Ethyl cyanide on titan: Spectroscopic detection and mapping using alma

M. A. Cordiner; M. Y. Palmer; C. A. Nixon; P. G.J. Irwin; N. A. Teanby; S. B. Charnley; M. J. Mumma; Z. Kisiel; J. Serigano; Y. J. Kuan; Y. L. Chuang; K. S. Wang

doi:10.1088/2041-8205/800/1/L14

Ethyl cyanide on titan: Spectroscopic detection and mapping using alma

M. A. Cordiner^*, M. Y. Palmer, C. A. Nixon, P. G.J. Irwin, N. A. Teanby, S. B. Charnley, M. J. Mumma, Z. Kisiel, J. Serigano, Y. J. Kuan, Y. L. Chuang, K. S. Wang

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Earth Sciences (Include Institute of Marine Environmental Science and Technology)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

58 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We report the first spectroscopic detection of ethyl cyanide (C₂H₅CN) in Titan's atmosphere, obtained using spectrally and spatially resolved observations of multiple emission lines with the Atacama Large Millimeter/ submillimeter Array (ALMA). The presence of C₂H₅CN in Titan's ionosphere was previously inferred from Cassini ion mass spectrometry measurements of C₂H₅CNH⁺. Here we report the detection of 27 rotational lines from C₂H₅CN (in 19 separate emission features detected at >3s confidence) in the frequency range 222-241 GHz. Simultaneous detections of multiple emission lines from HC₃N, CH₃CN, and CH₃CCH were also obtained. In contrast to HC₃N, CH₃CN, and CH₃CCH, which peak in Titan's northern (spring) hemisphere, the emission from C₂H₅CN is found to be concentrated in the southern (autumn) hemisphere, suggesting a distinctly different chemistry for this species, consistent with a relatively short chemical lifetime for C₂H₅CN. Radiative transfer models show that C₂H₅CN is most concentrated at altitudes ≳200 km, suggesting production predominantly in the stratosphere and above.

Original language	English
Article number	L14
Journal	Astrophysical Journal Letters
Volume	800
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/800/1/L14
Publication status	Published - 2015 Feb 10

Keywords

Planets and satellites: atmospheres
Planets and satellites: individual (Titan)
Techniques: imaging spectroscopy
Techniques: interferometric

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1088/2041-8205/800/1/L14

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title = "Ethyl cyanide on titan: Spectroscopic detection and mapping using alma",

abstract = "We report the first spectroscopic detection of ethyl cyanide (C2H5CN) in Titan's atmosphere, obtained using spectrally and spatially resolved observations of multiple emission lines with the Atacama Large Millimeter/ submillimeter Array (ALMA). The presence of C2H5CN in Titan's ionosphere was previously inferred from Cassini ion mass spectrometry measurements of C2H5CNH+. Here we report the detection of 27 rotational lines from C2H5CN (in 19 separate emission features detected at >3s confidence) in the frequency range 222-241 GHz. Simultaneous detections of multiple emission lines from HC3N, CH3CN, and CH3CCH were also obtained. In contrast to HC3N, CH3CN, and CH3CCH, which peak in Titan's northern (spring) hemisphere, the emission from C2H5CN is found to be concentrated in the southern (autumn) hemisphere, suggesting a distinctly different chemistry for this species, consistent with a relatively short chemical lifetime for C2H5CN. Radiative transfer models show that C2H5CN is most concentrated at altitudes ≳200 km, suggesting production predominantly in the stratosphere and above.",

keywords = "Planets and satellites: atmospheres, Planets and satellites: individual (Titan), Techniques: imaging spectroscopy, Techniques: interferometric",

author = "Cordiner, {M. A.} and Palmer, {M. Y.} and Nixon, {C. A.} and Irwin, {P. G.J.} and Teanby, {N. A.} and Charnley, {S. B.} and Mumma, {M. J.} and Z. Kisiel and J. Serigano and Kuan, {Y. J.} and Chuang, {Y. L.} and Wang, {K. S.}",

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doi = "10.1088/2041-8205/800/1/L14",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Ethyl cyanide on titan

T2 - Spectroscopic detection and mapping using alma

AU - Cordiner, M. A.

AU - Palmer, M. Y.

AU - Nixon, C. A.

AU - Irwin, P. G.J.

AU - Teanby, N. A.

AU - Charnley, S. B.

AU - Mumma, M. J.

AU - Kisiel, Z.

AU - Serigano, J.

AU - Kuan, Y. J.

AU - Chuang, Y. L.

AU - Wang, K. S.

PY - 2015/2/10

Y1 - 2015/2/10

N2 - We report the first spectroscopic detection of ethyl cyanide (C2H5CN) in Titan's atmosphere, obtained using spectrally and spatially resolved observations of multiple emission lines with the Atacama Large Millimeter/ submillimeter Array (ALMA). The presence of C2H5CN in Titan's ionosphere was previously inferred from Cassini ion mass spectrometry measurements of C2H5CNH+. Here we report the detection of 27 rotational lines from C2H5CN (in 19 separate emission features detected at >3s confidence) in the frequency range 222-241 GHz. Simultaneous detections of multiple emission lines from HC3N, CH3CN, and CH3CCH were also obtained. In contrast to HC3N, CH3CN, and CH3CCH, which peak in Titan's northern (spring) hemisphere, the emission from C2H5CN is found to be concentrated in the southern (autumn) hemisphere, suggesting a distinctly different chemistry for this species, consistent with a relatively short chemical lifetime for C2H5CN. Radiative transfer models show that C2H5CN is most concentrated at altitudes ≳200 km, suggesting production predominantly in the stratosphere and above.

AB - We report the first spectroscopic detection of ethyl cyanide (C2H5CN) in Titan's atmosphere, obtained using spectrally and spatially resolved observations of multiple emission lines with the Atacama Large Millimeter/ submillimeter Array (ALMA). The presence of C2H5CN in Titan's ionosphere was previously inferred from Cassini ion mass spectrometry measurements of C2H5CNH+. Here we report the detection of 27 rotational lines from C2H5CN (in 19 separate emission features detected at >3s confidence) in the frequency range 222-241 GHz. Simultaneous detections of multiple emission lines from HC3N, CH3CN, and CH3CCH were also obtained. In contrast to HC3N, CH3CN, and CH3CCH, which peak in Titan's northern (spring) hemisphere, the emission from C2H5CN is found to be concentrated in the southern (autumn) hemisphere, suggesting a distinctly different chemistry for this species, consistent with a relatively short chemical lifetime for C2H5CN. Radiative transfer models show that C2H5CN is most concentrated at altitudes ≳200 km, suggesting production predominantly in the stratosphere and above.

KW - Planets and satellites: atmospheres

KW - Planets and satellites: individual (Titan)

KW - Techniques: imaging spectroscopy

KW - Techniques: interferometric

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JO - Astrophysical Journal Letters

JF - Astrophysical Journal Letters

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ER -

Ethyl cyanide on titan: Spectroscopic detection and mapping using alma

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