Award Date

1-1-2002

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Physics

First Committee Member

Stephen Lepp

Number of Pages

31

Abstract

This thesis will calculate the H-H2 cooling processes used in astrophysics. Cooling is critical to the formation of the first objects formed in the early universe, and other diverse phenomenon of interest to astrophysics. For instance, in order to collapse into objects, the gravitational potential energy of primordial density fluctuations must be radiated away. The most abundant element in the universe is hydrogen, and cooling processes involving hydrogen are important in several contexts. To calculate the cooling, the cross section for collisional excitation at constant energy were integrated over a Maxwellian velocity distribution to determine a rate coefficient. Then the equilibrium level populations will be solved for a given temperature and H density. Finally, the cooling and spectra are calculated from these equilibrium populations.

Keywords

Astrophysics; Calculation; Collisional; Cooling H2; Hydrogen; Involving; Processes

Controlled Subject

Astronomy

File Format

pdf

File Size

870.4 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

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Rights

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