Early Results from the ISO Long Wavelength Spectrometer: Measurements of HD, PH_3 and NH_3 in Saturn

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

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Scientific paper

The R(1) rotational line of HD at 56.23mu m has been detected for the first time on Saturn using the Long Wavelength Spectrometer (LWS) on the ESA Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) satellite. The measured spectrum has been compared with atmospheric models to determine the HD/H_2 abundance ratio. The best model fit to the measured spectrum was obtained with a D/H ratio of 2.3*E(-5) ; D/H values between 1.5*E(-5) and 3.5*E(-5) are however also compatible with the data. This result is intermediate between the saturnian value derived from ground-based observations of methane and its deuterated isotope, and the preliminary determination of the jovian D/H ratio measured by the mass spectrometer in the Galileo probe. The spectrum of Saturn over the full LWS range 43--197mu m was also measured and was compared with an atmospheric radiative-transfer model. Four results were obtained: first, the slope of the measured continuum within each detector passband is in good agreement with the model; second, absorption features due to ammonia and phosphine were unambiguously detected, and all detected features were attributed to these two molecules; third, the ammonia absorption features agree reasonably well with the nominal model based on Voyager IRIS measurements; and fourth, the phosphine absorption features disagree with the nominal model. Superior agreement with the measured spectrum was obtained using a modified PH_3 profile in which the tropospheric mixing ratio was increased to 7*E(-6) and the cutoff due to photodissociation was lowered to 300mbar. The preliminary Saturn measurements reported here will be repeated later in the ISO mission to improve the signal-to-noise ratio, and LWS measurements of HD on Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune will also be made.

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