The physical and infrared spectral properties of CO2 in astrophysical ice analogs

Both laboratory measurements and theory indicate that CO2 should be a common component in interstellar ices. We show that the exact band position, width, and profile of the solid-state 12CO2 infrared bands near 3705, 3600, 2340, and 660 cm-1 (2.70, 2.78, 4.27, and 15.2 micrometers) and the 13CO2 band near 2280 cm-1 (4.39 micrometers) are dependent on the matrix in which the CO2 is frozen. Measurements of these bands in astronomical spectra can be used to determine column densities of solid-state CO2 and provide important information on the physical conditions present in the ice grains of which the CO2 is a part. Depending on the composition of the ice, the CO2 asymmetric stretching band was observed to vary from 2328.7 to 2346.0 cm-1 and have full widths at half-maxima (FWHMs) ranging from 4.7 to 29.9 cm-1. The other CO2 bands showed similar variations. Both position and width are also concentration dependent. Absorption coefficients were determined for the five CO2 bands. These were found to be temperature independent for CO2 in CO and CO2 matrices but varied slightly with temperature for CO2 in H2O-rich ices. For all five bands this variation was found to be less than 15% from 10 to 150 K, the temperature at which H2O ice sublimes. A number of parameters associated with the physical behavior of CO2 in CO2- and H2O-rich ices were also determined. The CO2-CO2 surface binding energy in pure CO2 ices is found to be (delta Hs/k) = 2690 +/- 50 K. CO2-H2O and CO-H2O surface binding energies were determined to be (delta Hs/k) = 2860 +/- 200 K and 1740 +/- 100 K, respectively. Under our experimental conditions, CO2 condenses in measurable quantities into H2O-rich ices at temperatures up to 100 K, only slightly higher than the temperature at which pure CO2 condenses. Once frozen into an H2O-rich ice, the subsequent loss of CO2 upon warming is highly dependent on concentration. For ices with H2O/CO2 > 20, the CO is physically trapped within the H2O lattice, and little CO2 is lost until the sublimation temperature of the H2O matrix is reached. In contrast, in ices having H2O/CO2 < 5, the CO2 remains only to temperatures of about 90 K. Above this point the CO2 readily diffuses out of the H2O matrix. These results suggest that two different forms of H2O lattice are produced. The implications of these data for cometary models and our understanding of cometary formation are considered.     

Diurnal CO variations in the Venus mesophere from CO microwave spectra

Microwave spectra of carbon monoxide (¹²CO) in the mesosphere of Venus were measured in December 1978, May and December 1980, and January, September, and November 1982. These spectra are analyzed to provide mixing profiles of CO in the Venus mesosphere and best constrain the mixing profile of CO between ～ 100 and 80 km altitude. From the January 1982 measurement (which, of all our spectra, best constrains the abundance of CO below 80 km altitude) we find an upper limit for the CO mixing ratio below 80 km altitude that is two to three times smaller than the stratospheric (～65 km) value of 4.5 ± 1.0 × 10^?5 determined by P. Connes, J. Connes, L.D. Kaplan, and W. S. Benedict (1968, Astrophys. J.152, 731–743) in 1967, indicating a possible long-term change in the lower atmospheric concentration of CO. Intercomparison among the individual CO profiles derived from our spectra indicates considerable short-term temporal and/or spatial variation in the profile of CO mixing in the Venus mesosphere above 80 km. A more complete comparison with previously published CO microwave spectra from a number of authors specifies the basic diurnal nature of mesospheric CO variability. CO abundance above ～ 95 km in the Venus atmosphere shows approximately a factor of 2–4 enhancement on the nightside relative to the dayside of Venus. Peak nightside CO abundance above ～95 km occurs very near to the antisolar point on Venus (local time of peak CO abundance above ～95 km occurs at 0.6_?0.6^+0.7 hr after midnight on Venus), strongly suggesting that retrograde zonal flow is substantially reduced at an altitude of 100 km in the Venus mesosphere. In contrast, CO abundances between 80 and 90 km altitude show a maximum that is shifted from the antisolar point toward the morningside of Venus (local time of peak CO abundance between 80 and 90 km occurs at 8.5 ± 1.0 hr past midnight on Venus). The magnitude of the diurnal variation of CO abundance between 80 and 90 km is again, approximately a factor of 2–4. Disk-averaged spectra of Venus do not determine the exact form for the diurnal distribution of CO in the Venus mesosphere as indicated by comparison of synthetic spectra, based upon model distributions, and the measured spectra. However, the offset in phase for the diurnal variation for the >95 km and 80–90-km-altitude regions requires an asymmetric (in solar zenith angle) distribution.     

