The atomic component
S. R. Kulkarni, C. Heiles;
In Interstellar processes, 1987, Dordrecht, D. Reidel Publishing Co., p. 87
ABSTRACT:The paper reviews the physical conditions and the distribution of the three phases which
constitute the atomic component: the cold clouds, the warm, neutral medium and the
warm, ionized medium.
The size of the H I disk is comparable or exceeds that of
the stellar disk.
In the outer Galaxy, a spiral pattern is clearly
discernable.
The distribution of the three phases near the sun is discussed as well as the
physics and the limitations of various probes that have been used to study the
atomic component.
The ionization of the phases is studied in depth and it is
concluded that most of the interstellar electrons reside in the warm, ionized
medium.
Various determinations of interstellar pressure and its scale height are
reviewed.
KEYWORDS: galactic structure, h i regions, interstellar matter, mass distribution, astronomical spectroscopy, galactic cosmic rays, galactic mass, interstellar extinction, optical thickness, temperature distribution
PERSOKEY:h_i, milky way, general ism, ,
CODE: kulkarni87