A Quantitative Study of Silicate Extinction

Abstract

Quantitative measurements of silicate extinction, coupled with Mie theory, indicate that previously used mass absorption coefficients for silicates are considerably too low. Information is presented leading to the conclusion that silicates have an almost negligible effect in producing extinction in the visible region of the general interstellar extinction curve. Subject headings: circumstellar shells - infrared - interstellar matter - opacities