P. P. Saxena
Department of Mathematics and Astronomy, Lucknow University, Lucknow 226 007, India

Abstract. Nitrous oxide as a possible parent molecule in Comet 1P/Halley is discussed in light of in situ measurements and theoretical considerations. Hitherto undiscussed in cometary context, N₂O could be a trace parent molecule with Q(N₂O)/Q(H₂O) ~ 2 x 10^-4 in Comet 1P/Halley. Having a photo lifetime >10⁵ s at 1 au heliocentric distance during solar minimum conditions and with a gas outflow speed of 0.85 km s^-1 in the coma of Comet 1P/Halley, N₂O could reach into the tail of comet where it dissociates into N₂ and O. In this scenario, N₂O acts as a camouflage for N₂ and may help solve the puzzle of the presence of N⁺₂ ions only in the tail of Comet 1P/Halley.

Keywords: Comet 1P/Halley, cometary molecules: nitrous oxide, molecular nitrogen ion

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