Spectroscopy of the 3.4 micron emission feature in comet Halley

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (73) References (18) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Spectroscopy of the 3.4 Micron Emission Feature in Comet Halley Baas, F. ; Geballe, T. R. ; Walther, D. M. Abstract Infrared spectra in the 3-5 micron region have been obtained of Comet Halley after perihelion, at heliocentric distances of 1.6 and 2.0 AU. A broad emission feature, peaking near 3.4 microns and containing some spectral substructure, was observed, while at longer wavelengths only a featureless blackbody emission spectrum was seen. The emission feature probably arises from UV-pumped infrared fluorescence of organic molecules which are either in the gas phase or are embedded in very small grains. In the former interpretation the molecules must be quite large. These results lend support to the idea that comets formed out of interstellar grains whose molecular ice mantles largely consist of nonvolatile complex organic molecules. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: December 1986 DOI: 10.1086/184806 Bibcode: 1986ApJ...311L..97B Keywords: Astronomical Spectroscopy; Emission Spectra; Halley'S Comet; Infrared Spectra; Interstellar Matter; Molecular Interactions; Black Body Radiation; Organic Compounds; Spectral Energy Distribution; Astrophysics; COMETS; INFRARED: SPECTRA; MOLECULAR PROCESSES full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (2)