ISOTOPIC RATIOS OF CARBON AND OXYGEN IN TITAN’S CO USING ALMA

Abstract

We report interferometric observations of carbon monoxide (CO) and its isotopologues in Titan’s atmosphere using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). The following transitions were detected: CO ( J  = 1–0, 2–1, 3–2, 6–5), 13 CO ( J  = 2–1, 3–2, 6–5), C 18 O ( J  = 2–1, 3–2), and C 17 O ( J  = 3–2). Molecular abundances and the vertical atmospheric temperature profile were derived by modeling the observed emission line profiles using NEMESIS, a line-by-line radiative transfer code. We present the first spectroscopic detection of 17 O in the outer solar system with C 17 O detected at >8 σ confidence. The abundance of CO was determined to be 49.6 ± 1.8 ppm, assumed to be constant with altitude, with isotopic ratios 12 C/ 13 C = 89.9 ± 3.4, 16 O/ 18 O = 486 ± 22, and 16 O/ 17 O = 2917  ± 359. The measurements of 12 C/ 13 C and 16 O/ 18 O ratios are the most precise values obtained in Titan’s atmospheric CO to date. Our results are in good agreement with previous studies and suggest no significant deviations from standard terrestrial isotopic ratios.