The detection of solid phosphorus and fluorine in the dust from the coma of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko
Résumé
Here, we report the detection of phosphorus and fluorine in solid particles collected from the inner coma of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko measured with the COmetary Secondary Ion Mass Analyser (COSIMA) instrument on-board the Rosetta spacecraft, only a few kilometers away from the comet nucleus. We have detected phosphorus-containing minerals from the presented COSIMA mass spectra, and can rule out e.g. apatite minerals as the source of phosphorus. This result completes the detection of life-necessary CHNOPS-elements in solid cometary matter, indicating cometary delivery as a potential source of these elements to the young Earth. Fluorine was also detected with CF + secondary ions originating from the cometary dust.
Domaines
Planète et Univers [physics]| Origine | Fichiers éditeurs autorisés sur une archive ouverte |
|---|