Abstract The mass spectrum obtained with the Positive Ion Cluster Composition Analyser (PICCA) instrument on the Giotto spacecraft outside of the contact surface in the coma of Comet Halley had been interpreted to contain ionized dissociation products of polymerized formaldehyde (polyoxymethylene or POM). Satellite peaks of the 45 amu and 61 amu groups have now been resolved in the low temperature coma inside the contact surface. They are consistent with POM, but also suggest other complex molecules and polymers. A much weaker peak in the PICCA mass spectrum and other, indirect evidence in the data from several other instruments also lead us to conclude that other polymers and complex molecules may exist in the comet. A polymer that fits these data is polymerized hydrogen cyanide. It is consistent with a weak peak in the PICCA mass spectum, and can serve as a source for the observed CN and N 2 jets. Just as is the case for POM and other complex molecules found in dust particles, the HCN polymer may have been produced on grains that later aggregated to form the comet nucleus. Additional polymerization induced by cosmic radiation may have formed a crust on the surface of the nucleus while the comet was in the Oort cloud.


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    Title :

    Halley's polymeric organic molecules


    Contributors:
    Huebner, W.F. (author) / Boice, D.C. (author) / Korth, A. (author)

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    1989-01-01


    Size :

    6 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



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