Gas Production Rates in Comets

Abstract

Emission fluxes of CN, C2 and C3 carbon- bearing molecular species observed in the coma of comets Bennett (1969i ≡ 1970II), West (1975n = 1976VI), P/Halley (1982i), Hartley-Good (1985l) and Bradfield (1987s) are analysed in the framework of Haser model. CN, C2 and C3 production rates are determined using recently derived fluorescence efficiencies. The dependence of CN, C2 and C3 production rates on the heliocentric distance and the possible correlations among these radicals is studied and briefly discussed.