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Probable detection of organic-dust-borne aromatic C₃H₃⁺ ions in the coma of comet Halley

Anderson, K. A.; Reme, H.; Korth, A. +9 more

The heavy-ion analyser PICCA^1,2 on the Giotto spacecraft was used to determine the composition and energy distribution of positively charged ions in the coma of comet Halley. Here we argue that the distinct peak observed at mass 39 AMU is due to the aromatic cation C₃H₃⁺ (cyclopropenyl). Laboratory mass …