Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Nov 1989
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1989apj...346..509b&link_type=abstract
Astrophysical Journal, Part 1 (ISSN 0004-637X), vol. 346, Nov. 1, 1989, p. 509-513. Research supported by CNRS.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
35
Arsenic Compounds, Atmospheric Composition, Cosmochemistry, Saturn Atmosphere, Absorption Spectra, Abundance, Atmospheric Models, Hydrides, Infrared Astronomy
Scientific paper
The detection of arsine (AsH3) in Saturn's atmosphere using high-resolution observations near 4.7 microns is reported. A strong broad absorption at the position of the nu3 Q-branch of AsH3 and weaker features where the R(1) lines of the nu1 and nu3 bands occur are noted in this high-resolution spectral range. Comparison with synthetic spectra derived from a model atmosphere indicates the following: both the thermal emission and the reflected solar radiation contribute to Saturn's 5 micron flux; the mole fraction of arsine is (2.4 + 1.4 or - 1.2) x 10 to the -9th in the approx. 4 bar region (T about 200 K) from which the thermal emission originates; AsH3 is 2.5 to 10 times less abundant in the upper troposphere (0.2-0.4 bar), a possible consequence of UV photolysis. The current observation of arsine implies upward transport from the 360 K region that is sufficiently rapid to inhibit conversion reactions. A reanalysis of 5-micron spectroscopic observations of Jupiter by Bjoraker, Larson, and Kunde (1986) indicated that arsine is much less abundant on Jupiter (AsH3/H2 less than or roughly equal to 3 x 10 to the -10th) than on Saturn.
Bezard Bruno
Drossart Pierre
Lellouch Emmanuel
Maillard Jean Pierre
Tarrago G.
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