Activity of comets at large heliocentric distances pre-perihelion

We present observational data for two long-period and three dynamically new comets observed at heliocentric distances between 5.8 to 14.0 AU. All of the comets exhibited activity beyond the distance at which water ice sublimation can be significant. We have conducted experiments on gas-laden amorphous ice samples and show that considerable gas emission occurs when the ice is heated below the temperature of the amorphous-crystalline ice phase transition (T∼137 K). We propose that annealing of amorphous water ice is the driver of activity in comets as they first enter the inner Solar System. Experimental data show that large grains can be ejected at low velocity during annealing and that the rate of brightening of the comet should decrease as the heliocentric distance decreases. These results are consistent with both historical observations of distant comet activity and with the data presented here. If observations of the onset of activity in a dynamically new comet are ever made, the distance at which this occurs would be a sensitive indicator of the temperature at which the comet had formed or represents the maximum temperature that it has experienced. New surveys such as Pan STARRS, may be able to detect these comets while they are still inactive.     

An experimental study of the formation of an ice crust and migration of water vapor in a comet's upper layers

From recent close encounters with Comets Wild-2 and Tempel 1 we learned that their surfaces are very rugged and no simple uniform layers model can be applied to them. Rather, a glaciological approach should be applied for describing their surface features and behavior. Such intrinsically rugged surface is formed in our large scale experiments, where an agglomerate of ∼200 μm gas-laden amorphous ice particles is accumulated to form a 20 cm diameter and few cm high ice sample. The density, tensile strength and thermal inertia of our ice sample were found to be very close to those found by Deep Impact for Comet Tempel 1: density 250-300 kg m⁻³ vs DI 350-400 kg m⁻³; tensile strength 2-4 kPa vs DI 1-10 kPa; thermal inertia 80 W K⁻¹ m⁻² s^1/2 vs <100 W K⁻¹ m⁻² s^1/2 and <50 W K⁻¹ m⁻² s^1/2. From the close agreement between the thermal inertias measured in our ice sample, which had no dust coverage and that of Comet Tempel 1, we deduce that the low thermal inertia is an intrinsic property of the fluffy structure of the ice as a result of its low density, with an addition by the broken terrain and not due to the formation of a dust layer. Upon warming up of the ice, water vapor migrates both outward into the coma and inward. Reaching cooler layers, the water vapor condenses, forming a denser ice crust, as we show experimentally. We also demonstrate the inward and outward flow of water vapor in the outer ice layers through the exchange between layers of D₂O ice and H₂O ice, to form HDO.     

A ∼25 K temperature of formation for the submicron ice grains which formed comets

Following the observations of ice grains in cometary comae and their size distributions, we reexamined experimentally our previous conclusion that the ice grains which agglomerated to form comet nuclei were formed at ∼25 K. The suggestion of a ∼25 K formation temperature was confirmed experimentally. Moreover, we suggest that these ice grains had to be of submicron size.     

Comparison between the findings of Deep Impact and our experimental results on large samples of gas-laden amorphous ice

The findings of Deep Impact on the structure and composition of Tempel-1 are compared with our experimental results on large (20 cm diameter and up to 10 cm high) samples of gas-laden amorphous ice. The mechanical ∼tensile strength inferred for Tempel-1: ∼65 Pa is 30 to 60 times smaller than our experimental findings of 2-4 kPa. This means that Tempel-1 is even fluffier than our very fluffy, talcum like, ice sample. The thermal inertia: is very close to our value of 80. The density of , is close to our value of 250-300 kg m⁻³, taking into account an ice/silicate ratio of 1 in the comet, while we study pure ice. Surface morphological features, such as non-circular depressions, chaotic terrain and smooth surfaces, were observed in our experiments. The only small increase in the gas/water vapor ratio pre- and post-impact, suggest that in the area excavated by the impactor, the 135 K front did not penetrate deeper than a few meters. Altogether, the agreement between the findings of Deep Impact and our experimental results point to a loose agglomerate of ice grains (with a silicate-organic core), which was formed by a very gentle aggregation of the ice grains, without compaction.     

