RESUMEN
Aerosols in Titan's atmosphere play an important role in determining its thermal structure. They also serve as sinks for organic vapours and can act as condensation nuclei for the formation of clouds, where the condensation efficiency will depend on the chemical composition of the aerosols. So far, however, no direct information has been available on the chemical composition of these particles. Here we report an in situ chemical analysis of Titan's aerosols by pyrolysis at 600 degrees C. Ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) have been identified as the main pyrolysis products. This clearly shows that the aerosol particles include a solid organic refractory core. NH3 and HCN are gaseous chemical fingerprints of the complex organics that constitute this core, and their presence demonstrates that carbon and nitrogen are in the aerosols.
Asunto(s)
Medio Ambiente Extraterrestre/química , Compuestos Orgánicos/análisis , Saturno , Aerosoles/química , Amoníaco/análisis , Atmósfera/química , Carbono/análisis , Cromatografía de Gases y Espectrometría de Masas , Gases/análisis , Gases/química , Calor , Cianuro de Hidrógeno/análisis , Nitrógeno/análisisRESUMEN
Modifications of the suprathermal electron population were observed by an electron spectrometer on Spacelab 1 during electron beam injections. The instrument covered its energy range (100 to 12,500 electron volts) and field of view ( approximately 2pi) with high energy, angle, and time resolution. The measurements demonstrate the presence of strong beam-plasma interactions during high-current modes of accelerator operations. Spacecraft charging could be studied as well as processes that accelerated electrons to more than four times the injection energy.
