Laboratory studies of polyoxymethylene: Application to comets

Abstract

Mass spectrometry experiments are described which show that polymeric forms of formaldehyde can exist in the gas phase and can sublimate at temperatures as low as 300°K. The results of the experiments are used to discuss the possible origin of the polymeric ions that have been observed with the PICCA instrument on the Giotto mission to Halley's comet. All of the experiments are consistent with the hypothesis that formaldehyde polymers are present in comets.