Appearance of layered structures in numerical simulations of polydisperse bodies accretion: Application to cometary nuclei

A model for the aggregation of size distribution of cometesimals (Gaussian or power law) into cometary nuclei is developed. Upon disruption induced by collisions, sticking and evolution of the tensile strength and density of the cometesimals by sintering processes are taken into account. The resulting cometary nuclei present specific internal structures that have been quantified to allow the comparison with observational constraints and future in situ observations and cometary nucleus sounding with the CONSERT radar on-board the Rosetta mission. A parameter called the homogeneity exponent, μ, determines different aggregation regimes. Fractal aggregates are formed for μ < 0.4. Radial variations in tensile strength appear for 0.4 < μ < 0.6 and vanish for larger values of μ. The initial size distribution (following a Gaussian or power law) of aggregating cometesimals does not influence strongly these values but can change the extent of corresponding layers. If the layering observed on the surface of some cometary nuclei occurs often and originates from primordial structures, this constrains the velocity distribution of aggregating bodies to follow v∝m^-0.25, while a differential size distribution following a power law with exponent between −2 and −3 should result for large bodies, in agreement with current estimations of the size distributions. Such a layered structure would lead to more cohesive, dense and less porous material located near the center of mass of the nucleus predicting an increase of bulk density of comet nuclei with their erosion state.     

Secular light curves of comets, II: 133P/Elst-Pizarro, an asteroidal belt comet

We present the secular light curve (SLC) of 133P/Elst-Pizarro, and show ample and sufficient evidence to conclude that it is evolving into a dormant phase. The SLC provides a great deal of information to characterize the object, the most important being that it exhibits outburst-like activity without a corresponding detectable coma. 133P will return to perihelion in July of 2007 when some of our findings may be corroborated. The most significant findings of this investigation are: (1) We have compiled from 127 literature references, extensive databases of visual colors (37 comets), rotational periods and peak-to-valley amplitudes (64 comets). 2-Dimensional plots are created from these databases, which show that comets do not lie on a linear trend but in well defined areas of these phase spaces. When 133P is plotted in the above diagrams, its location is entirely compatible with those of comets. (2) A positive correlation is found between cometary rotational periods and diameters. One possible interpretation suggest the existence of rotational evolution predicted by several theoretical models. (3) A plot of the historical evolution of cometary nuclei density estimates shows no trend with time, suggesting that perhaps a consensus is being reached. We also find a mean bulk density for comets of 〈ρ〉=0.52±0.06 g/cm³. This value includes the recently determined spacecraft density of Comet 9P/Tempel 1, derived by the Deep Impact team. (4) We have derived values for over 18 physical parameters, listed in the SLC plots, Figs. 6-9. (5) The secular light curve of 133P/Elst-Pizarro exhibits a single outburst starting at +42±4 d (after perihelion), peaking at LAG=+155±10 d, duration 191±11 d, and amplitude 2.3±0.2 mag. These properties are compatible with those of other low activity comets. (6) To explain the large time delay in maximum brightness, LAG, two hypothesis are advanced: (a) the existence of a deep ice layer that the thermal wave has to reach before sublimation is possible, or (b) the existence of a sharp polar active region pointing to the Sun at time = LAG, that may take the form of a polar ice cap, a polar fissure or even a polar crater. The diameter of this zone is calculated at ∼1.8 km. (7) A new time-age is defined and it its found that T-AGE = 80 cy for 133P, a moderately old comet. (8) We propose that the object has its origin in the main belt of asteroids, thus being an asteroid-comet hybrid transition object, an asteroidal belt comet (ABC), proven by its large density. (9) Concerning the final evolutionary state of this object, to be a truly extinct comet the radius must be less than the thermal wave depth, which at 1 AU is ∼250 m (at the perihelion distance of 133P the thermal wave penetrates only ∼130 m). Comets with radius larger than this value cannot become extinct but dormant. Thus we conclude that 133P cannot evolve into a truly extinct comet because it has too large a diameter. Instead it is shown to be entering a dormant phase. (10) We predict the existence of truly extinct comets in the main belt of asteroids (MBA) beginning at absolute magnitude ∼21.5 (diameter smaller than ∼190 m). (11) The object demonstrates that a comet may have an outburst of ∼2.3 mag, and not show any detectable coma. (12) Departure from a photometric R⁺² law is a more sensitive method (by a factor of 10) to detect activity than star profile fitting or spectroscopy. (13) Sufficient evidence is presented to conclude that 133P is the first member of a new class of objects, an old asteroidal belt comet, ABC, entering a dormant phase.     

