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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon optical properties and contribution to the acceleration of stellar outflows

1991; IOP Publishing; Volume: 377; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1086/170383

1538-4357

Isabelle Cherchneff, John R. Barker, A. G. G. M. Tielens,

Atmospheric Ozone and Climate

view Abstract Citations (36) References (41) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Optical Properties and Contribution to the Acceleration of Stellar Outflows Cherchneff, Isabelle ; Barker, John R. ; Tielens, Alexander G. G. M. Abstract The optical constants of four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules (benzene, pyrene, pentacene, and coronene) are determined from their measured laboratory absorption spectra. The Planck mean of the radiation pressure cross section is computed for each molecule and for amorphous carbon (AC) grains, and semiempirically estimated for large PAH molecules up to 400 carbon atoms. Assuming that PAHs are present in carbon-rich stellar outflows, the radiation pressure forces acting on them are calculated and compared with the radiation forces on AC particles. The results show that PAHs possess very different optical properties from AC grains. Small PAHs may experience an 'inverse greenhouse' effect in the inner part of the envelope, as they decouple from the gas close to the photosphere. The radiation pressure force on PAHs is always much less than the force at work on AC grains, and PAH molecules do not affect significantly the dynamics of the outflow. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: August 1991 DOI: 10.1086/170383 Bibcode: 1991ApJ...377..541C Keywords: Aromatic Compounds; Cyclic Hydrocarbons; Interstellar Gas; Molecular Gases; Optical Properties; Stellar Envelopes; Absorption Spectra; Line Spectra; Radiation Pressure; Spectrum Analysis; Astrophysics; INTERSTELLAR: MOLECULES; STARS: CIRCUMSTELLAR SHELLS full text sources ADS |