Collisional Excitation of Carbon Monoxide in Interstellar Clouds,
Abstract
Different models for the collisional excitation of carbon monoxide (CO) have been investigated by solving the rate equations for the ten lowest energy levels, including stimulated emission and absorption by 3 degrees isotropic radiation, spontaneous emission, and collisions. The results are qualitatively applicable to other linear molecules. They show that a wide range of rotational excitation temperatures, including population inversions, can be produced by the various kinetic temperatures and particle densities which are likely to occur in the interstellar regions containing molecules. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0733715
Entities
People
- Paul F. Goldsmith
Organizations
- University of California, Berkeley