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Figure 6. Simulated spectra for a closed source (top) and open source
(bottom) INMS measurement. These spectra were created using the total cross
sections from Kanik et al. [1993], Krishnakumar and Srivastava [1988; 1990],
Harrison et al. [1966], and Tawara and Kato [1987]; branching ratios from
the NIST library; absolute calibration from the INMS flight model; and
neutral densities at 950 km from the Toublanc et al. [1995] model neutral
atmosphere. The spectra show the spectral position and concentration of
the various cracking products resulting from the electron impact ionization
of the sampled neutral species that takes place in the ion source. Masking
from dissociative ionization of the primary species renders some constituents,
such as C2H4, HCN, and CH3, hard to detect. In such cases, however, it
is possible that the neutral densities can be deduced from ion densities
measured with CAPS and INMS, allowing important chemical pathways to be
distinguished by which, for example, HCN and polyacetylenes are formed
in the upper atmosphere. Closed source measurements will be used to determine
the density of N2 as a function of altitude, from which the scale height
and thus the thermal structure of the upper atmosphere can be derived.