The discussion revolves around the temperature structure of HII regions, specifically in the context of modeling a pure hydrogen HII region using Osterbrock's book "Astrophysics of Gaseous Nebulae and Active Galactic Nuclei." Participants explore the relationship between ionization and temperature, as well as seek resources for accurate modeling.
Participants express differing views on the relationship between ionization and temperature, with some asserting that they are not directly related while others reference established temperature values for HII regions. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the precise mechanisms affecting temperature.
Participants reference various sources for temperature values and characteristics of HII regions, but there is no consensus on the underlying reasons for the temperature structure or the role of ionization in determining it.
Poppop said:I'm trying to use Osterbrock's book "Astrophysics of Gaseous Nebulae and Active Galacic Nuclei" to made a model of a pure Hydrogen HII region. I've got the ionization structure down, but I'm having trouble with the temperature. Can anyone recommend somewhere that shows what I should be getting?
The fact that all the sources mention that the temperature of the HII region is on the order of 104 K indicates that the electron (and perhaps ion) energy is about 1 eV. And I imagine there is some kind distribution of energy/temperature.Poppop said:But the ionization doesn't have much to do with the temperature, since the hydrogen is being ionized by the photons over 13.6, not collisionally. Doesn't the temperature come from the excess energy (over 13.6) from the photons?