The distribution of carbon monoxide in the lower atmosphere of Venus

We have obtained spatially resolved near-infrared spectroscopy of the Venus nightside on 15 nights over three observing seasons. We use the depth of the CO absorption band at 2.3 μm to map the two-dimensional distribution of CO across both hemispheres. Radiative transfer models are used to relate the measured CO band depth to the volume mixing ratio of CO. The results confirm previous investigations in showing a general trend of increased CO abundances at around 60° latitude north and south as compared with the equatorial regions. Observations taken over a few nights generally show very similar CO distributions, but significant changes are apparent over longer periods. In past studies it has been assumed that the CO latitudinal variation occurs near 35 km altitude, at which K-band sensitivity to CO is greatest. By modeling the detailed spectrum of the excess CO at high latitudes we show that it occurs at altitudes around 45 km, much higher than has previously been assumed, and that there cannot be significant contribution from levels of 36 km or lower. We suggest that this is most likely due to downwelling of CO-rich gas from the upper atmosphere at these latitudes, with the CO being removed by around 40 km through chemical processes such as the reaction with SO₃.     

Laboratory studies of the interaction of carbon monoxide with water ice

The interaction of carbon monoxide (CO) with vapour-deposited water(H₂O) ices has been studied using temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and Fourier transform reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy (FT-RAIRS) over a range of astrophysically relevant temperatures. Such measurements have shown that CO desorption from amorphous H₂Oices is a much more complex process than current astrochemical models suggest. Re-visiting previously reported laboratory experiments (Collings et al., 2003), a rate model has been constructed to explain, in a phenomenological manner, the desorption of CO over astronomically relevant time scales. The model presented here can be widely applied to a range of astronomical environments where depletion of CO from the gas phase is relevant. The model accounts for the two competing processes of CO desorption and migration, and also enables the entrapment of some of the CO in the ice matrix and its subsequent release as the water ice crystallises and then desorbs. The astronomical implications of this model are discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

CLASSIFICATION OF THE ALLAN HILLS A77307 METEORITE

The Allan Hills A77307 meteorite has variously been described as a CO, CV, and a unique CO-CM related chondrite. We have found that its thermolum-inescence properties are very different from the established members of the CO chondrite class; it has a TL peak at 170 and a suggestion of a peak at 250°C, while CO chondrites have peaks at 91 ± 7 and 203 ± 11°C. Either the meteorite has suffered some form of alteration or it is not a normal CO chondrite. The latter is consistent with petrologic and compositional data which we interpret to indicate that although Allan Hills A77307 is related to CO chondrites it is not a normal member of that group.     

Carbon monoxide fluorescence from Titan's atmosphere

We report on the discovery of emissions due to carbon monoxide from Titan's atmosphere, from mid-infrared observations with the ISAAC spectrometer at the Very Large Telescope and covering the 4.50-4.85 μm range. We detected about 45 emission lines coinciding with CO ro-vibrational lines, including CO(1-0) (P18 to R11) and CO(2-1) (P11 to R11). We show that these emissions cannot be generated thermally but occur in non-LTE conditions, due to radiative de-excitation from the v=1 and v=2 CO levels after excitation at 4.7 and 2.3 μm by solar radiation. A complete fluorescence model is then developed, allowing to compute the state populations of the two most abundant CO isotopes and N₂(1). It includes absorption by CO and CH₄, and vibrational-thermal and vibrational-vibrational collisional exchanges with CO, N₂, CH₄, and H₂. Emerging radiances at the top of the atmosphere are evaluated with a line-by-line code and compared to observations. Contribution functions show that the CO emissions sound Titan's stratosphere: while the (1-0) lines generally probe two layers, located respectively at 100-250 km and 300-550 km, the (2-1) lines are sensitive to the intermediate layer at 150-300 km. A sensitivity study is performed to establish the effect of the main model parameters (temperature profile, collisional scenario, and CO stratospheric abundance) on the results. Models reproduce the essential structure of the observed emissions. The (1-0) fundamental band is generally well fit with a nominal CO mixing ratio of 32 ppm—as inferred in the troposphere from observations at 4.80-5.10 μm (Lellouch et al., 2003, Icarus 162, 126-143). However, this band is only weakly dependent on the CO abundance, and given temperature and collisional scenario uncertainties, it constrains the CO stratospheric mixing ratio only to within a factor of ∼3. In addition, the nominal model with 32 ppm CO underestimates the first hot (2-1) transition by approximately a factor of 2. This discrepancy can be resolved by a combined adjustment of collisional rates and an increased CO stratospheric ratio of 60 ppm, consistent with the determination of Gurwell and Muhleman (2000, Icarus 145, 653-656). In contrast, the CO vertical profile suggested by Hidayat et al. (1998, Icarus 133, 109-133), strongly depleted above 200 km, cannot match the data for any realistic collisional scenario, and is therefore not supported by our results.     