Trapping of N2, CO and Ar in amorphous ice—Application to comets

Recent attempts using high resolution spectra to detect N⁺₂ in several comets were unsuccessful [Cochran, A.L., Cochran, W.D., Baker, E.S., 2000. Icarus 146, 583-593; Cochran, A.L., 2002. Astrophys. J. 576, L165-L168]. The upper limits on N⁺₂ in comparison with the positively detected CO⁺ for Comets C/1995 O1 Hale-Bopp, 122P/1995 S1 de Vico and 153P/2002 C1 Ikeya-Zhang range between . Ar was not detected in three recent comets [Weaver, H.A., Feldman, P.D., Combi, M.R., Krasnopolsky, V., Lisse, C.M., Shemansky, D.E., 2002. Astrophys. J. 576, L95-L98], with upper limits of Ar/CO<(3.4-7.8)×¹⁰⁻² for Comets C/1999 T1 McNaught-Hartley, C/2001 A2 LINEAR and C/2000 WM1 LINEAR. The Ar detected by Stern et al. [Stern, S.A., Slater, D.C., Festou, M.C., Parker, J.Wm., Gladstone, G.R., A'Hearn, M.F., Wilkinson, E., 2000. Astrophys. J. 544, L169-L172] for Comet C/1995 O1 Hale-Bopp, gives a ratio Ar/CO=7.25×¹⁰⁻², which was not confirmed by Cosmovici et al. [Cosmovici, C.B., Bratina, V., Schwarz, G., Tozzi, G., Mumma, M.J., Stalio, R., 2006. Astrophys. Space Sci. 301, 135-143]. Trying to solve the two problems, we studied experimentally the trapping of N₂+CO+Ar in amorphous water ice, at 24-30 K. CO was found to be trapped in the ice 20-70 times more efficiently than N₂ and with the same efficiency as Ar. The resulting Ar/CO ratio of 1.2×¹⁰⁻² is consistent with Weaver et al.'s [Weaver, H.A., Feldman, P.D., Combi, M.R., Krasnopolsky, V., Lisse, C.M., Shemansky, D.E., 2002. Astrophys. J. 576, L95-L98] non-detection of Ar. However, with an extreme starting value for N₂/CO = 0.22 in the region where the ice grains which agglomerated to produce comet nuclei were formed, the expected N₂/CO ratio in the cometary ice should be 6.6×¹⁰⁻³, much higher than its non-detection limit.     

Formation of smooth terrains on Comet Tempel 1

We suggest that the regions of smooth terrain which were observed on Comet 9P/Tempel 1 by the Deep Impact spacecraft were formed by blowing ice grains in an outburst of gas from the comet interior. When gas is released from 10 to 20 m deep layers which were heated to 135 K, it is released quiescently onto the surface by individual conduits. If large amounts of gas are released, the drainage system cannot release them fast enough and wider interconnected channels are formed, leading to sudden outburst of gas. Instability triggering a sudden shift of flow is well known in subglacial drainage of water. The ballistic trajectory of the ice particles reach a distance of 3 km in the atmosphereless comet, whose gravity is 0.034 cm s⁻¹, if ejected at an angle of 45° at a speed of 95 cm s⁻¹. This speed is close to the speeds measured in laboratory experiments: 167, 140×sini and 167 cm s⁻¹, for particles of 0.3, 1000 and 14-650 μm, respectively. Blowing of ice grains can overcome the 1650 m long horizontal section of smooth terrain i1 (Fig. 1), whereas simple flow of material downhill would stop close to the foot of the hill. The ice particles at the end of their trajectory have a horizontal velocity component and this low velocity ballistic sedimentation would lead to formation of lineaments on the smooth terrain, like in solid-particulate volcanic eruptions.     

Gas trapping in water ice at very low deposition rates and implications for comets

The effect of water ice formation temperature and rate of ice deposition on a cold plate on the amount of trapped argon (equivalent to CO), and the ratios of Ar/Kr/Xe trapped in the water ice were studied at 50, 27 and 22 K and at ice formation rates ranging over four orders of magnitude, from 10⁻¹ to 10⁻⁵ μm min⁻¹. Contrary to our previous conclusions that cometary ices were formed at 50-60 K, we now conclude that these ices were formed at about 25 K. At 25 K the enrichment ratios for Ar, Kr, and Xe remained the same as those at 50 K, reinforcing our suggestion of cometary contribution of these noble gases to the atmospheres of Earth and Mars.     

