A Study of Circumstellar Disks Using Infrared Molecular Diagnostics

利用红外分子诊断学研究星周盘

• 批准号: 0307497
• 负责人: Matthew Richter
• 金额: $ 28.63万
• 依托单位: University of California-Davis
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2003
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2003-08-01 至 2007-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0307497&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Study; Circumstellar; Disks; Using; Infrared

AST 0307497PI RichterThis project concentrates on spectroscopic observations of pre-main-sequence and main-sequence stars in an attempt to characterize disks at radii comparable to the orbits of terrestrial and gas giant planets in our own solar system. By observing multiple transitions of molecular hydrogen and other simple, gaseous molecules at high spectral resolution, the research team will place constraints on properties such as the temperature, the level of mixing between gas and dust, and the chemical state of protoplanetary disks. Most of the observations will be carried out using the Texas Echelon Cross Echelle Spectrograph, a high-resolution, mid-infrared spectrograph capable of sensitive, very high spectral resolution observations in the 4 to 25 micrometer wavelength regions. Using this instrument, selected sources will also be searched for water vapor, carbon monoxide, methane, and ammonia transitions. Comparing emission lines at very different excitation energies will help provide insight into the disk properties at varying radii.Broader Impacts. Because this research investigates the origins of planetary systems and the evolution of pre-biotic molecules within proto-planetary disks, any spectroscopic detection of forming planets and information regarding water and simple organic species near such planets are of interest to the general public. The investigator will continue to serve as the point of contact for this instrument with the astronomical community, maintain and improve the software he developed, conduct observations at the telescope, and assist in the reduction and analysis of data. This research will include graduate and undergraduate students in the project. The goal is to encourage the development of future instrumentalists by involving students in a relatively small research group that designs, builds, maintains, and uses forefront astronomical instruments.

AST 0307497PI Richter该项目专注于前主序星和主序星的光谱观测，试图描述半径与太阳系中类地行星和气态巨行星轨道相当的盘的特征。通过以高光谱分辨率观察氢分子和其他简单气态分子的多次跃迁，研究小组将对温度、气体和尘埃之间的混合程度以及原行星盘的化学状态等特性施加限制。大部分观测将使用德克萨斯梯形十字阶梯光谱仪进行，这是一种高分辨率中红外光谱仪，能够在 4 至 25 微米波长区域进行灵敏、非常高的光谱分辨率观测。使用该仪器，还将搜索选定来源的水蒸气、一氧化碳、甲烷和氨的转变。比较不同激发能量下的发射线将有助于深入了解不同半径下的圆盘特性。更广泛的影响。由于这项研究调查了行星系统的起源和原行星盘内生命前分子的演化，因此任何对形成行星的光谱探测以及有关这些行星附近的水和简单有机物种的信息都会引起公众的兴趣。研究人员将继续充当该仪器与天文学界的联络点，维护和改进他开发的软件，在望远镜上进行观测，并协助减少和分析数据。这项研究将包括该项目的研究生和本科生。其目标是通过让学生参与一个相对较小的研究小组来设计、建造、维护和使用最前沿的天文仪器，从而鼓励未来仪器学家的发展。