No compelling evidence of distributed production of CO in Comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) from millimeter interferometric data and a re-analysis of near-IR lines

Based on long-slit infrared spectroscopic observations, it has been suggested that half of the carbon monoxide present in the atmosphere of Comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) close to perihelion was released by a distributed source in the coma, whose nature (dust or gas) remains unidentified. We re-assess the origin of CO in Hale-Bopp’s coma from millimeter interferometric data and a re-analysis of the IR lines.Simultaneous observations of the CO J(1–0) (115 GHz) and J(2–1) (230 GHz) lines were undertaken with the IRAM Plateau de Bure interferometer in single-dish and interferometric modes. The diversity of angular resolutions (from 1700 to 42,000 km diameter at the comet) is suitable to study the radial distribution of CO and detect the extended source observed in the infrared. We used excitation and radiative transfer models to simulate the single-dish and interferometric data. Various CO density distributions were considered, including 3D time-dependent hydrodynamical simulations which reproduce temporal variations caused by the presence of a CO rotating jet. The CO J(1–0) and J(2–1) observations can be consistently explained by a nuclear production of CO. Composite 50:50 nuclear/extended productions with characteristic scale lengths of CO parent L_p > 1500 km are rejected.Based on similar radiation transfer calculations, we show that the CO v = 1–0 ro-vibrational lines observed in Comet Hale-Bopp at heliocentric distances less than 1.5 AU are severely optically thick. The broad extent of the CO brightness distribution in the infrared is mainly due to optical depth effects entering in the emitted radiation. Additional factors can be found in the complex structure of the CO coma, and non-ideal slit positioning caused by the anisotropy of dust IR emission.We conclude that both CO millimeter and infrared lines do not provide compelling evidence for a distributed source of CO in Hale-Bopp’s atmosphere.     

Eruptions of Comet Hale-Bopp at 6.5 AU

The prodigious output of dust and CO observed in comet Hale-Bopp at a heliocentric distance of 6.5 AU is strongly suggestive of high-pressure release of material from liquified subsurface domains rather than thermal evaporation from a sunlit patch of frozen CO. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Detection and evolution of the CO (Δv= 2) emission in Nova V2615 Ophiuchi (2007)

We present near-infrared (1–2.5 μm) spectroscopic and photometric results of Nova V2615 Ophiuchi which was discovered in outburst in 2007 March. Our observations span a period of ∼80 d starting from 2007 March 28 when the nova was at its maximum light. The evolution of the spectra is shown from the initial P Cygni phase to an emission-line phase and finally to a dust formation stage. The characteristics of the JHK spectra are very similar to those observed in a nova outburst occurring on a carbon–oxygen white dwarf. We analyse an observed line at 2.088 μm and suggest that it could be due to Fe  ii excited by Lyman α fluorescence. The highlight of the observations is the detection of the first overtone bands of carbon monoxide (CO) in the 2.29–2.40 μm region. The CO bands are modelled to estimate the temperature and mass of the emitting CO gas and also to place limits on the ¹²C/¹³C ratio. The CO bands are recorded over several epochs, thereby allowing a rare opportunity to study the evolution from a phase of constant strength through a stage when the CO is destroyed fairly rapidly. We compare the observed time-scales involved in the evolution of the CO emission and find a good agreement with model predictions that investigate the chemistry in a nova outflow during the early stages.     

