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Isotopic Ratios of Carbon and Oxygen in Titan's CO Using Alma

Authors :
Serigano, Joseph
Nixon, C. A
Cordiner, M. A
Irwin, P. G. J
Teanby, N. A
Charnley, S. B
Lindberg, J. E
Source :
Astrophysical Journal Letters. 821(1)
Publication Year :
2016
Publisher :
United States: NASA Center for Aerospace Information (CASI), 2016.

Abstract

We report interferometric observations of carbon monoxide (CO) and its isotopologues in Titan's atmosphere using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). The following transitions were detected: CO (J = 1-0, 2-1, 3-2, 6-5), C-13 O (J = 2-1, 3-2, 6-5), C-18 O (J = 2-1, 3-2), and C-17 O (J = 3-2). Molecular abundances and the vertical atmospheric temperature profile were derived by modeling the observed emission line profiles using NEMESIS, a line-by-line radiative transfer code. We present the first spectroscopic detection of O-17 in the outer solar system with C-17 O detected at greater than 8 sigma confidence. The abundance of CO was determined to be 49.6 +/- 1.8 ppm, assumed to be constant with altitude, with isotopic ratios C-12/C-13 = 89.9 +/- 3.4, O-16/O-18 = 486 +/- 22, and O-16/O-17 = 2917 +/- 359. The measurements of C-12/C-13 and O-16/O-18 ratios are the most precise values obtained in Titan's atmospheric CO to date. Our results are in good agreement with previous studies and suggest no significant deviations from standard terrestrial isotopic ratios.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20418213 and 20418205
Volume :
821
Issue :
1
Database :
NASA Technical Reports
Journal :
Astrophysical Journal Letters
Publication Type :
Report
Accession number :
edsnas.20170002452
Document Type :
Report
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8205/821/1/L8