Shocks in dense clouds. III. (V. Guillet et al.)

Vol. 527
In section 6. Interstellar and circumstellar matter

Shocks in dense clouds. III. Dust processing and feedback effects in C-type shocks

The extent to which interstellar dust is processed in shocks is still very mysterious. In particular, processing in molecular clouds can give rise to dust coagulation and/or shattering. The study by Guillet et al. highlighted in this issue shows that molecular shocks at high densities can give rise to the production of numerous small grains. This may also be relevant to the production of gas phase SiO in molecular outflows.