The neutral carbon distribution in a bipolar outflow/molecular disc source configuration: G35.2−0.74N

Maps are presented of ³ P ₁→³ P ₀[C  i ] and J =2→1 C¹⁸O line emission from the interstellar molecular cloud G35.2−0.74N. The maps are interpreted with reference to a previous model for the structure of the cloud in which opposing jets from a central object, embedded in a rotating interstellar disc, precess and drive a bipolar molecular outflow. The C¹⁸O emission traces the rotating interstellar disc, but the [C  i ] emission shows several features. An unresolved component is observed which probably results from dissociation of CO in the centre of the disc by UV radiation from the central source. Background [C  i ] emission is also observed which shares the rotation of the disc on larger scales. The C  i /CO ratio in these components is typically a few per cent. High-velocity [C  i ] emission, where C  i /CO is high (>0.1–0.4), is observed between the CO molecular outflow and the cavity exacavated by the jet. This material has probably been accelerated by the jet but dissociated by far-UV radiation propagating through the cavity. The C  i /CO ratio falls as the shocked outflow later sweeps up CO.     

若干恒星形成区的^12CO（J=1—0）与^13CO（J=1—0）观测

首次利用紫金山天文台青海观测站13.7m毫米波射电望远镜对若干分子云与恒星形成区的~(12)CO(J=1—0)和~(13)CO(J=1—0)分子辐射进行了观测,得到了各自中心位置的谱线轮廓。作为一个实例本文将介绍如何通过对分子云~(12)CO(J=1—0)和~(13)CO(J=1—0)谱线的综合分析与计算得到云中的物理参数。     

Titan's 5 micrometers spectral window: carbon monoxide and the albedo of the surface

We have measured the spectrum of Titan near 5 micrometers and have found it to be dominated by absorption from the carbon monoxide 1-0 vibration-rotation band. The position of the band edge allows us to constrain the abundance of CO in the atmosphere and/or the location of the reflecting layer in the atmosphere. In the most likely case, 5 micrometers radiation is reflected from the surface and the mole fraction of CO in the atmosphere is qCO=10(+10/-5) ppm, significantly lower than previous estimates for tropospheric CO. The albedo of the reflecting layer is approximately 0.07(+0.02/-0.01) in the 5 micrometers continuum outside the CO band. The 5 micrometers albedo is consistent with a surface of mixed ice and silicates similar to the icy Galilean satellites. Organic solids formed in simulated Titan conditions can also produce similar albedos at 5 micrometers.     

Titan’s 5-μm window: observations with the Very Large Telescope

We report on mid-resolution (R∼2000) spectroscopic observations of Titan, acquired in November 2000 with the Very Large Telescope and covering the range 4.75-5.07 μm. These observations provide a detailed characterization of the CO (1-0) vibrational band, clearly separating for the first time individual CO lines (P10 to P19 lines of ¹³CO). They indicate that the CO/N₂ mixing ratio in Titan’s troposphere is 32±10 ppm. Comparison with photochemical models indicates that CO is not in a steady state in Titan’s atmosphere. The observations confirm that Titan’s 5-μm continuum geometric albedo is ∼0.06, and further indicates a ∼20% albedo decrease over 4.98-5.07 μm. Nonzero flux is detected at the 0.01 geometric albedo level in the saturated core of the ¹²CO (1-0) band, at 4.75-4.85 μm, providing evidence for backscattering on the stratospheric haze. Finally, emission lines are detected at 4.75-4.835 μm, coinciding in position with lines from the CO(1-0) and/or CO(2-1) bands. Matching them by thermal emission would require Titan’s stratosphere to be much warmer (by ∼ 25 K at 0.1 mbar) than indicated by the methane 7.7-μm emission and the Voyager radio-occultation. We show instead that a nonthermal mechanism, namely solar-excited fluorescence, is a more plausible source for these emissions. Improved observations and laboratory measurements on the vibrational-translational relaxation of CO are needed for further interpretation of these emissions in terms of a CO stratospheric mixing ratio.     

