Altwegg, K.; Balsiger, H.; Combi, M; De Keyser, J; Drozdovskaya, M. N.; Fuselier, S A; Gombosi, T I; Hänni, N.; Rubin, M.; Schuhmann, M.; Schroeder I, I.; Wampfler, S. (2020). Molecule-dependent oxygen isotopic ratios in the coma of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 498(4), pp. 5855-5862. Oxford University Press 10.1093/mnras/staa2701
|
Text
staa2701.pdf - Published Version Available under License Publisher holds Copyright. Download (2MB) | Preview |
The ratios of the three stable oxygen isotopes 16O, 17O, and 18O on the Earth and, as far as we know in the Solar system, show variations on the order of a few per cent at most, with a few outliers in meteorites. However, in the interstellar medium there are some highly fractionated oxygen isotopic ratios in some specific molecules. The goal of this work is to investigate the oxygen isotopic ratios in different volatile molecules found in the coma of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko and compare them with findings from interstellar clouds in order to assess commonalities and differences. To accomplish this goal, we analysed data from the ROSINA instrument on Rosetta during its mission around the comet. 16O/18O ratios could be determined for O2, methanol, formaldehyde, carbonyl sulfide, and sulfur monoxide/dioxide. For O2 the 16O/17O ratio is also available. Some ratios are strongly enriched in the heavy isotopes, especially for sulfur-bearing molecules and formaldehyde, whereas for methanol the ratios are compatible with the ones in the Solar system. O2 falls in-between, but its oxygen isotopic ratios clearly differ from water, which likely rules out an origin of O2 from water, be it by radiolysis, dismutation during sublimation, or the Eley–Rideal process from water ions hitting the nucleus as postulated in the literature.
Item Type: |
Journal Article (Original Article) |
|---|---|
Division/Institute: |
08 Faculty of Science > Physics Institute > Space Research and Planetary Sciences 08 Faculty of Science > Other Institutions > Emeriti, Faculty of Science 08 Faculty of Science > Physics Institute 10 Strategic Research Centers > Center for Space and Habitability (CSH) |
UniBE Contributor: |
Altwegg, Kathrin, Balsiger, Hans, Drozdovskaya, Maria Nikolayevna, Hänni, Nora Phillys, Rubin, Martin, Schuhmann, Markus, Schroeder I, Isaac Raedwald Hans Garfield, Wampfler, Susanne |
Subjects: |
500 Science > 520 Astronomy 600 Technology > 620 Engineering 500 Science > 530 Physics |
ISSN: |
0035-8711 |
Publisher: |
Oxford University Press |
Language: |
English |
Submitter: |
Dora Ursula Zimmerer |
Date Deposited: |
18 Feb 2021 08:57 |
Last Modified: |
05 Dec 2022 15:47 |
Publisher DOI: |
10.1093/mnras/staa2701 |
BORIS DOI: |
10.48350/152230 |
URI: |
https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/152230 |
Actions (login required)
 |
Edit item |