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NH3 and NH2 in the coma of Comet Brorsen-MetcalfEvidence consistent with NH3 ice in the nucleus of Comet Brorsen-Metcalf as the source of the NH2 observed in the comet coma is presented. The distribution of NH2 is symmetric and shows no evidence for jet structure at the 3-sigma significance level above background emission. An azimuthal average of the NH2 image produces an NH2 surface brightness profile for Comet Brorsen-Metcalf which yields a factor of about-10 improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio over previous 1D long-slit NH2 observations, and provides a significant constraint on the NH2 photodissociation time scale in comets. A Monte Carlo simulation of the comet coma, assuming that NH2 is the primary source of NH2, is described and compared with the observations. For an observed production rate, Q(H2O) is approximately equal to 7 x 10 exp 28 molecules/s, collisional effects on the NH3 and NH2 outflow had at most an approximately 10-percent effect on the NH2 surface brightness profile. Because Comet Brorsen-Metcalf showed no significant dust or gas production rate variability, it is argued that steady state conditions best match the comet at the time of the observations.
Document ID
19920036704
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Tegler, Stephen C.
(Florida Univ. Gainesville, FL, United States)
Burke, Luke F.
(Florida, University Gainesville, United States)
Wyckoff, Susan
(Florida Univ. Gainesville, FL, United States)
Womack, Maria
(Arizona State University Tempe, United States)
Fink, Uwe
(Florida Univ. Gainesville, FL, United States)
Disanti, Michael
(Arizona, University Tucson, United States)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal, Part 1
Volume: 384
ISSN: 0004-637X
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
92A19328
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-2296
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-574
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-1549
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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