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Session 7 - Gas and Dust in the ISM.
Display session, Monday, June 10
Great Hall,
We have carried out detailed calculations of the rotation-vibration excitation of H_2 in the dense interstellar medium subjected to the action of X-rays. X-rays absorbed in a dense gas heat the gas so that thermal excitation of the rotation-vibration levels occurs. The X-rays photoelectrons may also produce excited rotation-vibration levels in a process similar to ultraviolet pumping. The resulting infrared spectrum by H_2 has been computed as a function of ionization rate by X-rays, total hydrogen density and temperature. A comparison with observations is discussed.
