论文标题

Cassini等离子体光谱仪IBS观测值的泰坦电离层中的重阳性离子基

Heavy Positive Ion Groups in Titan's Ionosphere from Cassini Plasma Spectrometer IBS Observations

论文作者

Haythornthwaite, Richard P., Coates, Andrew J., Jones, Geraint H., Wellbrock, Anne, Waite, J. Hunter, Vuitton, Veronique, Lavvas, Panayotis

论文摘要

泰坦的电离层在卡西尼航天器上的离子中性质谱仪和卡西尼血浆光谱仪(CAPS)测量,其中包含大量的碳氢化合物和硝酸阳离子和阴离子。在2009年,已经检查了来自帽子离子束光谱仪(IBS)传感器的五次紧密相遇的数据。卡西尼相对于泰坦电离层中的冷离子的高相对速度使CAPS IBS可以使Caps IBS作为质谱仪的功能。在170至310 U/Q之间的正离子质量在170至275 U/Q之间的离子质量组进行检查,其中包含14至21个重的重量(碳/氮/氧气)。这些组是远离泰坦(Titan)可用的原位数据所报告的最重的阳性离子组。发现离子组峰与与多环芳族化合物(PAC)相关的质量一致,包括多环芳族烃(PAH)和含氮的多环芳族分子离子。将离子组峰鉴定与先前提出的中性PAH进行了比较,并被发现在相似的质量上,支持PAH解释。还研究了离子组峰之间的间距,发现12或13 U/Q的间距表明添加了C或CH。最后,在研究的五个flybys中,几个离子基团的出现可能有所不同,这可能与在整个飞只观察到的太阳辐射条件有关。这些发现进一步了解了低质量离子和高质量负离子,以及泰坦大气中的气溶胶形成之间的理解。

Titan's ionosphere contains a plethora of hydrocarbons and nitrile cations and anions as measured by the Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer and Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) onboard the Cassini spacecraft. Data from the CAPS Ion Beam Spectrometer (IBS) sensor have been examined for five close encounters of Titan during 2009. The high relative velocity of Cassini with respect to the cold ions in Titan's ionosphere allows CAPS IBS to function as a mass spectrometer. Positive ion masses between 170 and 310 u/q are examined with ion mass groups identified between 170 and 275 u/q containing between 14 and 21 heavy (carbon/nitrogen/oxygen) atoms. These groups are the heaviest positive ion groups reported so far from the available in situ ion data at Titan. The ion group peaks are found to be consistent with masses associated with Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds (PAC), including Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) and nitrogen-bearing polycyclic aromatic molecular ions. The ion group peak identifications are compared with previously proposed neutral PAHs and are found to be at similar masses, supporting a PAH interpretation. The spacing between the ion group peaks is also investigated, finding a spacing of 12 or 13 u/q indicating the addition of C or CH. Lastly, the occurrence of several ion groups is seen to vary across the five flybys studied, possibly relating to the varying solar radiation conditions observed across the flybys. These findings further the understanding between the low mass ions and the high mass negative ions, as well as with aerosol formation in Titan's atmosphere.

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