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Detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on a sample of comets.
- Source :
-
Journal of Astrophysics & Astronomy . 10/17/2023, Vol. 44 Issue 2, p1-17. 17p. - Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- We present the spectral properties of a selection of comets from both the Jupiter family and Oort cloud in the ultraviolet (UV) and mid-infrared (IR) wavelength regions. Spectroscopic measurements are retrieved from public archival data of the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) and Hubble Space Observatory (HST) in the near-UV (NUV) and far-UV (FUV) wavelengths and reveal emissions from Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules, such as pentacene (C 22 H 14 ) at 1902, 2795 Å and toluene (C 7 H 8 ) at 2681 Å. UV spectra of the comets also show emissions due to CS, Fe II, CO Cameron bands, C I, S I and O I. Mid-IR spectroscopic observations made using the Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) on board the Spitzer Space Telescope for a few comets reveal the presence of PAH bands at 6.2, 7.7, 8.6, 11.2 μ m. Mid-IR spectra of the comets also reveal the presence of silicate at 9.7 μ m. The similarity of PAH signatures observed in the proto-planetary disks of young stellar objects, meteorites, interplanetary dust particles and comets with those observed in the interstellar medium (ISM) suggests a possible scenario for the incorporation of PAH from ISM into the primordial solar nebula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 02506335
- Volume :
- 44
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Astrophysics & Astronomy
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 173470958
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s12036-023-09977-1