The detection of solid phosphorus and fluorine in the dust from the coma of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko
E. Gardner, H. J. Lehto, Kirsi Lehto, N. Fray, Anaïs Bardyn, Tuomas Lönnberg, S. Merouane, Robin Isnard, Hervé Cottin, M. Hilchenbach, the COSIMA team
Abstract
ABSTRACT Here, we report the detection of phosphorus and fluorine in solid particles collected from the inner coma of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko measured with the COmetary Secondary Ion Mass Analyser (COSIMA) instrument on-board the Rosetta spacecraft, only a few kilometers away from the comet nucleus. We have detected phosphorus-containing minerals from the presented COSIMA mass spectra, and can rule out e.g. apatite minerals as the source of phosphorus. This result completes the detection of life-necessary CHNOPS-elements in solid cometary matter, indicating cometary delivery as a potential source of these elements to the young Earth. Fluorine was also detected with CF+ secondary ions originating from the cometary dust.