Comment on “Is the D/H ratio in the comet coma equal to the D/H ratio in the comet nucleus?” by M. Podolak, Y. Mekler, and D. Prialnik—rebuttal

We defend the position taken in our earlier note that under certain conditions the D/H ratio measured in the coma of a comet can be much higher that the D/H ratio in to cometary ice itself.     

Experimental simulation of the formation of non-circular active depressions on Comet Wild-2 and of ice grain ejection from cometary surfaces

Following the tracing of jets emanating from Comet Wild-2 to depressions in the ice by Brownlee et al. [2004. The Stardust—A successful encounter with the remarkable Comet Wild 2. Lunar Planet. Sci. 35. Abstract 1981], we demonstrated experimentally the formation of depressions and chaotic terrain on comet analogs when gas is released from underlying ice pockets. We also demonstrated experimentally the ejection of ice grains into the experimental cometary “coma.”     

Monte Carlo modeling of neutral gas and dust in the coma of Comet 1P/Halley

The neutral gas environment of a comet is largely influenced by dissociation of parent molecules created at the surface of the comet and collisions of all the involved species. We compare the results from a kinetic model of the neutral cometary environment with measurements from the Neutral Mass Spectrometer and the Dust Impact Detection System onboard the Giotto spacecraft taken during the fly-by at Comet 1P/Halley in 1986. We also show that our model is in good agreement with contemporaneous measurements obtained by the International Ultraviolet Explorer, sounding rocket experiments, and various ground based observations.The model solves the Boltzmann equation with a Direct Simulation Monte Carlo technique (Tenishev, V., Combi, M., Davidsson, B. [2008]. Astrophys. J. 685, 659-677) by tracking trajectories of gas molecules and dust grains under the influence of the comet’s weak gravity field with momentum exchange among particles modeled in a probabilistic manner. The cometary nucleus is considered to be the source of dust and the parent species (in our model: H₂O, CO, H₂CO, CO₂, CH₃OH, C₂H₆, C₂H₄, C₂H₂, HCN, NH₃, and CH₄) in the coma. Subsequently our model also tracks the corresponding dissociation products (H, H₂, O, OH, C, CH, CH₂, CH₃, N, NH, NH₂, C₂, C₂H, C₂H₅, CN, and HCO) from the comet’s surface all the way out to 10⁶ km.As a result we are able to further constrain cometary the gas production rates of CO (13%), CO₂ (2.5%), and H₂CO (1.5%) relative to water without invoking unknown extended sources.     

Observations of the inner coma of C/1995O1 (Hale-Bopp)—gas and dust production

Hale-Bopp (C/1995 O1) was the most productive recent comet observed in terms of gas and dust output. Since its discovery in 1995 at a distance of 7.14 AU from the Sun, the comet has been well observed, revealing the dynamics of a rare and large comet. Hale-Bopp showed strong emissions of the principle cometary gases CN, C₃, and C₂, as well as an abundance of dust. The production rates of these gases were found to be 1.45×10²⁸, 1.71×10²⁸, and , respectively, with dust production, in terms of Afρ, , as measured in the green continuum (5260 Å). The observations for this paper are presented in two groups spanning 10 days each, one group centered near 32 days prior to and the other 21 days after perihelion. The averages of dust and gas production rates show a slightly higher value for each prior to perihelion than after perihelion, consistent with a possible peak in production a few weeks prior to perihelion passage.     

Secular light curve of Comet 9P/Tempel 1

In support of the Deep Impact Mission, we have updated the secular light curve of 9P/Tempel 1 presented in Paper I [Ferrín, I., 2005. Icarus 178, 493-516], with new data sets. The secular light curves (SLC) of the comet are presented in the log and time plots (Figs. 1 and 2) and provide a clear profile of the overall shape of the envelope. We arrive at the following conclusions: (1) Improved values of 18 photometric parameters are derived including the turn on and turn off points, RON=−3.47±0.05 AU, ROFF=+4.20±0.05 AU, and TON=−410±25 d, TOFF=+555±25 d. (2) The improved SLC shows a most interesting and peculiar shape, with a linear power law of slope n=7.7±0.1 from RON=−3.47 AU to RBP=−2.08±0.05 AU, and then converts to a law with curvature. The break point of the power law at RBP=−2.08 AU, mV(1,R)=14.0±0.1 mag, is interpreted as a change in sublimating something more volatile than water ice (most probably CO₂), to water ice sublimation. In other words, the comet's sublimation is controlled by two different substances. (3) The photometric-age (defined in Paper I) and the time-age of the comet [Ferrín, I., 2006. Icarus. In press] are recomputed, and results in a value P-AGE=21±2 and T-AGE=11±2 comet years. Thus 9P is a young comet. (4) The comet is active almost up to aphelion since the turn off point has been determined at ROFF=+4.20±0.05 AU while aphelion takes place at Q=+4.74 AU. (5) The comet exhibits activity post-aphelion which is not understood. Two hypothesis are advanced to explain this behavior.     

