X-Ray Spectra of Comets

Details X-Ray Spectra of Comets X-Ray Spectra of Comets

May 1998

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1998apj...498..863u&link_type=abstract

Astrophysical Journal v.498, p.863

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

16

Comets: General, X-Rays: General, Plasmas, Comets: Individual Name: Hyakutake (C/1996 B2)

Scientific paper

X-rays from a comet have been discovered for the first time in C/Hyakutake by Lisse et al. We discuss the excitation mechanism and the energy source of these cometary X-rays. We compute the intensity and the spectrum of bremsstrahlung X-rays and characteristic X-rays induced by nonthermal energetic electrons in the coma. Our results are compared with the X-ray data of C/Hyakutake, and the number density and kinetic energy of the electrons are evaluated. The electron density is found to be consistent with the in situ observation of P/Halley. The energy flux required to generate the observed X-ray luminosity is well explained by the solar-wind power falling on the coma. Hence, we suggest that the nonthermal electrons accelerated by the interaction of the comet with the solar wind are responsible for the X-ray emission.

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