Analysis of Hydrogen H alpha Observations of the Coma of Comet P/Halley
Abstract
The Monte Carlo Particle Trajectory Model of Combi and Smyth (1988) is used here to analyze observations of the H-alpha coma of Comet Halley. The solar excitation mechanism for the H-alpha emissions line is described. The H2O production rates derived for the H-alpha brightness measurements are shown to be very consistent with the H2O production rates determined from other Comet Halley observations of the H, O, and OH comae. Revised H2O production rates determined from 6300 A brightness measurements are presented.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- August 1993
- DOI:
- 10.1086/173043
- Bibcode:
- 1993ApJ...413..756S
- Keywords:
-
- Cometary Atmospheres;
- Halley'S Comet;
- Hydrogen;
- Interstellar Chemistry;
- Reaction Kinetics;
- Water;
- Emission Spectra;
- Fabry-Perot Spectrometers;
- H Alpha Line;
- Mathematical Models;
- Monte Carlo Method;
- Astrophysics;
- COMETS: GENERAL;
- MOLECULAR PROCESSES