Radiative transfer effects in H2O masers
Abstract
The influence of different physical effects on the efficiency of H2O-masers has been studied by solving numerically the coupled set of statistical and radiative transfer equations in an on-the-spot-approximation. A physical model was used in which the excitation is basically due to collisions. The physical parameters have been varied over a wide range and two different collisional laws have been employed. The results indicate that the combined influence of resonant collisions and the absorption of IR-photons by cold dust can lead to luminosities in the 1.35 cm-line comparable to those observed.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- November 1984
- Bibcode:
- 1984A&A...140..295C
- Keywords:
-
- Astronomical Models;
- Infrared Astronomy;
- Interstellar Masers;
- Interstellar Matter;
- Radiative Transfer;
- Water Masers;
- Collision Rates;
- Computational Astrophysics;
- Cosmic Dust;
- Infrared Absorption;
- Molecular Collisions;
- Molecular Excitation;
- Astrophysics