Comet Impacts as a Source of Methane on Titan

Details Comet Impacts as a Source of Methane on Titan Comet Impacts as a Source of Methane on Titan

Dec 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006dps....38.2732h&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #38, #27.32; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 38, p.1296

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Scientific paper

We model comet impacts on Titan as a possible source of atmospheric methane. That is, we study the formation of methane in comet impacts using chemical equilibrium calculations coupled with arbitrary Lagrange-Eulerian (ALE) hydrodynamics. That is, we study the chemical transformation of comet material under high pressure and temperature conditions as it impacts Titan. We assume that the comet is composed of ice, graphite, nitrogen and some hydrocarbons. For certain pressure and temperature regimes, in chemical equilibrium, a significant amount of ice and graphite can be transformed into methane. As a result, we find that a significant amount of methane can be formed in comet collisions on Titan. The methane is formed in the post-impact vapor clouds that form as the comet material expands and cools. We use molecular dynamics to construct an equation of state for the ice surface structures and the comet material. We also study kinetic processes for methane formation during the expansion and cooling phase. We discuss the implication of our results for comets as a possible source of abiotic methane on Titan and its implications on the origin of life. We also discuss the various uncertainties in our model.
* This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by University of California, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract W-7405-Eng-48.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Comet Impacts as a Source of Methane on Titan 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 Comet Impacts as a Source of Methane on Titan, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Comet Impacts as a Source of Methane on Titan will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1244824