RUI: Infrared Spectroscopy and Characterization of Comets

由Karen Magee-Sauer博士指导的这个项目的主要目标是测量和比较几颗彗星中氨（NH3）、氰化氢（HCN）和乙炔（C2H2）的丰度。其他腈（HNC, HC3N）和碳氢化合物（C4H2）将在一颗相对明亮的彗星出现时成为目标。彗星的氮化学还没有很好地表征。这主要是由于测量N2的排放量很困难。因此，了解N2处理的产物对于表征彗星的氮丰度是非常重要的。比较彗星中氮的丰度与星际云中相应的丰度将为彗星形成过程中的氮加工提供线索。确定相互关联的对称烃（CH4, C2H2, C2H6）的相对丰度对于约束彗星的形成场景非常重要。一组彗星的共同相对碳氢化合物丰度可能反映了共同的加工历史。该项目的重点是利用不断扩大的地面红外光谱领域，通过对几种关键挥发物质的定量测量来确定彗星的组成。长缝红外光谱提供的高光谱和空间分辨率能够检测到每种物种的多种发射特征，并获得有关其生产的信息。当信噪比足够高时，空间轮廓可以分别识别从核中释放的物质和昏迷中产生的物质。这将有助于回答彗星中原生冰组成的基本问题，并有助于限制太阳系的模型。因为彗星是太阳系内行星的入侵者，它们向这些环境中引入了新的分子。彗星带来的有机物和水在地球生命的出现和进化中发挥了什么作用，这是天体生物学领域的一个关键问题。彗星的组成也是研究行星大气演化的一个重要环节。更广泛的影响：这个项目的更广泛的目标是加强研究环境，促进罗文大学这个本科院校的研究和教育的整合。为了实现这些目标，这项工作将涉及本科生的各个方面的研究。目标是培养学生在计算、分析和沟通技能方面的训练，这些技能是未来在科学、工程和教育领域取得成功所必需的。天文学研究的跨学科性质使它对来自不同背景的学生开放。参与天文研究可以为其他科学领域提供可转移的计算机和分析技能。因此，过去的研究生目前在工程、化学和海洋生物学领域就业和/或学习。在过去参与这项研究的学生中，来自代表性不足群体的学生占50%以上。这个项目为本科生提供了做研究的机会，否则他们就没有机会做研究了。这项研究计划使学生能够参加全国本科会议，参加夏季研究计划，并前往主要天文台。继续提供这些类型的外部体验，以及在研究丰富的环境中每天学习，对未来科学家的发展起着核心作用

AST 0407052Magee-SauerThe prime objective of this project directed by Dr. Karen Magee-Sauer is to measure and compare abundances of ammonia (NH3), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), and acetylene (C2H2) in several comets. Other nitriles (HNC, HC3N) and hydrocarbons (C4H2) will be targeted when a relatively bright comet is available. The nitrogen chemistry of comets is not very well characterized. This is largely due to the difficulty in measuring emission from N2. Thus, it is very important to gain an understanding of the products of N2 processing to characterize the nitrogen abundance in comets. Comparing the abundances of nitriles in comets with their corresponding abundances in interstellar clouds will provide clues to nitrogen processing during comet formation. Determining relative abundances of interrelated symmetric hydrocarbon species (CH4, C2H2, C2H6) is important for constraining cometary formation scenarios. Common relative hydrocarbon abundances for a group of comets might reflect common processing histories. The focus of this project is to utilize the expanding field of ground-based infraredspectroscopy to determine cometary composition through quantitative measurements of severalkey volatile species. The high spectral and spatial resolution afforded by long-slit infraredspectroscopy enables the detection of multiple emission features of each species, and yieldsinformation on their production. When the signal-to-noise is sufficiently high, the spatial profilescan separately identify material released from the nucleus from that produced in the coma. Thiswill help answer the basic question of the composition of native ices in comets, and helpconstrain models of the solar system. Because comets are intrusive visitors to the planets within our solar system, they introduce new molecules into these environments. What role the delivery of organics and water by comets played in the emergence and evolution of life on Earth is a key question in the field of astrobiology. The composition of comets is also an important link to the study of the evolution of planetary atmospheres.Broader Impacts: The broader objectives of this project are to strengthen the research environment and to promote the integration of research and education at Rowan University, an undergraduate institution. To work toward these objectives, this work will involve undergraduate students in all aspects of the research. The goal will be to develop students trained in computational, analytical, and communication skills required for future success in science, engineering, and education fields. The interdisciplinary nature of astronomical research makes it open to students from varying backgrounds. Participation in astronomical research provides transferable computer and analytical skills to other scientific fields. As a result, past research students are currently employed and/or studying in engineering, chemistry, and marine biology fields. Students from under-represented groups correspond to over 50% of past student participation in this research. This project offers undergraduates the opportunity to do research that they would otherwise not have the opportunity to do. This research program has enabled students to attend national undergraduate conferences, participate in summer research programs, and travel to major observatories. Continuing to provide these types of external experiences, along with learning everyday in a research-rich environment play a central role in the development of future scientists.***