arXiv · astro-ph/9204006
Nova Dust Nucleation: Kinetics and Photodissociation
Abstract
Dust is observed to form in nova ejecta. The grain temperature is determined by the diluted nova radiation field rather than the gas kinetic temperature, making classical nucleation theory inapplicable. We used kinetic equations to calculate the growth of carbon nuclei in these ejecta. For expected values of the parameters too many clusters grew, despite the small sticking probability of atoms to small clusters, and the clusters only reached radii of about 100Å when the carbon vapor was depleted. We then included the effects of cluster photodissociation by ultraviolet radiation from the nova. This suppresses nucleation, but too well, and no grains form at all. Finally we suggest that a few growing carbon nuclei may be protected from photodissociation by a sacrificial surface layer of hydrogen.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Explore connections, maps & timelines
D. J. Johnson, M. W. Friedlander, J. I. Katz. 1992-04-30. Nova Dust Nucleation: Kinetics and Photodissociation. https://doi.org/10.1086/172552
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.