HD/H${}_2$ ratio in the diffuse interstellar medium

Abstract

We present a semi-analytical description of the relative HD/H2 abundance in the diffuse interstellar medium. We found three asymptotics of the relative HD/H${}_2$ abundance for different parts of the medium and their dependence on the physical parameters, namely, number density, intensity of the ultraviolet field, cosmic-ray ionization rate and metallicity. Our calculations are in a good agreement with the full network calculations using Meudon PDR code. We found that in the case of low metallicity and/or higher cosmic ray ionization rate, HD formation rate is significantly enhanced, HD/H2 ratio increases, and the DI/HD transition occurs at a lower penetration depth of UV radiation than the HI/H${}_2$ transition. This can explain the observed difference in the HD/H${}_2$ abundance between the local and high-redshift measurements.

5 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS letters

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