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Grain Destruction, Formation, and Evolution

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Part of the book series: Astrophysics and Space Science Library ((ASSL,volume 134))

Abstract

Grains do not exist statically in the interstellar medium (ISM), but undergo processing depending on their environment. Timescales are used to estimate the relative importance of various grain processes. Destruction in supernova shock waves is shown to occur on a shorter timescale than any other process, including the injection of new grains from red giants and supernova ejecta. This finding, if it holds true, implies that most of the grain mass in the diffuse ISM was formed by accretion in dark clouds, rather than by thermal condensation in cool star atmospheres and supernova ejecta. The physics of grain destruction in shocks is briefly outlined, as well as accretion and coagulation processes in dark clouds. A general scenario for the life cycle of grains in the ISM is presented.

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© 1987 D. Reidel Publishing Company

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Seab, C.G. (1987). Grain Destruction, Formation, and Evolution. In: Hollenbach, D.J., Thronson, H.A. (eds) Interstellar Processes. Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol 134. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3861-8_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3861-8_18

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-277-2485-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-3861-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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