The extinction law for molecular clouds

Case study of B 335

Stockholm Observatory, Stockholm UniversityAstronomy Department AlbaNova Research Centre, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
e-mail: sven@astro.su.se

Received: 1 February 2010
Accepted: 9 June 2010

Abstract

Context. The large optical and near-IR surveys have made it possible to investigate the properties of dark clouds by means of extinction estimates. There is, however, a need for case studies in more detail in order to investigate the basic assumptions when, say, interpreting reddening in terms of column density.

Aims. We determine the extinction curve from the UV to the near-IR for molecular clouds and investigate whether current models can adequately explain this wavelength dependence of the extinction. The aim is also to interpret the extinction in terms of H₂ column density.

Methods. We applied five different methods, including a new method for simultaneously determining the reddening law and the classification of the background stars. Our method is based on multicolour observations and a grid of model atmospheres.

Results. We confirm that the extinction law can be adequately described by a single parameter, R_V (the selective to absolute extinction), in accordance with earlier findings. The R_V value for B 335 is R_V = 4.8. The reddening curve can be accurately reproduced by model calculations. By assuming that all the silicon is bound in silicate grains, we can interpret the reddening in terms of column density, N_H = 4.4  (±0.5) × 10²¹E_I − Ks   cm^-2, corresponding to N_H = 2.3  (±0.2) × 10²¹·A_V   cm^-2, close to that of the diffuse ISM, (1.8 − 2.2) × 10²¹   cm^-2.

We show that the density of the B 335 globule outer shells can be modelled as an evolved Ebert-Bonnor gas sphere with ρ ∝ r^-2, and estimate the mass of this globule to 2.5M_⊙