Large Aperture Oi6300 A Observations of Comet Hyakutake: Implications for the Photochemistry of OH and OiProduction in Comet Hale‐Bopp

Autor: Michael R. Combi, Jeffrey P. Morgenthaler, W. M. Harris
Rok vydání: 2007
Předmět:
Zdroj: The Astrophysical Journal. 657:1162-1171
ISSN: 1538-4357
0004-637X
DOI: 10.1086/511062
Popis: In previous work (Morgenthaler et al. and Glinski et al.), we proposed a revision to the standard OH photochemistry of van Dishoeck & Dalgarno in order to explain the anomalously bright [O I] 6300 A emission observed by several instruments in comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp). In order to test the validity of revisions to the OH photochemistry, we present wide-field Fabry-Perot [O I] 6300 A observations of comet C/1996 B2 (Hyakutake) and review similar observations recorded for 1P/Halley and 1989 c1 (Austin). Conventional long-slit spectroscopic observations of several comets in [O I] are also reviewed. The bulk of the evidence suggests that the OH photochemical rates of van Dishoeck & Dalgarno are, on the whole, correct and that the bright [O I] emission observed in Hale-Bopp, particularly at cometocentric distances beyond ~3 × 104 km, was unique to that comet, or possibly any comet with such a large production rate.
Databáze: OpenAIRE