NONTHERMAL SPUTTERING OF INTERSTELLAR GRAINS IN MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC SHOCKS

We find that C-shocks propagating in molecular clouds can sputter the refractory materials which comprise the cores of interstellar grains. It is possible that the grains are completely destroyed at shock veloc ities of only 50 km s(-1). The rate of momentum transfer between the i onized and neutral fluids regulates the shock profile. Attention is pa id to the dependence of the rate coefficient for the elastic scatterin g of ions and neutrals on their velocity difference. The intensities o f infrared lines emitted by the shock are computed.