Evidence that 1I/2017 U1 (`Oumuamua) was composed of molecular hydrogen ice

TL;DR

This paper proposes that 'Oumuamua was composed mainly of molecular hydrogen ice, explaining its observed acceleration, shape, and trajectory through a novel sublimation model involving H2, and suggests such bodies form in cold molecular cloud cores.

Contribution

It introduces the hypothesis that 'Oumuamua's properties are consistent with H2 ice composition, providing a new explanation for its non-gravitational acceleration and shape evolution.

Findings

H2 sublimation can produce the observed acceleration

'Oumuamua's shape change is explained by mass wasting from sublimation

H2-rich bodies likely form in cold molecular cloud cores

Abstract

`Oumuamua (I1 2017) was the first macroscopic ($l\sim100\,{\rm m}$) body observed to traverse the inner solar system on an unbound hyperbolic orbit. Its light curve displayed strong periodic variation, and it showed no hint of a coma or emission from molecular outgassing. Astrometric measurements indicate that 'Oumuamua experienced non-gravitational acceleration on its outbound trajectory, but energy balance arguments indicate this acceleration is inconsistent with a water ice sublimation-driven jet of the type exhibited by solar system comets. We show that all of `Oumaumua's observed properties can be explained if it contained a significant fraction of molecular hydrogen (H$_{2}$) ice. H$_{2}$ sublimation at a rate proportional to the incident solar flux generates a surface-covering jet that reproduces the observed acceleration. Mass wasting from sublimation leads to monotonic increase in the body axis ratio, explaining `Oumuamua's shape. Back-tracing `Oumuamua's trajectory through the Solar System permits calculation of its mass and aspect ratio prior to encountering the Sun. We show that H$_{2}$-rich bodies plausibly form in the coldest dense cores of Giant Molecular Clouds, where number densities are of order $n\sim10^5$, and temperatures approach the $T=3\,{\rm K}$ background. Post-formation exposure to galactic cosmic rays implies a $\tau \sim 100$ Myr age, explaining the kinematics of `Oumuamua's inbound trajectory.