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PAHs in Comets: An Overview

  • Conference paper
Deep Impact as a World Observatory Event: Synergies in Space, Time, and Wavelength

Part of the book series: Eso Astrophysics Symposia ((ESO))

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules, ubiquitously seen in the interstellar medium (ISM) of our own and external galaxies, might have been incorporated into comets if they are formed from relatively unprocessed interstellar matter. The detection of PAHs in comets would be an important link between the ISM and comets. This review compiles our current knowledge on cometary PAHs, based on ground-based and space-borne observations of infrared vibrational and ultraviolet fluorescence spectra of comets, and laboratory analysis of interplanetary dust particles possibly of cometary origin and cometary samples returned to Earth by the {Stardust}\ spacecraft. The latter provided the most unambiguous evidence for the presence of PAHs in cometary nuclei.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA

    A. Li

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  1. A. Li
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. European Southern Observatory, Karl-Schwarzschild-Str. 2, 85748 Garching, Germany

    H.U. Käufl

  2. Vrije Universiteit Brussel Astronomy Group, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium

    C. Sterken

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Li, A. (2009). PAHs in Comets: An Overview. In: Käufl, H., Sterken, C. (eds) Deep Impact as a World Observatory Event: Synergies in Space, Time, and Wavelength. Eso Astrophysics Symposia. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-76959-0_21

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