N${}_2^{+}$ and CO${}^{+}$ in Comets 122P/1995 S1 (deVico) and C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp)

Abstract

We observed comets 122P/1995\,S1 (deVico) and C/1995\,O1 (Hale-Bopp) with high spectral resolving power in order to determine the ratio of N${}_2^{+}$/CO${}^{+}$ in their comae. While we clearly detected the CO${}^{+}$ in both of these comets, no N${}_2^{+}$ was detected in either comet. From these spectra, we derive sensitive upper limits for N${}_2^{+}$/CO${}^{+}$. These upper limits are substantially below other reported detections of N${}_2^{+}$/CO${}^{+}$ in other comets. We discuss the prior N${}_2^{+}$ detections and compare them with our observations. The abundance of N${}_2$ in comets is important to our understanding of the condensation of ices in the solar nebula. In addition, N${}_2$ is a tracer of Ar so study of N${}_2$ allows an understanding of the role of comets for delivering volatiles to the terrestrial planets. It appears that many, if not most, comets are depleted in N${}_2$ and it will be necessary to search for a mechanism for depleting this molecule in order to be consistent with current models of the solar nebula.

25 pages, 3 tables, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Icarus

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