Collision-induced absorption of radiation in the atmospheres of late-type stars

Abstract

Problems associated with taking into account absorption induced by collisions between hydrogen and helium atoms, helium atoms and hydrogen molecules, and hydrogen molecules, resulting in the formation of short-lived, quasi-molecular complexes are discussed, together with opacity in the atmospheres of late-type stars due to such absorption. There is good agreement between such opacities computed using codes developed by the author and by R. Kurucz. To demonstrate the importance of including collision-induced opacity, theoretical fluxes are compared to the observed spectral energy distribution of the metal-poor L subdwarf SDSS J125637.13-022452.4. The spectral energy distribution of this object can be reproduced with an effective temperature of T_eff = 2600 K only if collision-induced absorption is taken into account.