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Photochemistry of Methane in Model Atmospheres of Jupiter and Titan
- Publication Year :
- 2000
- Publisher :
- United States: NASA Center for Aerospace Information (CASI), 2000.
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Abstract
- The two central findings were 1) hydrogen atoms and hydrogen molecules photodissociated from methane are relatively richer in H than in D in other words deuterium atoms have a greater probability of remaining attached to the carbon atom. Titan, a moon of Saturn has an atmosphere which is largely nitrogen but also contains about 3% methane as well as smaller amounts of C2 and C3 hydrocarbons. If all these hydrocarbons are of biological origin, the isotopic scrambling occurring in living organisms would result in equal D atom abundances. On the other hand, if the higher hydrocarbons are derived from methane by photodissociation of methane, they should be richer in D than methane. Precise values for the enrichment were derived from our photochemical data. 2) When methane is dissociated by vuv light, methylene is produced in a singlet state. This explains why the higher hydrocarbons are sparse on Jupiter but relatively rich on Titan.
- Subjects :
- Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- Database :
- NASA Technical Reports
- Notes :
- NAG5-4971
- Publication Type :
- Report
- Accession number :
- edsnas.20000099715
- Document Type :
- Report