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Ion abundances and implications for photochemistry in Comets Halley (1986 III) and Bradfield (1987 XXIX)The Ohio State University Image Dissector Scanner on the Perkins 1.8-m telescope at the Lowell Observatory was used to record spectra of the plasma tails of Comets P/Halley (1986 III) and P/Bradfield (1987 XXIX, also 1987s). The ionic species CO(+), N2(+), CH(+), and H2O(+) were identified in these spectra, and column densities for them were calculated from measured fluxes. The observed N2(+)/H2O(+) ratios are at least an order of magnitude lower and the observed CH(+)/H2O(+) ratios are a factor of 100 higher than theoretical results. The abundance ratio N2/CO was derived in the plasma tail of Bradfield from N2(+) and CO(+) data, and found to be an order of magnitude higher than a value measured in Halley. The relative ion abundances of CH(+), N2(+), CO(+), and H2O(+) in Halley are consistent with in situ measurements obtained from the Giotto spacecraft.
Document ID
19930050736
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Lutz, Barry L.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Womack, Maria
(Northern Arizona Univ. Flagstaff, AZ, United States)
Wagner, R. M.
(Ohio State Univ. Columbus, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
April 10, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal, Part 1
Volume: 407
Issue: 1
ISSN: 0004-637X
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
93A34733
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-2811
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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