On the Organic Refractory Component of Cometary Dust

Computer Science

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

34

Scientific paper

Cometary nuclei consist of ices intermixed with dust grains and are thought to be the least modified solar system bodies remaining from the time of planetary formation. Flyby missions to Comet P/Halley in 1986 showed that cometary dust is extremely rich in organics (˜50% by mass). However, this proportion appears to be variable among different comets. In comparison with the CI-chondritic abundances, the volatile elements H, C, and N are enriched in cometary dust indicating that cometary solid material is more primitive than CI-chondrites. Relative to dust in dense molecular clouds, bulk cometary dust preserves the abundances of C and N, but exhibits depletions in O and H. In most cases, the carbonaceous component of cometary particles can be characterized as a multi-component mixture of carbon phases and organic compounds. Cluster analysis identified a few basic types of compounds, such as elemental carbon, hydrocarbons, polymers of carbon suboxide and of cyanopolyynes. In smaller amounts, polymers of formaldehyde, of hydrogen cyanide and various unsaturated nitriles also are present. These compositionally simple types, probably, are essential "building blocks", which in various combinations give rise to the variety of involatile cometary organics.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

On the Organic Refractory Component of Cometary Dust does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with On the Organic Refractory Component of Cometary Dust, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and On the Organic Refractory Component of Cometary Dust will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1546267

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.