The abundance of interstellar krypton

Jason A. Cardelli; David M. Meyer

doi:10.1086/310513

The abundance of interstellar krypton

Jason A. Cardelli^*, David M. Meyer

^*Corresponding author for this work

Physics and Astronomy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

51 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present high signal-to-noise ratio HST Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS) observations of the weak interstellar Kr I λ1236 absorption toward the stars τ CMa, κ Ori, ε Ori, λ Ori, δ Sco, ω¹ Sco, ε Per, and ζ Per. In combination with previous GHRS measurements of Kr I in two other sight lines (ζ Oph and 1 Sco), these new observations yield a mean interstellar gas-phase krypton abundance (per 10⁹ H atoms) of 10⁹ Kr/ H = 0.96 ± 0.05. There is no statistically significant variation from sight line to sight line in the measured K_r I abundance and, in particular, no evidence for any correlation with the fraction of hydrogen in molecular form. Since Kr, as a noble gas, is not expected to deplete into dust grains, its gas-phase abundance should reflect the total interstellar abundance. Consequently, the GHRS observations imply that the interstellar Kr abundance in the vicinity of the Sun is about 60% of the solar system value of 109 Kr/H = 1.70 ± 0.30. This interstellar abundance deficit is similar to that recently found for oxygen with GHRS.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	L57-L60
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	477
Issue number	1 PART II
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/310513
State	Published - 1997

Funding

It is a pleasure to thank U. J. Sofia for assistance with the data and helpful discussions. This work was supported by STScI through grants to Villanova and Northwestern Universities.

Keywords

ISM: abundances
ISM: atoms

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1086/310513

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@article{114636710a5c4dfdabcd404eb45e49f6,

title = "The abundance of interstellar krypton",

abstract = "We present high signal-to-noise ratio HST Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS) observations of the weak interstellar Kr I λ1236 absorption toward the stars τ CMa, κ Ori, ε Ori, λ Ori, δ Sco, ω1 Sco, ε Per, and ζ Per. In combination with previous GHRS measurements of Kr I in two other sight lines (ζ Oph and 1 Sco), these new observations yield a mean interstellar gas-phase krypton abundance (per 109 H atoms) of 109 Kr/ H = 0.96 ± 0.05. There is no statistically significant variation from sight line to sight line in the measured Kr I abundance and, in particular, no evidence for any correlation with the fraction of hydrogen in molecular form. Since Kr, as a noble gas, is not expected to deplete into dust grains, its gas-phase abundance should reflect the total interstellar abundance. Consequently, the GHRS observations imply that the interstellar Kr abundance in the vicinity of the Sun is about 60% of the solar system value of 109 Kr/H = 1.70 ± 0.30. This interstellar abundance deficit is similar to that recently found for oxygen with GHRS.",

keywords = "ISM: abundances, ISM: atoms",

author = "Cardelli, {Jason A.} and Meyer, {David M.}",

note = "Funding Information: It is a pleasure to thank U. J. Sofia for assistance with the data and helpful discussions. This work was supported by STScI through grants to Villanova and Northwestern Universities.",

year = "1997",

doi = "10.1086/310513",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "477",

pages = "L57--L60",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

number = "1 PART II",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - The abundance of interstellar krypton

AU - Cardelli, Jason A.

AU - Meyer, David M.

N1 - Funding Information: It is a pleasure to thank U. J. Sofia for assistance with the data and helpful discussions. This work was supported by STScI through grants to Villanova and Northwestern Universities.

PY - 1997

Y1 - 1997

N2 - We present high signal-to-noise ratio HST Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS) observations of the weak interstellar Kr I λ1236 absorption toward the stars τ CMa, κ Ori, ε Ori, λ Ori, δ Sco, ω1 Sco, ε Per, and ζ Per. In combination with previous GHRS measurements of Kr I in two other sight lines (ζ Oph and 1 Sco), these new observations yield a mean interstellar gas-phase krypton abundance (per 109 H atoms) of 109 Kr/ H = 0.96 ± 0.05. There is no statistically significant variation from sight line to sight line in the measured Kr I abundance and, in particular, no evidence for any correlation with the fraction of hydrogen in molecular form. Since Kr, as a noble gas, is not expected to deplete into dust grains, its gas-phase abundance should reflect the total interstellar abundance. Consequently, the GHRS observations imply that the interstellar Kr abundance in the vicinity of the Sun is about 60% of the solar system value of 109 Kr/H = 1.70 ± 0.30. This interstellar abundance deficit is similar to that recently found for oxygen with GHRS.

AB - We present high signal-to-noise ratio HST Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS) observations of the weak interstellar Kr I λ1236 absorption toward the stars τ CMa, κ Ori, ε Ori, λ Ori, δ Sco, ω1 Sco, ε Per, and ζ Per. In combination with previous GHRS measurements of Kr I in two other sight lines (ζ Oph and 1 Sco), these new observations yield a mean interstellar gas-phase krypton abundance (per 109 H atoms) of 109 Kr/ H = 0.96 ± 0.05. There is no statistically significant variation from sight line to sight line in the measured Kr I abundance and, in particular, no evidence for any correlation with the fraction of hydrogen in molecular form. Since Kr, as a noble gas, is not expected to deplete into dust grains, its gas-phase abundance should reflect the total interstellar abundance. Consequently, the GHRS observations imply that the interstellar Kr abundance in the vicinity of the Sun is about 60% of the solar system value of 109 Kr/H = 1.70 ± 0.30. This interstellar abundance deficit is similar to that recently found for oxygen with GHRS.

KW - ISM: abundances

KW - ISM: atoms

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U2 - 10.1086/310513

DO - 10.1086/310513

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VL - 477

SP - L57-L60

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 1 PART II

ER -

The abundance of interstellar krypton

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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