Detecting active comets in the SDSS

Using a sample of serendipitously discovered active comets in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), we develop well-controlled selection criteria for greatly increasing the efficiency of comet identification in the SDSS catalogs. After follow-up visual inspection of images to reject remaining false positives, the total sample of SDSS comets presented here contains 19 objects, roughly one comet per 10 million other SDSS objects. The good understanding of selection effects allows a study of the population statistics, and we estimate the apparent magnitude distribution to r∼18, the ecliptic latitude distribution, and the comet distribution in SDSS color space. The most surprising results are the extremely narrow range of colors for comets in our sample (e.g. root-mean-square scatter of only ∼0.06 mag for the g-r color), and the similarity of comet colors to those of jovian Trojans. We discuss the relevance of our results for upcoming deep multi-epoch optical surveys such as the Dark Energy Survey, Pan-STARRS, and the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), and estimate that LSST may produce a sample of about 10,000 comets over its 10-year lifetime.     

The internal structure of Jupiter family cometary nuclei from Deep Impact observations: The “talps” or “layered pile” model

We consider the hypothesis that the layering observed on the surface of Comet 9P/Tempel 1 from the Deep Impact spacecraft and identified on other comet nuclei imaged by spacecraft (i.e., 19P/Borrelly and 81P/Wild 2) is ubiquitous on Jupiter family cometary nuclei and is an essential element of their internal structure. The observational characteristics of the layers on 9P/Tempel 1 are detailed and considered in the context of current theories of the accumulation and dynamical evolution of cometary nuclei. The works of Donn [Donn, B.D., 1990. Astron. Astrophys. 235, 441-446], Sirono and Greenberg [Sirono, S.-I., Greenberg, J.M., 2000. Icarus 145, 230-238] and the experiments of Wurm et al. [Wurm, G., Paraskov, G., Krauss, O., 2005. Icarus 178, 253-263] on the collision physics of porous aggregate bodies are used as basis for a conceptual model of the formation of layers. Our hypothesis is found to have implications for the place of origin of the JFCs and their subsequent dynamical history. Models of fragmentation and rubble pile building in the Kuiper belt in a period of collisional activity (e.g., [Kenyon, S.J., Luu, J.X., 1998. Astron. J. 115, 2136-2160; 1999a. Astron. J. 118, 1101-1119; 1999b. Astrophys. J. 526, 465-470; Farinella, P., Davis, D.R., Stern, S.A., 2000. In: Mannings, V., Boss, A.P., Russell, S.S. (Eds.), Protostars and Planets IV. Univ. of Arizona Press, Tucson, pp. 1255-1282; Durda, D.D., Stern, S.J., 2000. Icarus 145, 220-229]) following the formation of Neptune appear to be in conflict with the observed properties of the layers and irreconcilable with the hypothesis. Long-term residence in the scattered disk [Duncan, M.J., Levison, H.F., 1997. Science 276, 1670-1672; Duncan, M., Levison, H., Dones, L., 2004. In: Festou, M., Keller, H.U., Weaver, H.A. (Eds.), Comets II. Univ. of Arizona Press, Tucson, pp. 193-204] and/or a change in fragmentation outcome modeling may explain the long-term persistence of primordial layers. In any event, the existence of layers places constraints on the environment seen by the population of objects from which the Jupiter family comets originated. If correct, our hypothesis implies that the nuclei of Jupiter family comets are primordial remnants of the early agglomeration phase and that the physical structure of their interiors, except for the possible effects of compositional phase changes, is largely as it was when they were formed. We propose a new model for the interiors of Jupiter family cometary nuclei, called the talps or “layered pile” model, in which the interior consists of a core overlain by a pile of randomly stacked layers. We discuss how several cometary characteristics—layers, surface texture, indications of flow, compositional inhomogeneity, low bulk density low strength, propensity to split, etc., might be explained in terms of this model. Finally, we make some observational predictions and suggest goals for future space observations of these objects.     

