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arXiv · 1405.6605

Complex organic molecules in comets C/2012 F6 (Lemmon) and C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy): detection of ethylene glycol and formamide

N. Biver·D. Bockelée-Morvan·V. Debout·J. Crovisier·J. Boissier·D. C. Lis·N. Dello Russo·R. Moreno·P. Colom·G. Paubert·R. Vervack·H. A. Weaver
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Abstract

A spectral survey in the 1 mm wavelength range was undertaken in the long-period comets C/2012 F6 (Lemmon) and C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy) using the 30 m telescope of the Institut de radioastronomie millimétrique (IRAM) in April and November-December 2013. We report the detection of ethylene glycol (CH$_2$OH)$_2$ (aGg' conformer) and formamide (NH$_2$CHO) in the two comets. The abundances relative to water of ethylene glycol and formamide are 0.2-0.3% and 0.02% in the two comets, similar to the values measured in comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp). We also report the detection of HCOOH and CH$_3$CHO in comet C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy), and a search for other complex species (methyl formate, glycolaldehyde).

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N. Biver, D. Bockelée-Morvan, V. Debout, J. Crovisier, J. Boissier, D. C. Lis, N. Dello Russo, R. Moreno, P. Colom, G. Paubert, R. Vervack, H. A. Weaver. 2014-05-26. Complex organic molecules in comets C/2012 F6 (Lemmon) and C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy): detection of ethylene glycol and formamide. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361%2F201423890

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