Title: Crystalline silicates

Author(s): Molster F, Kemper C

Source: SPACE SCIENCE REVIEWS 119 (1-4): 3-28 JUL 2005

Document Type: Review

Language: English

Abstract: One of the big surprises of the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) has been discovery of crystalline silicates outside our own Solar system. It was generally assumed before that all cosmic silicates in space were of amorphous structure. Thanks to ISO we know now that crystalline silicates are ubiquitous in the Galaxy (except for the diffuse ISM) and sometimes even in very large quantities (> 50% of the small dust particles). The evolution of the crystalline silicates is still not completely clarified, but the combination of theoretical modeling and observations have already shed light on their life-cycle. The absence of crystalline silicates in the diffuse ISM provides us with information about the dust amorphization rate in the ISM.

Author Keywords: crystalline silicates; infrared astronomy

KeyWords Plus: GIANT BRANCH STARS; INTERPLANETARY DUST PARTICLES; HERBIG AE/BE SYSTEMS; COMET HALE-BOPP; CIRCUMSTELLAR DUST; EVOLVED STARS; MG-FE; INTERSTELLAR-MEDIUM; IRRADIATED GRAINS; BETA-PICTORIS

Addresses: Molster F (reprint author), European Space Agcy, Estec, Keplerlaan 1, Noordwijk, NL-2201 AZ Netherlands
European Space Agcy, Estec, Noordwijk, NL-2201 AZ Netherlands

E-mail Addresses: frank.molster@esa.int

Publisher: SPRINGER, VAN GODEWIJCKSTRAAT 30, 3311 GZ DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS

Subject Category: ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS

IDS Number: 990FX