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In this investigation, we present an analysis of the metallicity distribution that pertains to neutral gas in the local Galactic interstellar medium (ISM). We derive relative ISM metallicities for a sample of 84 sight lines probing diffuse atomic and molecular gas within 4 kpc of the Sun. Our analysis is based in large part on column density measurements reported in the literature for 22 different elements that are commonly studied in interstellar clouds. We supplement the literature data with new column density determinations for certain key elements and several individual sight lines important to our analysis. Our methodology involves comparing the relative gas-phase abundances of many different elements for a given sight line to simultaneously determine the strength of dust depletion in that direction and the overall metallicity offset. We find that many sight lines probe multiple distinct gas regions with different depletion properties, which complicates the metallicity analysis. Nevertheless, our results provide clear evidence that the dispersion in the metallicities of neutral interstellar clouds in the solar neighborhood is small (∼0.10 dex) and only slightly larger than the typical measurement uncertainties. We find no evidence for the existence of very low metallicity gas (as has recently been reported by De Cia et al.) along any of the 84 sight lines in our sample. Our results are consistent with a local Galactic ISM that is well mixed and chemically homogeneous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study four lines of sight that probe the transition from diffuse molecular gas to molecular cloud material in Taurus. Measurements of atomic and molecular absorption are used to infer the distribution of species and the physical conditions toward stars behind the Taurus Molecular Cloud (TMC). New high-resolution spectra at visible and near-IR wavelengths of interstellar Ca ii , Ca i , K i , CH, CH+, C2, CN, and CO toward HD 28975 and HD 29647 are combined with data at visible wavelengths and published CO results from ultraviolet measurements for HD 27778 and HD 30122. Gas densities and temperatures are inferred from C2, CN, and CO excitation and CN chemistry. Our results for HD 29647 are noteworthy because the CO column density is 1018 cm−2 while C2 and CO excitation reveals a temperature of 10 K and a density of ∼1000 cm−3, more like conditions found in dark molecular clouds. Similar results arise from our chemical analysis for CN through reactions involving observations of CH, C2, and NH. Enhanced potassium depletion and a reduced CH/H2 column density ratio also suggest the presence of a dark cloud. The directions toward HD 27778 and HD 30122 probe molecule-rich diffuse clouds, which can be considered CO-dark gas, while the sight line toward HD 28975 represents an intermediate case. Maps of dust temperature help refine the description of the material along the four sight lines and provide an estimate of the distance between HD 29647 and a clump in the TMC. An appendix provides results for the direction toward HD 26571; this star also probes diffuse molecular gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of a detailed investigation into the physical conditions in interstellar material interacting with the supernova remnant (SNR) IC 443. Our analysis is based on a comprehensive examination of high-resolution far-ultraviolet spectra obtained with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph onboard the Hubble Space Telescope of two stars behind IC 443. One of our targets (HD 43582) probes gas along the entire line of sight through the SNR, while the other (HD 254755) samples material located ahead of the primary supernova shock front. We identify low-velocity quiescent gas in both directions and find that the densities and temperatures in these components are typical of diffuse atomic and molecular clouds. Numerous high-velocity components are observed in the absorption profiles of neutral and singly ionized atomic species toward HD 43582. These components exhibit a combination of greatly enhanced thermal pressures and significantly reduced dust-grain depletions. We interpret this material as cooling gas in a recombination zone far downstream from shocks driven into neutral gas clumps. The pressures derived for a group of ionized gas components at high positive velocity toward HD 43582 are lower than those of the other shocked components, pointing to pressure inhomogeneities across the remnant. A strong, very high velocity component near −620 km s−1 is seen in the absorption profiles of highly ionized species toward HD 43582. The velocity of this material is consistent with the range of shock velocities implied by observations of soft thermal X-ray emission from IC 443. Moderately high velocity gas toward HD 254755 may represent shocked material from a separate foreground SNR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We reanalyzed interstellar Cl I and Cl II spectra acquired with the Copernicus satellite. The directions for this study come from those of Crenny & Federman and sample the transition from atomic to molecular-rich clouds where the unique chemistry leading to molecules containing chlorine is initiated. Our profile syntheses relied on up-to-date laboratory oscillator strengths and component structures derived from published high-resolution measurements of K I absorption that were supplemented with Ca II and Na I D results. We obtain self-consistent results for the Cl I lines at 1088, 1097, and 1347 Å from which precise column densities are derived. The improved set of results reveals clearer correspondences with H2 and total hydrogen column densities. These linear relationships arise from rapid conversion of Cl+ to Cl0 in regions where H2 is present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report oscillator strengths for six strong vibrational bands between 105.0 and 115.2 nm, associated with transitions from the v = 0 level of the X1Σ+ ground state to the v = 0 and 1 levels of the B1Σ+, C1Σ+, and E1Π states, in 12C16O, 12C17O, 12C18O, 13C16O, and 13C18O. These measurements extend the development of a comprehensive database of line positions, oscillator strengths, and linewidths of photodissociating transitions for all astrophysically relevant CO isotopologues. The E-X bands, in particular, play central roles in CO photodissociation and fractionation models of interstellar clouds and circumstellar disks including the early solar nebula. The resolving powers of the room-temperature measurements, R = 300,000-400,000, allow for the analysis of individual line strengths within bands; the measurements reveal J-dependences in the branch intensities of the C(v = 0,1)-X(0) and E(v = 0,1)-X(0) bands in all isotopologues. Minimal or no isotopologue dependence was found in the f-values of the C(v = 0,1)-X(0) and E(v = 0,1)-X(0) bands at a ∼5% uncertainty level. Revised dissociation branching ratios for the C(v = 0,1) and E(v = 0,1) levels are computed based on these f-values. The weak isotopologue dependence of the f-values presented here eliminates this mechanism as an explanation for the large 17O enrichments seen in recent laboratory photolysis experiments on CO at wavelengths from 105 to 108 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed archival spectra acquired with the Hubble Space Telescope for a study of interstellar C2. Absorption from the electronic transitions, D1Σ+u - X1Σ+g (0,0) as well as F1Πu - X1Σ+g (0,0) and (1,0), was the focus of the study. Our profile syntheses revealed that the lines of the F – X bands were broadened as a result of a perturbation involving the upper levels. Further evidence for the perturbation came from anomalies in line strength and position for the F – X (0,0) band. The perturbation likely arises from a combination of triplet-singlet interactions involving spin-orbit mixing between 3Πu states and F1Πu and an avoided crossing between the 3Πu states. Tunneling through a potential barrier caused by the 3 and 4 1Πu states and spin-orbit mixing with other close-lying triplet states of ungerade symmetry are less likely. Except for the broadening, lines in the F – X (1,0) band appear free from anomalies and can be used to study interstellar C2; new results for 10 sight lines are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]