An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
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A small, solid flake of → graphite and/or → silicates coated with water ice, found in the → interstellar medium or the → interplanetary medium. Dust grains are irregularly shaped with sizes from microns to Angstroms (→ very small grain; → big grain; → PAH). It is believed that the dust is mainly formed in the cool outer layers of → red giants and dispersed in the interstellar medium. In dense environments, such as → molecular clouds and around → protostars, dust grains grow due to collisions (→ grain growth). Therefore, dust grains in → protostellar disks should be larger than interstellar grains. Dust grains absorb and scatter optical and ultraviolet light and re-radiate in infrared (→ dust emission). Dust acts as a catalyst in the interstellar medium, because molecules form via reactions on the surface of dust grains.

→ dust; → grain.

An aggregate of small particles loosely stuck together. Same as → porous dust grain.

→ fluffy; → dust; → grain.

→ dust grain.

→ interstellar; → dust; → grain.

A type of → interstellar dust grain made up of an aggregate of components with a hollow structure. Various processes operating in interstellar and → circumstellar media are believed to produce inhomogeneous and porous dust grains. Porous grains can produce more → extinction per unit mass than their combined individual dust components. They are generally cooler than compact grains (see, e.g., Iati et al. 2001, MNRAS 322, 749).

→ porous; → dust; → grain.