6th Jun, 2016
National University of Science and Technology, Bulawayo
Question
Asked 27th May, 2016
Does the Gas Opacity in Molecular Clouds Vary Spatially Inside the Molecular?
This question is directed to observational astrophysicists. I am working on the radiation problem associated with massive star formation. I want to know if the opacity of the gas in molecular does vary with distance from the center of a molecular clouds. I see that in the literature this opacity is assumed to be a constant taking a value of about 20 m^2/kg. I will be happy to get an answer from you!
See attachment!
Most recent answer
Thank you all for you responses, I am now attaching a document which you can read to get where I am coming and going!
Popular answers (1)
Dear Golden,
You might find useful to take a look on the following papers:
"Opacity broadening and interpretation of suprathermal CO linewidths: Macroscopic Turbulence and Tangled Molecular Clouds" - 2016arXiv160308521H
"Numerical Simulations of Turbulent Molecular Clouds Regulated by Reprocessed Radiation Feedback from Nascent Super Star Cluster" - 2015ApJ...809..187S
"Tracing H2 Column Density with Atomic Carbon (C I) and CO Isotopologs" - 2014ApJ...797L..17L
Thanks
Regards
Alexandre
4 Recommendations
All Answers (4)
Dear Golden,
You might find useful to take a look on the following papers:
"Opacity broadening and interpretation of suprathermal CO linewidths: Macroscopic Turbulence and Tangled Molecular Clouds" - 2016arXiv160308521H
"Numerical Simulations of Turbulent Molecular Clouds Regulated by Reprocessed Radiation Feedback from Nascent Super Star Cluster" - 2015ApJ...809..187S
"Tracing H2 Column Density with Atomic Carbon (C I) and CO Isotopologs" - 2014ApJ...797L..17L
Thanks
Regards
Alexandre
4 Recommendations
opacity is a function of three fundamental physical parameters; density, pressure and chemical composition.
since all these quantities vary along the radial distance then the answer should be yes.
3 Recommendations
It also depends on the wavelength of the radiation used for the oservation and one must allow for scattering by dust particles if they be in the molecular cloud. The cited opacity value above presumably refers to a particular wavelegth.
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