Very Large Telescope Observations of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS. II. From Quiescence to Glow: Dramatic Rise of Ni i Emission and Incipient CN Outgassing at Large Heliocentric Distances*

Abstract

We report VLT spectroscopy of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS (C/2025~N1) from $r_{\rm h}\!\simeq\!4.4$ to $2.85$~au using X-shooter (300--550\,nm, $R\!\simeq\!3000$) and UVES (optical, $R\!\simeq\!35k-80k$). The coma is dust-dominated with a fairly constant red optical continuum slope ($\sim$21--22\%/1000\AA). We report detection of CN emission and also detect numerous Ni\,\textsc{ii}~lines while Fe\,\textsc{i}~remains undetected, potentially implying efficiently released gas-phase Ni. At $r_{\rm h}\!\simeq\!3.14$~au we derive $3\sigma$ limits of $Q({\rm OH})<{1.48\times10^{26}}\ {\rm s^{-1}}$, but find no indications for [O\,\textsc{i}], C$_2$, C$_3$ or NH$_2$. From our latest X-shooter measurements conducted on 2025-08-21 ($r_{\rm h} = 2.85$\,au) we measure production rates of $\log~Q(\mathrm{CN}) = {24.81\pm 0.01}$ molecules s$^{-1}$ and $\log~Q$(Ni) $= {23.30\pm0.07}$ atoms s$^{-1}$, and characterize their evolution as the comet approaches perihelion.~We observe a steep heliocentric-distance scaling for the production rates $Q(\mathrm{Ni}) \propto r_h^{{-7.7 \pm 1.0}}$ and for $Q(\mathrm{CN}) \propto r_h^{{-6.7 \pm 0.2}}$, and predict a Ni--CO$_{(2)}$ correlation if the Ni\,\textsc{ii}\ emission is driven by the carbonyl formation channel.~Energetic considerations of activation barriers show that this behavior is inconsistent with direct sublimation of canonical metal/sulfide phases and instead favors low--activation--energy release from dust, e.g.~photon-stimulated desorption or mild thermolysis of metalated organics or Ni-rich nanophases, possibly including Ni--carbonyl-like complexes.~These hypotheses are testable with future coordinated ground-based and space-based monitoring as 3I becomes more active during its continued passage through the solar system.