H2 fluorescent emission from the diffuse interstellar medium

TL;DR

This paper introduces an analytic model to predict near-infrared H2 fluorescent emission from diffuse interstellar clouds with a Plummer density profile, aiding in interpreting observational data.

Contribution

The model provides a new, simplified way to estimate H2 fluorescent emission based on measurable parameters like column densities and peak gas density.

Findings

Model accurately predicts H2 emission intensities.

Applicable to sightlines with known H/H2 column densities.

Useful for analyzing diffuse interstellar medium observations.

Abstract

A simple analytic model is presented to predict the near-IR H2 fluorescent line intensities emitted by diffuse interstellar clouds with a Plummer density profile. It is applicable to sightlines where (1) the column densities of H and H2 have been measured and (2) the peak gas density can be estimated from extinction maps or observations of C2 absorption.