Monodeuterated methane in the outer solar system. II - Its detection on Uranus at 1.6 microns

Abstract

The authors have detected the 3ν<SUB>2</SUB> band of CH<SUB>3</SUB>D in the spectrum of Uranus recorded with the Fourier Transform Spectrometer at the 4 m Mayall telescope of KPNO. Using a scattering-model atmosphere and spectral synthesis techniques, they derive a bulk CH<SUB>3</SUB>D/CH<SUB>4</SUB> mixing ratio of 3.6(+3.6, -2.8)×10<SUP>-4</SUP> from these observations. This suggests a deuterium enhancement in methane relative to that observed on Jupiter and Saturn.