Molecule production and excitation of H₂ are studied for MHD shock waves propagating into diffuse molecular gas. Extensive calculations are carried out for a preshock density nH = 50 cm⁻³ and for 0.5 ≤ H₂/H ≤ 5. CH⁺ column densities in excess of 10¹³cm⁻² can be produced by shocks with vs > 9 km s⁻¹; OH and CH are also produced in these shocks. The production of other species - in particular, CO, HCO⁺, CH₂⁺, and CH₃⁺ - is discussed, and column densities of rotationally excited H₂ are computed. Specific shock models are proposed for the lines of sight to ζ Per, ο Per, and χ Oph, and the models are compared to available observations.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Draine et al. (1986) studied this question.