Article (Scientific journals)
The CN isotopic ratios in comets
Manfroid, Jean; Jehin, Emmanuel; Hutsemekers, Damien et al.
2009In Astronomy and Astrophysics, 503, p. 613-624
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Keywords :
comets: general; techniques: spectroscopic; line: identification; line: profiles; molecular processes
Abstract :
[en] Our aim is to determine the isotopic ratios [SUP]12[/SUP]C/[SUP]13[/SUP]C and [SUP]14[/SUP]N/[SUP]15[/SUP]N in a variety of comets and link these measurements to the formation and evolution of the solar system. The [SUP]12[/SUP]C/[SUP]13[/SUP]C and [SUP]14[/SUP]N/[SUP]15[/SUP]N isotopic ratios are measured for the CN radical by means of high-resolution optical spectra of the R branch of the B-X (0, 0) violet band. 23 comets from different dynamical classes have been observed, sometimes at various heliocentric and nucleocentric distances, in order to estimate possible variations of the isotopic ratios in parent molecules. The [SUP]12[/SUP]C/[SUP]13[/SUP]C and [SUP]14[/SUP]N/[SUP]15[/SUP]N isotopic ratios in CN are remarkably constant (average values of, respectively, 91.0 ± 3.6 and 147.8 ± 5.7) within our measurement errors, for all comets whatever their origin or heliocentric distance. While the carbon isotopic ratio does agree with the terrestrial value (89), the nitrogen ratio is a factor of two lower than the terrestrial value (272), indicating a fractionation in the early solar system, or in the protosolar nebula, common to all the comets of our sample. This points towards a common origin of the comets independently of their birthplaces, and a relationship between HCN and CN. Appendices and Table [see full textsee full textsee full text] are only available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org Based on observations made with ESO Telescopes at the La Silla Paranal Observatory under programmes ID 268.C-5570, 270.C-5043, 073.C-0525, 274.C-5015 and 075.C-0355(A).
Disciplines :
Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
Author, co-author :
Manfroid, Jean  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO)
Jehin, Emmanuel  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Astrophysique et traitement de l'image
Hutsemekers, Damien ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Astroph. extragalactique et observations spatiales (AEOS)
Cochran, A.;  Department of Astronomy and McDonald Observatory, University of Texas at Austin, C-1400, Austin, USA
Zucconi, J*-M;  Observatoire de Besançon, 25010 Besançon Cedex, France
Arpigny, Claude ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO)
Schulz, R.;  ESA/RSSD, ESTEC, PO Box 299, NL-2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands
Stuewe
Ilyin, I.;  AIP, An der Sternwarte 16, 14482 Potsdam, Germany
Language :
English
Title :
The CN isotopic ratios in comets
Publication date :
01 August 2009
Journal title :
Astronomy and Astrophysics
ISSN :
0004-6361
eISSN :
1432-0746
Publisher :
EDP Sciences, Les Ulis, France
Volume :
503
Pages :
613-624
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Commentary :
http://de.arxiv.org/abs/0907.0311
Available on ORBi :
since 22 February 2010

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