EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Bhardwaj 2003
Bhardwaj, A. (2003). On the Solar EUV Deposition in the Inner Comae of Comets with Large Gas Production Rates. Geophysical Research Letters 30: doi: 10.1029/2003GL018495. issn: 0094-8276.

In this letter we have made a comparative study of degradation of solar EUV radiation and EUV-generated photoelectrons in the inner comae of comets having different gas production rates, Q, with values 1 ¿ 1028, 7 ¿ 1029, 1 ¿ 1031, and 1 ¿ 1032 s-1. We found that in higher-Q comets the radial profile of H2O+ photo-production rate depicts a double-peak structure and that the differences in sunward and anti-sunward photoionization rates are pronounced. We show that photoelectron impact ionization is an order of magnitude larger than photoionization rate near the lower photoionization peak in comets with Q > ~1 ¿ 1031 s-1. The present study reveals the importance of photoelectrons relative to solar EUV as the ionization source in the inner coma of high-Q comets.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Airglow and aurora, Planetology, Comets and Small Bodies, Atmospheres--composition and chemistry, Planetology, Comets and Small Bodies, Ionospheres--composition and chemistry, Planetology, Solar System Objects, Comets
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit