Energetic processing of interstellar silicate grains by cosmic rays

E. M. Bringa; S. O. Kucheyev; M. J. Loeffler; R. A. Baragiola; A. G.G.M. Tielens; Z. R. Dai; G. Graham; S. Bajt; J. P. Bradley; C. A. Dukes; T. E. Felter; D. F. Torres; W. Van Breugel

doi:10.1086/517865

Energetic processing of interstellar silicate grains by cosmic rays

E. M. Bringa
, S. O. Kucheyev
, M. J. Loeffler
, R. A. Baragiola
, A. G.G.M. Tielens
, Z. R. Dai
, G. Graham
, S. Bajt
, J. P. Bradley
, C. A. Dukes
, T. E. Felter
, D. F. Torres
, W. Van Breugel

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

78 Scopus citations

Abstract

While a significant fraction of silicate dust in stellar winds has a crystalline structure, in the interstellar medium nearly all of it is amorphous. One possible explanation for this observation is the amorphization of crystalline silicates by relatively "low" energy, heavy-ion cosmic rays. Here we present the results of multiple laboratory experiments showing that single-crystal synthetic forsterite (Mg₂SiO₄) amorphizes when irradiated by 10 MeV Xe ions at large enough fluences. Using modeling, we extrapolate these results to show that 0.1-5.0 GeV heavy-ion cosmic rays can rapidly (∼70 Myr) amorphize crystalline silicate grains ejected by stars into the interstellar medium.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	372-378
Number of pages	7
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	662
Issue number	1 I
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/517865
State	Published - Jun 10 2007
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Cosmic rays
Dust, extinction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Access to Document

10.1086/517865

Cite this

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title = "Energetic processing of interstellar silicate grains by cosmic rays",

abstract = "While a significant fraction of silicate dust in stellar winds has a crystalline structure, in the interstellar medium nearly all of it is amorphous. One possible explanation for this observation is the amorphization of crystalline silicates by relatively {"}low{"} energy, heavy-ion cosmic rays. Here we present the results of multiple laboratory experiments showing that single-crystal synthetic forsterite (Mg2SiO4) amorphizes when irradiated by 10 MeV Xe ions at large enough fluences. Using modeling, we extrapolate these results to show that 0.1-5.0 GeV heavy-ion cosmic rays can rapidly (∼70 Myr) amorphize crystalline silicate grains ejected by stars into the interstellar medium.",

keywords = "Cosmic rays, Dust, extinction",

author = "Bringa, \{E. M.\} and Kucheyev, \{S. O.\} and Loeffler, \{M. J.\} and Baragiola, \{R. A.\} and Tielens, \{A. G.G.M.\} and Dai, \{Z. R.\} and G. Graham and S. Bajt and Bradley, \{J. P.\} and Dukes, \{C. A.\} and Felter, \{T. E.\} and Torres, \{D. F.\} and \{Van Breugel\}, W.",

year = "2007",

month = jun,

day = "10",

doi = "10.1086/517865",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "662",

pages = "372--378",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

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publisher = "American Astronomical Society",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Energetic processing of interstellar silicate grains by cosmic rays

AU - Bringa, E. M.

AU - Kucheyev, S. O.

AU - Loeffler, M. J.

AU - Baragiola, R. A.

AU - Tielens, A. G.G.M.

AU - Dai, Z. R.

AU - Graham, G.

AU - Bajt, S.

AU - Bradley, J. P.

AU - Dukes, C. A.

AU - Felter, T. E.

AU - Torres, D. F.

AU - Van Breugel, W.

PY - 2007/6/10

Y1 - 2007/6/10

N2 - While a significant fraction of silicate dust in stellar winds has a crystalline structure, in the interstellar medium nearly all of it is amorphous. One possible explanation for this observation is the amorphization of crystalline silicates by relatively "low" energy, heavy-ion cosmic rays. Here we present the results of multiple laboratory experiments showing that single-crystal synthetic forsterite (Mg2SiO4) amorphizes when irradiated by 10 MeV Xe ions at large enough fluences. Using modeling, we extrapolate these results to show that 0.1-5.0 GeV heavy-ion cosmic rays can rapidly (∼70 Myr) amorphize crystalline silicate grains ejected by stars into the interstellar medium.

AB - While a significant fraction of silicate dust in stellar winds has a crystalline structure, in the interstellar medium nearly all of it is amorphous. One possible explanation for this observation is the amorphization of crystalline silicates by relatively "low" energy, heavy-ion cosmic rays. Here we present the results of multiple laboratory experiments showing that single-crystal synthetic forsterite (Mg2SiO4) amorphizes when irradiated by 10 MeV Xe ions at large enough fluences. Using modeling, we extrapolate these results to show that 0.1-5.0 GeV heavy-ion cosmic rays can rapidly (∼70 Myr) amorphize crystalline silicate grains ejected by stars into the interstellar medium.

KW - Cosmic rays

KW - Dust, extinction

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/34347208309

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/34347208309#tab=citedBy

U2 - 10.1086/517865

DO - 10.1086/517865

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:34347208309

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 662

SP - 372

EP - 378

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 1 I

ER -

Energetic processing of interstellar silicate grains by cosmic rays

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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