Deuterium abundance in the local ISM
Abstract
Excellent HST/GHRS spectra of interstellar hydrogen and deuterium Lyman-α absorption toward nearby stars allow us to identify systematic errors that have plagued earlier work and to measure accurate values of the D/H ratio in local interstellar gas. Analysis of 12 sightlines through the Local Interstellar Cloud leads to a mean value of D/H = (1.50 +/- 0.10) ×10-5 with all data points lying within +/-1σ of the mean. Deciding whether or not the D/H ratio has different values elsewhere in the Galaxy and beyond will be one of the major objectives of the FUSE mission.
- Publication:
-
Cosmic Chemical Evolution
- Pub Date:
- 2002
- Bibcode:
- 2002IAUS..187...75L
- Keywords:
-
- Interstellar Matter;
- Deuterium