Chemical Composition Diversity Among 24 Comets Observed At Radio Wavelengths

Details Chemical Composition Diversity Among 24 Comets Observed At Radio Wavelengths Chemical Composition Diversity Among 24 Comets Observed At Radio Wavelengths

Mar 2002

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002em%26p...90..323b&link_type=abstract

Earth, Moon, and Planets, v. 90, Issue 1, p. 323-333 (2002).

Other

67

Comets, Molecules, Radio Observations

Scientific paper

We present a comparative study on molecular abundances in comets based on millimetre/submillimetre observations made with the IRAM 30-m, JCMT, CSO and SEST telescopes. This study concerns a sample of 24 comets (6 Jupiter-family, 3 Halley-family, 15 long-period) observed from 1986 to 2001 and 8 molecular species (HCN, HNC, CH3CN, CH3OH, H2CO, CO, CS, H2S). HCN was detected in all comets, while at least 2 molecules were detected in 19 comets. From the sub-sample of comets for which contemporary H2O production rates are available, we infer that the HCN abundance relative to water varies from 0.08% to 0.25%. With respect to other species, HCN is the molecule which exhibits the lowest abundance variation from comet to comet. Therefore, production rates relative to that of HCN can be used for a comparative study of molecular abundances in the 19 comets. It is found that: CH3OH/HCN varies from <= 9 to 64; CO/HCN varies from <= 24 to 180; H2CO/HCN varies between 1.6 and 10; and H2S/HCN varies between 1.5 and 7.6. This study does not show any clear correlation between the relative abundances and the dynamical origins of the comets, or their dust-to-gas ratios.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Chemical Composition Diversity Among 24 Comets Observed At Radio Wavelengths 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 Chemical Composition Diversity Among 24 Comets Observed At Radio Wavelengths, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Chemical Composition Diversity Among 24 Comets Observed At Radio Wavelengths will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1409449