ISSN:
1573-0794
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Physics
Notes:
Abstract Photoelectric spectrophotometric scans of Comet 1973 XII Kohoutek were made on November 25.85 and 28.85 UT, 1973. The vibrational temperature of C2, the total numbers of CN and of C2, and the production rates for CN and C2 are derived from the observed fluxes. The temperature of C2 was 4900 K on 25.85 November and 4300 K on 28.85 November. Mean abundance ratio of C2 to CN was about 2.7. From the variation of production rates with heliocentric distance, it is shown that there was an outburst on 25.85 November in both CN and C2 productions. For C2, the production rates are derived by using two coma models, i.e. the Haser's parent-daughter model and the model relevant to a proposition of Yamamoto (1981b) that C2 is formed via two-step photodissociation of its parent molecules. By comparing the production rate derived from the two models, it can be supported that C2 is formed via two-step photodissociation rather than one-step photodissociation. In consequence, it is shown that the variation of the production rate with heliocentric distance is largely modified compared with that derived from the Haser's model.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00919078
Permalink