Cosmic ray generation by quasar remnants: constraints and implications

We report the first detection of CO in the bulge of M31. The ¹²CO (1–0) and (2–1) lines are both detected in the dust complex D395A/393/384, at 1.3 arcmin (∼0.35 kpc) from the centre. From these data and from visual extinction data, we derive a CO luminosity to reddening ratio (and a CO luminosity to H₂ column density ratio) quite similar to that observed in the local Galactic clouds. The (2–1) to (1–0) line intensity ratio points to a CO rotational temperature and a gas kinetic temperature of >10 K. The molecular mass of the complex, inside a 25-arcsec (100 pc) region, is 1.5×10⁴ M_⊙.     

Methods and Results of an Optical Search for Extraterrestrial Civilizations

I summarize fully-sampled observations of the 3 mm emission from CO and HCN in the inner arcminute of NGC 1068. The CO emission is distributed in the form of a molecular bar, coincident with the infrared bar, from which emanate two spiral arms. A relatively weak concentration of CO line emission is found at the nucleus. By contrast, the HCN emission is strongly concentrated at the center, with relatively weak emission in the region of the star-forming arms. The ratio of HCN to CO integrated intensities is about 0.6 over the central r ≉ 175 pc and is the highest ratio measured in the center of any galaxy; the ratio reflects the high thermal pressure (TK ~ 50 K, n[H2] ~ 4 × 106 cm-3) in the few hundred parsecs surrounding the nucleus. The kinematics in the star-forming arms are well described by circular orbits, with ordered noncircular motions of < 30 km s-1 that may be attributed to spiral density wave streaming. Interior to the bar, noncircular motions dominate the gas kinematics. A model of the CO kinematics contrains any Inner Lindblad Resonance to be close to the location of the hundred-parsec scale HCN ‘disk’. At the nucleus, the spatially unresolved CO emission shows a triplet velocity structure characteristic of kinematically independent regions. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The contribution by thunderstorms to the abundances of CO,C2H2, and HCN on Jupiter

The lightning energy dissipation rate on Jupiter from Voyager's observation is used, together with shock-tube experimental results and reasonable eddy diffusion coefficients for the various atmospheric layers, to compute the column abundances of lightning-produced CO, C₂H₂, and HCN. Shock-tube experiments on the hydrogenation of CO clearly rule out chemical “freezing” of CO at the 1064°K and 400-bar level and its subsequent upwelling to the upper atmosphere. Also, lightning in the water cloud cannot produce enough CO to meet its observed abundance. Hence, the CO is formed from an external source of oxygen or water. The production of acetylene both by lightning above the water cloud and by startospheric methane photolysis is required to maintain its observed abundance against destruction processes. This explains the decrease in the C₂H₂/C₂H₆ ratio from the equator to the pole, as observed in the IR. HCN production by lightning above the water cloud is sufficient to account for its observed abundance and meets the observational requirement of a tropospheric HCN source.     

GRAIN SIZE AND PETROGRAPHY OF C2 AND C3 CARBONACEOUS CHONDRITES

Grain size frequency distributions of the ≥ 0.1 mm size fractions have been measured for 19 C2 and C3 carbonaceous chondrites (7 CM2, 5 CO3, 6 CV3 and 1 CV2). The grain size frequency distribution curves and summary statistics are remarkably similar for the CM2 and CO3 meteorites, with ranges of median grain size from 2.36φ to 2.67φ and graphic mean grain size from 2.20φ to 2.59φ. The CV3 specimens are distinctly coarser than the CM2 and CO3 meteorites and have a wider range of grain size summary statistics. The grain size frequency data for fluid drop chondrules and for lithic chondrules show approximately the same size frequency characteristics as the more abundant particles in each of the petrologic subgroups. If the chondrules and other particles were produced by different mechanisms or in different environments, an extremely effective size sorting process is required to produce the observed grain size frequency distributions. Alternatively, most of the particles and the observed grain size frequency distributions might have been produced by small impacts into an immature, accretionary regolith. The strong similarity between the grain sizes of the CM2 and CO3 meteorites, together with previously recognized chemical similarities, suggest a genetic relationship between the two petrologic subgroups. The grain size frequency distributions of chondrules and other particles in CM2 and CO3 meteorites are different from those found previously in ordinary chondrites     

