Evidence for Chemical Heterogeneity in the Nucleus of C/1995 O1 (hale–bopp)

We present an analysis of OH, CN, and C2 jets observed in the coma of Comet Hale– Bopp on UT April 22, 23, and 25, 1997. Monte Carlo models designed to simulate the gas jets were employed to analyze the nuclear active areas responsible for the observed coma gas jets. Our results indicate that four active areas are necessary to reproduce the CN and C2 jets while five active areas are required to simulate the OH jets. The additional OH active area must produce significant levels of OH, but cannot emit measurable quantities of either carbon radical. This difference suggests that the nucleus of Comet Hale–Bopp is chemically heterogeneous.