Hydrogen Isocyanide in Comet 73p/schwassmann-wachmann (fragment B)
نویسندگان
چکیده
We present a sensitive 3 upper limit of 1.1% for the HNC/HCN abundance ratio in comet 73P/SchwassmannWachmann (fragment B), obtained on 2006May 10Y11, using Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO). This limit is a factor of 7 lower than the values measured previously in moderately active comets at 1 AU from the Sun. Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann was depleted in most volatile species, except of HCN. The low HNC/HCN ratio thus argues against HNC production from polymers produced fromHCN. However, thermal degradation of macromolecules, or polymers, produced from ammonia and carbon compounds, such as acetylene, methane, or ethane appears a plausible explanation for the observed variations of the HNC/HCN ratio in moderately active comets, including the very low ratio in comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann reported here. Similar polymers have been invoked previously to explain anomalous N/N ratios measured in cometary CN. Subject headinggs: comets: individual (73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) — molecular processes — radio lines: solar system
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