CAREER: Fundamental Measurements of Mineral Optical Properties and Theoretical Treatment of Light Scattering at Infrared Wavelengths

本项目的研究目标是：（1）确定中红外MIR（~5-100 µm）光学常数（真实的和虚折射率; n和k）的33种矿物和玻璃的重要性，行星天文学研究，重点是单斜和三斜矿物，以及（2）开发和测试最先进的电动模型，该模型最终可以使用导出的光学常数来定量确定遥感物体的矿物学。该模型通过精确求解每个波/粒子界面处的麦克斯韦方程来确定球簇的散射特性。这项工作的更广泛影响包括若干教育部分。PI将指导博士后，研究生和多名本科生。PI开发的研究生课程和教师研讨会材料将通过卡尔顿学院的NSF资助的科学教育资源中心（SERC）网站提供给更广泛的教育界。PI计划的教师讲习班将加强长岛和纽约州高中地球科学学生的教育。长岛有多个“少数族裔占多数”的学区，因此研讨会极有可能对长岛的少数族裔产生广泛的影响。研究活动很重要，因为大多数太阳系天体的表面都是由粗颗粒和细颗粒组成的混合物，难以定量建模。了解这种物质的性质是了解这些物体组成的一阶问题。在这些研究目标取得进展的同时，PI还将扩大斯托尼布鲁克大学的研究生地球科学课程，并开发材料，培训K-12教师在遥感，矿物学和行星科学。本提案的课程目标是（1）开发和实施光谱学在行星科学中的应用的高级本科生/研究生课程，（2）开发演示使用航天器使命数据了解行星表面的介绍性讲座材料和实验室练习，以及3）开发和实施为期1天的，继续教育讲习班，为高中地球科学教师侧重于矿物学，光谱学和行星科学的互动作用，利用讲座和实验室材料先前描述。

The research objectives of this project are to (1) determine the mid-IR MIR (~5-100 µm) optical constants (real and imaginary indices of refraction; n and k) of 33 minerals and glasses of importance to planetary astronomical research, with a focus on monoclinic and triclinic minerals, and (2) to develop and test a state-of-the-art electrodynamic model that ultimately can use the derived optical constants to quantitatively determine the mineralogy of remotely-sensed objects. This model determines the scattering properties of clusters of spheres by exactly solving Maxwell's equations at each wave/particle interface. The broader impacts of this work include several educational components. The PI will mentor a postdoc, graduate student, and multiple undergraduates. The graduate course and teacher workshop materials developed by the PI will be made available to the broader educational community through the NSF-funded Science Education Resource Center (SERC) site at Carleton College. The teacher workshop planned by the PI will enhance the education of high school Earth Science students throughout Long Island and New York State. Long Island has multiple 'majority minority' school districts, so there is a strong likelihood of the workshop having a broad impact on minorities on Long Island.The research activities are important since most solar system objects have surfaces consisting of mixtures of coarse and fine particulates, which are difficult to quantitatively model. Understanding the nature of this material is a first order problem in understanding the compositions of these bodies. While work is progressing on these research objectives, the PI will also expand the graduate geosciences curriculum at Stony Brook University and develop materials to train K-12 teachers in remote sensing, mineralogy, and planetary science. The curricular objectives of this proposal are (1) development and implementation of an advanced undergraduate/graduate course in Applications of Spectroscopy to Planetary Science, (2) development of introductory lecture materials and laboratory exercises that demonstrate the use of spacecraft mission data to learn about planetary surfaces, and 3) development and implementation of a 1-day, continuing education workshop for high school earth science teachers focusing on the interactive roles of mineralogy, spectroscopy, and planetary science, utilizing the lecture and lab materials previously described.