Ionization-bounded nebula (source code)

= Ionization-bounded nebula

An <ionization-bounded nebula> contains enough absorbing material to trap the relevant ionizing <photons>, unlike a density-bounded region that ends before its ionization front. In dust-free hydrogen at steady <photoionization equilibrium>, the absorbed stellar <photon> rate equals the integrated <Case B recombination> rate. Escape, absorption by dust, and competition from other species must be accounted for before identifying the absorbed hydrogen rate with the entire stellar ionizing <luminosity>.