Sulfur-bearing ions in the ionosphere of Comet Halley

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

10

Abundance, Atmospheric Chemistry, Cometary Atmospheres, Halley'S Comet, Ionospheric Ion Density, Sulfur, Atmospheric Models, Giotto Mission, Ionopause, Mass Spectra, Photochemical Reactions, Radial Distribution

Scientific paper

This paper presents the radial density profiles of the ions corresponding to 35, 45, 47, and 47 amu, inside the ionopause of Comet Halley, obtained by the heavy ion analyzer PICCA on board the Giotto spacecraft. A photochemical model of the outflowing atmosphere/ionosphere, which emphasizes the sulfur chemistry in an H2O-dominated atmosphere, is used to support the identification of the four ions as H3S(+), HCS(+), H3CS(+), and SO(+), respectively. Both the observed values and the radial profiles of the ion densities are in fair agreement with the observations in the inner portion of the ionosphere. It is suggested that the increased ion densities just inside the ionopause is assocated with the existence of a thin 'inner'shock layer also just inside the ionopause, where both lateral flow and dissociative recombination play important roles in determining the ion densities.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Sulfur-bearing ions in the ionosphere of Comet Halley 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 Sulfur-bearing ions in the ionosphere of Comet Halley, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Sulfur-bearing ions in the ionosphere of Comet Halley will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1334628

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.