Exchange Processes in a Multi-Phase ISM
Abstract
We present a new particle based code with a multi-phase description of the ISM implemented in order to follow the chemo-dynamical evolution of galaxies. The multi-phase ISM consists of clouds (sticky particles) and diffuse gas (SPH): Exchange of matter, energy and momentum is achieved by drag (due to ram pressure) and condensation or evaporation. Based on time scales we show that in Milky-Way-like galaxies the drag force is for molecular clouds only important, if their relative velocities exceed 100 km/s. For the mass exchange we find that clouds evaporate only if the temperature of the ambient gas is higher than one million Kelvin. At lower temperatures condensation takes place at time scales of the order of 1-10 Gyr.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.astro-ph/0112081,
title = {Exchange Processes in a Multi-Phase ISM},
author = {Stefan Harfst and Christian Theis and Gerhard Hensler},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:astro-ph/0112081},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
2 pages, 2 figures, to appear in "The Evolution of Galaxies II. Basic Building Blocks", 2001, eds. M. Sauvage et al