Properties of the dust cloud caused by the Deep Impact experiment

We present an analysis of the observations of the Deep Impact event performed by the OSIRIS narrow angle camera aboard the Rosetta spacecraft over two weeks, in an effort to characterize the cometary dust grains ejected from the nucleus of Comet 9P/Tempel 1. We adopt a Monte Carlo approach to generate calibrated synthetic images, and a linear combination of them is fitted to the calibrated images so as to determine the physical parameters of the dust cloud. Our model considers spherical olivine particles with a density of 3780 kg m⁻³. It incorporates constraints on the direction of the cone of emission coming from additional images obtained at Pic du Midi observatory, and constraints on the dust terminal velocities coming from the physics of the impact. We find that the slope of the differential dust size distribution of grains with radii <20 μm (β>0.008) is 3.1±0.3, a value typical of cometary dust tails. This shows that there is no evidence in our data for an enhancement in sub-micron particles in the ejecta compared to the typical dust distribution of active comets. We estimate the mass of particles with radii <1.4 μm (β>0.14) to be 1.5±0.2×¹⁰⁵ kg. These particles represent more than 80% of the cross-section of the observed dust cloud. The mass carried by larger particles depends whether the gas significantly increases the kinetic energy of the grains in the inner coma; it lies in the range 1-14×¹⁰⁶ kg for particles with radii <100 μm (β>0.002). We obtain the distribution of terminal velocities reached by the dust after the dust-gas interaction which is very well constrained between 10 and 600 m s⁻¹. It is characterized by Gaussian with a maximum at about 190 m s⁻¹ and a width at half maximum of 150 m s⁻¹.     

Shape and obliquity effects on the thermal evolution of the Rosetta target 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko cometary nucleus

This work is dedicated to the application to 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko of a new quasi-3D approach for non-spherically shaped comet nuclei with the aim to interpret the current activity of the comet in terms of initial characteristics and to predict shape and internal stratification evolution of the nucleus. The model is applied to differently shaped nuclei taking into account the characteristics of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko deduced from observations. We focus our attention on the combined effects that shapes and obliquity have on the comet surface and sub-surface evolution. We discuss the results in terms of activity, local dust mantle formation and disruption, erosion of the surface and internal stratigraphy.The results show that differently shaped nuclei can have different internal structures leading to different activity patterns and behaviors. Our calculations have shown that local variations in the dust and gas fluxes can be induced by the nucleus shape. The distribution of “active” areas on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko is different because of different shapes, reflecting the illumination conditions on the surface. These shapes can influence the structure of the inner coma, but the coma far away from the nucleus is only marginally affected by the nucleus shape. However, different comet behaviors can arise from differently shaped comet nuclei, especially in terms of local activity, surface and sub-surface characteristics and properties. The water flux local distribution is the most influenced by the shape as it is directly linked to the illumination. Irregular shapes have large shadowing effects that can result in activity patterns on the comet surface.The effects of different pole directions are discussed to see the relations with the nucleus activity and internal structure. It is shown that the orientation of the rotation axis plays a strong role on the surface evolution of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, determining seasonal effects on the fluxes. The activity of the comet changes greatly with the nucleus obliquity leading to pre-post-perihelion differences in the activity and seasonal effects. The effects of the dust deposition and crust formation on the cometary activity have also been simulated and are discussed with respect to 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko observations. The dust mantling is also strongly obliquity dependent, with different surface distributions of the dust-covered regions according to the different comet pole orientations. Finally, we show that our model can reproduce the fluxes behavior near perihelion in terms of amplitude and asymmetry, and we estimate 20% of the illuminated surface to be active.     

Mechanistic studies on the decomposition of carbon suboxide in a cometary ice analog

A cometary ice analog sample consisting primarily of carbon suboxide ice (C₃O₂) was produced from the irradiation of its precursor, carbon monoxide. This carbon suboxide sample was subjected to irradiation with energetic electrons at 10 K to simulate the interaction of carbon suboxide-rich cometary analog ices with ionizing radiation. The destruction of carbon suboxide as well as the production of the primary degradation products, dicarbon monoxide (C₂O), and carbon monoxide (CO), were monitored quantitatively by infrared spectroscopy in situ; the gas phase was simultaneously sampled via quadrupole mass spectrometry. A kinetic model was produced to help explain the decomposition kinetics of carbon suboxide in cometary ices and to infer the underlying reaction mechanisms.