HCO+ in the coma of comet Hale-Bopp.
Maps of comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) in the millimeter-wave emission of the ion HCO+ revealed a local minimum near the nucleus position, with a maximum about 100,000 km in the antisolar direction. These observed features of the HCO+ emission require a low abundance of HCO+ due to enhanced destruction in the inner coma of the comet, within a region of low electron temperature (Te). To set constraints on the formation of HCO+ in the coma, as well as the location and magnitude of the transition to higher Te, the data are compared with the results of ion-molecule chemistry models.
Lovell
A J
AJ
Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 01003, USA.
Schloerb
F P
FP
Bergin
E A
EA
Dickens
J E
JE
Devries
C H
CH
Senay
M C
MC
Irvine
W M
WM
D055580:Astronomical Phenomena; D001256:Astronomy; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D007477:Ions; D019110:Meteoroids; D010777:Photochemistry; D013057:Spectrum Analysis
D006838:Hydrocarbons; D007477:Ions