Photochemical S2: Evidence for Interstellar Grains in Comets
Abstract
The formation of S2 by ultraviolet photoprocessing of interstellar ices is shown to be a plausible explanation for the observation of this molecule in comet IRAS-Araki-Alcock 1983 VII. Not only S2 is expected to be in cometary ices but also products such as SH, SO, CS, CS2, HSO, OCS etc. The composition of the processed interstellar analog ices is compared with molecular production rates in comets. It appears that when the water fraction is high (>60 - 80%) S2, and other volatile species, can remain trapped in the cometary ice for a long period of time (>108years) as long as T ⪉ 100K.
- Publication:
-
ESLAB Symposium on the Exploration of Halley's Comet
- Pub Date:
- December 1986
- Bibcode:
- 1986ESASP.250c..21G
- Keywords:
-
- Chemical Composition;
- Comets;
- Interstellar Chemistry;
- Interstellar Matter;
- Photochemical Reactions;
- Ice;
- Sulfur Compounds;
- Volatility;
- Astrophysics