Shock waves in the intergalactic medium at large red shifts
Abstract
Shock waves produced in the intergalactic gas by young galaxies, quasars, and active galactic nuclei at redshifts of 0 to 30 are considered. Shock-wave propagation is analyzed taking into account cosmological expansion, and shock-wave radiative energy losses are examined along with the effect of shock waves on the intergalactic gas. It is shown that hot rarefied cavities surrounded by cold dense 'walls' may be formed in the intergalactic gas as a result of shock-wave luminescence. The analyses also suggest that if the intergalactic-gas density is not too low, the gas may acquire an inhomogeneous structure in the form of 'caverns' (i.e., interconnected cavities and walls) due to the intersection of shock fronts from discrete sources.
- Publication:
-
Astronomicheskii Zhurnal
- Pub Date:
- April 1978
- Bibcode:
- 1978AZh....55..236O
- Keywords:
-
- Cosmology;
- Intergalactic Media;
- Red Shift;
- Shock Waves;
- Active Galactic Nuclei;
- Astronomical Models;
- Galaxies;
- Quasars;
- Astrophysics