The structure of cometary atmospheres

The distributions of various kinds of molecular ions in the atmospheres of new and old comets made up from dirty ice of the second kind (H₂O ice and hydrate clathrates of CO and N₂) have been computed at various heliocentric distances, by taking into account photoionization, ionmolecular reactions, electron-ion recombinations, and some transport effects. The results have been compared with observations and other computations. It is argued that dirty ice of the second kind model will impose a restriction on the theory of the origin of the solar system.