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Thermal evaporation of gas within galaxies by a hot intergalactic medium

Abstract

High-temperature (T 108 K) intergalactic gas interacts with cooler embedded gas within galaxies and extragalactic clouds principally by thermal evaporation. From Cowie and McKee's model for evaporation of spherical interstellar clouds, in pressure balance with a hot ambient medium, we produce solutions for oblate and prolate spheroidal symmetry. The results are applied to evaporation of gases within spiral and elliptical galaxies, and can be extended to evaporation of filamentary clouds in the interstellar medium.

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Cowie, L., Songaila, A. Thermal evaporation of gas within galaxies by a hot intergalactic medium. Nature 266, 501–503 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/266501a0

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