Correlation between visual magnitudes and the outgassing rate of CO in comets beyond 3 AU

Computer Science – Performance

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Comets: Carbon Monoxide

Scientific paper

Since its first detection at radio wavelengths in comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann in 1993, the outgassing of CO has been observed as the likely mechanism to sustain activity in comets beyond 3 AU from the sun. A sensitive search for CO in five comets showing sustained activity beyond that distance has been conducted. The comparison between the outgassing rates of CO (QCO) and the heliocentric magnitudes (HΔ = m1-5 logΔ) of these comets shows a strong linear correlation for the two long-period comets well detected in CO, namely C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) and C/1997 J2 (Meunier-Dupouy). The inferred correlation formula, log(QCO) = 30.0 - 0.29 HΔ, is not followed by 29P, which is very different and/or belongs to another distinct group of dust-poor comets that may have a larger outgassing rate of CO for a given magnitude HΔ. The slope of the formula, "-0.29", is likely to be less comet-dependent and might be used to infer activity indexes (n) for distant comets. Given the current performances of the submillimeter-wavelength radio telescopes, CO could be detected in distant comets (heliocentric distance r = 3 to 30 AU) brighter than m1 = 13 to 14, provided that it is responsible for their observed activity.

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