The detection of solid phosphorus and fluorine in the dust from the coma of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Issue 2 (25th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gardner, Esko; Lehto, Harry J; Lehto, Kirsi; Fray, Nicolas; Bardyn, Anaïs; Lönnberg, Tuomas; Merouane, Sihane; Isnard, Robin; Cottin, Hervé; Hilchenbach, Martin
• Is Part Of: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Volume 499:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 1870
• Page End: 1873
• Publication Date: 2020-09-25
• Subjects: comets: general -- comets: individual: 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko; Astronomy -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 520.5
• DOI: 10.1093/mnras/staa2950
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0035-8711

Abstract

ABSTRACT: 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.