Abstract
Mass spectra of cometary dust particles measured by the PIA dust particle analyser aboard the Giotto spacecraft show some unexpected and striking features. First, small particles below 10−14 g are much more abundant than anticipated by models. Second, most of the particles are rich in light elements such as H, C, N and O, suggesting the validity of models that describe the cometary dust as including organic material. Third, the light elements specifically seem to have a low ratio of mass to volume. Three examples of original mass spectra showing typical compositions are given; these have been measured and are compared with a computer-simulated mass spectrum.
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Kissel, J., Brownlee, D., Büchler, K. et al. Composition of comet Halley dust particles from Giotto observations. Nature 321 (Suppl 6067), 336–337 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/321336a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/321336a0
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