Transition between Atomic and Molecular Hydrogen in the Galaxy: Vertical Variation of the Molecular Fraction

dc.creatorImamura, K.
dc.creatorSofue, Y.
dc.date1996-07-08
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T02:21:27Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T02:21:27Z
dc.descriptionWe derive radial and vertical distributions of HI and H2 gas densities in our Galaxy by using the terminal velocity method. We calculate the molecular fraction (f_mol) defined as the ratio of the molecular hydrogen to total hydrogen gas density at galactic longitude l= 33 to 64 deg and galactic latitude b=-2 to +2 deg. The thickness of the molecular dominant region f_mol > 0.8 is approximately constant (109 +/- 12 pc) at galactocentric distance R = 4.7 to 7.2 kpc. The molecular fraction decreases suddenly at a critical height from the galactic plane, below which the gas disk is almost totally molecular, while it is almost atomic beyond this height. We show that the vertical f_mol variation can be reproduced by a model which takes into account the phase transition between HI and H2 gases in the interstellar matter. Key words: Atomic Hydrogen --- the Galaxy --- Interstellar Matter --- Molecular Hydrogen
dc.descriptionTo appear in A&Ap, Latex 11 pages, 9 figures in 11 ps files
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/9607044
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/9607044
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/10555
dc.subjectAstrophysics
dc.titleTransition between Atomic and Molecular Hydrogen in the Galaxy: Vertical Variation of the Molecular Fraction
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