Abstract
In this paper the sublimation mechanisms of parent molecules from nuclei will be reviewed from the point of view of theoretical models, and the results of models will be compared with the results of the extensive observation campaign of C/1995 O1 Hale-Bopp. The simple model of a mixture of ices in which each gas sublimates independently from the others when the right temperature has been reached is in many cases inadequate to explain the observations. Many minor volatiles can be trapped in the amorphous water ice and released in a complex way when particular ranges of temperature are reached. The presence of sublimating icy grains in the inner coma of comets, suggested many years ago, seems now to be proven, at least for Hale-Bopp. From these grains a significant amount of water and other volatiles could contribute to the total flux measured in the coma. The unprecedented coverage of Hale-Bopp’s gas production curve for such a long time and with so many instrumentshas offered to modellers a wonderful occasion to test and compare observation results with the predictions of sublimation models, demonstrating that current models are able to explain observed results.
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Capria, M.T. Sublimation Mechanisms of Comet Nuclei. Earth, Moon, and Planets 89, 161–178 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021502605024
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021502605024