A comparison of the high resolution IUE observations of CS emission in Comets Halley and Giacobini-Zinner

The high resolution spectra of comets Giacobini-Zinner and Halley were measured in the region of the CS emission. Both spectra have essentially the same shape, but the Halley spectrum has a better signal to noise ratio. The rotational distribution of the radical in these comets was derived by using an inversion program and spectral simulation. Both procedures suggest that the rotational distribution is dominated by CS radical with J" is less than or = 5. Despite this it appears that another distribution with higher J''' is needed to explain the shape of the rotational distribution. It is suggested that this second distribution is due to a balance between collisions and radiation in the inner coma.