THE COLONY METEORITE AND VARIATIONS IN CO3 CHONDRITE PROPERTIES

The Colony meteorite is an accretionary breccia containing several millimeter-to centimeter-size chondritic clasts embedded in a chondritic host. Colony is one of the least equilibrated CO3 chondrites; it has an unrecrystallized texture and contains compositionally heterogeneous olivine and low-Ca pyroxene, kamacite with low Ni and Co and high Cr, amoeboid inclusions with low FeO and MnO, a fine-grained silicate matrix with very high FeO, and numerous small chondrules with clear pink glass. However, Colony differs from normal CO chondrites in several respects: Although Al, Sc, V, Cr, Ir, Fe, Au and Ga abundances are consistent with a CO chondrite classification, certain lithophiles (Mg and Mn), siderophiles (Ni and Co) and chalcophiles (Se and Zn) are depleted by factors of 10–40%. The shape of Colony's thermoluminescence (TL) glow curve is similar to that of Allan Hills A77307 (another unequilibrated chondrite with CO3 petrological characteristics) and different from those of normal CO chondrites. [ALHA77307 also resembles Colony in having low Mg, Mn, Ni and Co, compared to normal CO chondrites, but it possesses CO-CV levels of Se and Zn and nearly CV levels of Cd.] Colony is badly weathered; it contains 22.7 wt.% Fe₂O₃ and 5.7 wt.% H₂O. Recalculating the analysis on an H₂O-free basis with all Fe₂O₃, NiO and CoO converted to metal, yields an inferred original metallic Fe, Ni abundance of ～ 19 wt.%. This is similar to that of Kainsaz (an unweathered CO3 fall), but much higher than that of all other CO3 chondrites (< 6.3 wt.%). Although it is possible that Colony and either ALHA77307 or Kainsaz constitute distinct CO3 chemical subgroups, the weathered nature of Colony and ALHA77307 preclude the drawing of firm conclusions. Nevertheless, it is clear that CO3 chondrites vary more in compositional and petrological properties than was previously recognized.     

Large-Scale Mapping Observations of the C i (3P1-3P0) and CO (J = 3-2) Lines toward the Orion A Molecular Cloud

Large-scale mapping observations of the 3P1-3P0 fine-structure transition of atomic carbon (C i, 492 GHz) and the J=3-2 transition of CO (346 GHz) toward the Orion A molecular cloud have been carried out with the Mount Fuji submillimeter-wave telescope. The observations cover 9 deg2 and include the Orion Nebula M42 and the L1641 dark cloud complex. The C i emission extends over almost the entire region of the Orion A cloud and is surprisingly similar to that of 13CO (J=1-0). The CO (J=3-2) emission shows a more featureless and extended distribution than C i. The C i/CO (J=3-2) integrated intensity ratio shows a spatial gradient running from the north (0.10) to the south (1.2) of the Orion A cloud, which we interpret as a consequence of the temperature gradient. On the other hand, the C i/13CO (J=1-0) intensity ratio shows no systematic gradient. We have found a good correlation between the C i and 13CO (J=1-0) intensities over the Orion A cloud. This result is discussed on the basis of photodissociation region models.     

Spectroscopic study of ‘CO’ and its isotopic mm/submillimeter lines from dark cloud Lynds 183

We have made spectral line analysis of CO and its isotopic lines from dark cloud Lynds 183 (L183). Our dataset incorporates ¹²CO(1-0), ¹³CO(1-0) and ¹³CO(2-1) lines using NRAO-12 m and ¹²CO(3-2), ¹³CO(3-2) lines using CSO-10 m telescopes, respectively. Observations suggest steep north-south (direction with respect to the offset position (0, 0)) temperature gradient in the cloud. These are likely to be caused by non-uniform, Inter Stellar Radiation Field (ISRF) illumination due to the shadow of nearby L134 cloud complex. As the emission of radiation depends on local properties like density and kinetic temperature, the present study attempts to deduce the irradiation contrast (and the resulting temperature difference) using 1D Monte Carlo radiative transfer code RATRAN. The model results accord with the observed data and shows a temperature difference of ∼7 K mainly within the cloud envelope. This results in a non-uniform intensity distribution of both CO and its species.