Chimneys and Worms in the Galaxy

Miguel A. de Avillez1 & D.L. Berry2

1 Department of Mathematics, University of Évora, R. Romão Ramalho 59, 7000 Évora, Portugal
2 Department of Physics, University of Évora, R. Romão Ramalho 59, 7000 Évora, Portugal


The ISM in the Galactic disk is dominated by Population I stars that fill the disk. 40% of these stars are found isolated and randomly distributed in the disk, whereas the remaining 60% of stars are clustered in OB associations. As these stars becom e supernovae, they generate high velocity shocks that expand in the surrounding medium, engulfing it in their passage, thereby shocking, compressing and heating it. A three-dimensional model for the evolution of the disk gas is presented here. This model reproduces many of the features that have been observed in the Galaxy, by means of 21 cm line emission surveys. The cold structures obtained in the model are associated with supernova shells, chimney walls and with the growth of Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities at the base of the Lockman layer.


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