Is IRAS cirrus cloud emission largely fine-structure radiation?

The contribution of line emission to the diffuse 'cirrus' radiation components observed by IRAS at 60 and 100 microns, respectively, is evaluated. The cirrus radiation was observed straddling the galactic plane to latitudes of + or - 80 degrees. Comparison of the observed brightness from c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature (London) 1986-02, Vol.319 (6055), p.646-647
Main Authors: Harwit, M., Houck, J. R., Stacey, G. J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Astronomy
Astrophysics
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Humanities and Social Sciences
Interstellar medium (ism) and nebulae in milky way
letter
multidisciplinary
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Stellar systems. Galactic and extragalactic objects and systems. The universe
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Summary:The contribution of line emission to the diffuse 'cirrus' radiation components observed by IRAS at 60 and 100 microns, respectively, is evaluated. The cirrus radiation was observed straddling the galactic plane to latitudes of + or - 80 degrees. Comparison of the observed brightness from cirrus clouds with forbidden line emission of O I and O III at 63 and 88 microns showed that the flux levels observed by IRAS are of the same order as the fine-structure line emission predicted by Stacey et al. (1985). It is argued that the fine-structure line emission from neutral gas at 63 microns as well as the line emission from diffuse ionized clouds at 88 microns, are significant components in most clouds, in some clouds they are the prime source of cirrus radiation.
ISSN:0028-0836
1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/319646a0