Relativistic Ionization Fronts
| dc.creator | Shapiro, Paul R. | |
| dc.creator | Iliev, Ilian T. | |
| dc.creator | Alvarez, Marcelo A. | |
| dc.creator | Scannapieco, Evan | |
| dc.date | 2005-07-28 | |
| dc.date | 2006-05-30 | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-07-07T10:43:16Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-07-07T10:43:16Z | |
| dc.description | We derive the equations for the propagation of relativistic ionization fronts in both static and moving gases. We focus on the supersonic R-type phase that occurs right after a source turns on, and we compare the nonrelativistic and relativistic solutions for several important cases. Relativistic corrections can be significant up until the light-crossing time of the equilibrium Stromgren sphere. For a static medium, we obtain exact analytical solutions and apply them to the illustrative problems of an O star in a molecular cloud and a starburst in a high-redshift cosmological halo. Relativistic corrections can be important at early times when the H II regions are small, as well as at later times, if a density gradient causes the I-front to accelerate. For the cosmologically-expanding IGM, we derive an analytical solution in the case of a steady source and a constant clumping factor. Here relativistic corrections are significant for short-lived, highly-luminous sources like QSOs at the end of reionization, but negligible for weaker or higher-redshift sources. Finally, we numerically calculate the evolution of relativistic I-fronts in the presence of small-scale structure and infall, for a large galaxy undergoing a starburst and a luminous, high-redshift QSO. For such strong and short-lived sources, the relativistic corrections are quite significant, and small-scale structure can decrease the size of the H II region by up to an additional ~25%. (abridged) | |
| dc.description | 18 pages, 7 figures, ApJ in print, resubmitted to match the accepted version, comments welcome | |
| dc.identifier | https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0507677 | |
| dc.identifier | http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0507677 | |
| dc.identifier | Astrophys.J.648:922-935,2006 | |
| dc.identifier | doi:10.1086/506242 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/182185 | |
| dc.subject | Astrophysics | |
| dc.title | Relativistic Ionization Fronts | |
| dc.type | text |