Chemical and physical properties of gas jets in comets II. Modeling OH, CN and C-2 jets in Comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) one month after perihelion

    Authors

    S. M. Lederer; H. Campins;D. J. Osip

    Abstract

    We present an analysis of OH, CN, and C-2 jets observed in Comet Hale-Bopp during April 22-26, 1997. We conclude that an extended source, which peaks in productivity after a certain amount of time has passed after being released from the nucleus (8.5, 2.5, and 42.6 X 10(4) s, respectively) is responsible for the observed coma jet morphology in all three species. Sub-micron organic grains are the favored explanation for the extended source. Our models indicate that this extended Source produces approximately 40% of the OH, 50% of the C-2, and 75% of the CN. The balance for each species is created by a diffuse nuclear gas source. Compared with the nuclear gas Source and normalized to the CN abundance, the composition of the extended Source is depleted in OH by a factor of similar to 6, and depleted in C-2 by a factor of similar to 2. The existence of anti-sunward jets do not require production of radicals throughout the cometary night. Instead, our model demonstrates that active areas exposed to near-twilight conditions throughout the cornet's rotational period can produce the observed anti-sunward morphology. (c) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Icarus

    Volume

    199

    Issue/Number

    2

    Publication Date

    1-1-2009

    Document Type

    Article

    First Page

    484

    Last Page

    504

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000263250600023

    ISSN

    0019-1035

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