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Superbubbles in disk galaxies
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1988
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Correlated supernovae from OB associations form superbubbles—large, thin shells of cold gas enclosing hot, pressurized interiors—whose blowout or collapse is predicted by a dimensionless parameter. The authors approximate the supernova energy input as a continuous luminosity and use the Kompaneets thin‑shell model to numerically simulate superbubble growth in stratified galactic atmospheres. Superbubbles blow out of the H I layer when their planar radius reaches one to two scale heights, and they escape only one side of a disk if their centers lie more than 50–60 pc above the plane; additionally, warm gas fingers penetrate the hot interior when the bubble overruns dense clouds. Published in The Astrophysical Journal, Jan 1988, DOI 10.1086/165936.
view Abstract Citations (622) References (20) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Superbubbles in Disk Galaxies Mac Low, Mordecai-Mark ; McCray, Richard Abstract Correlated supernovae from an OB association create a superbubble: a large, thin, shell of cold gas surrounding a hot pressurized interior. Because supernova blast waves usually become subsonic before reaching the walls of the shell or cooling radiatively, we may reasonably approximate the energy input from supernovae as a continuous luminosity. Using the Kompaneets (thin-shell) approximation, we numerically model the growth of superbubbles in various stratified atmospheres. A dimensionless quantity predicts whether a superbubble will blow out of the H I disk of a spiral galaxy (and begin to accelerate upward) or collapse. Superbubbles blow out of the H I layer when they have a radius in the plane between one and two scale heights. They blow out only one side of a disk galaxy if their centers are more than 50-60 pc above the plane and the gas layer has density and scale height typical of the Milky Way. Fingers of warm interstellar gas intrude into the hot interior when the superbubble overtakes dense clouds. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: January 1988 DOI: 10.1086/165936 Bibcode: 1988ApJ...324..776M Keywords: Disk Galaxies; Interstellar Gas; Star Clusters; Supernova Remnants; Supernovae; B Stars; Galactic Structure; Luminosity; O Stars; Astrophysics; HYDRODYNAMICS; INTERSTELLAR: MATTER; NEBULAE: SUPERNOVA REMNANTS; STARS: SUPERNOVAE full text sources ADS |