paper · doi:10.1086/191135
openalex publication_date 1986/09/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04
Comprehensive models of interstellar clouds are constructed, which describe the abundances of 120 species and the excitation of H<SUB>2</SUB>, C<SUB>2</SUB>, CO, and various atomic species as functions of depth. The models are used to infer physical conditions such as density, temperature, intensity of ultraviolet starlight, and cosmic-ray ionization rate in the well-studied diffuse clouds toward ζ Per, ζ Oph, χ Oph, and ο Per. The current limitations of steady state models are evaluated, and critical observational tests are suggested.