Collaborative Research: A Comparative Study of Escaping Atmospheres using AEOS/HiVIS

AST 0709343SchneiderAST 0708478KuhnDrs。科罗拉多大学的尼古拉斯·施耐德和夏威夷大学的杰弗里·库恩将执行一项为期三年的观测计划，重点是对太阳系中四种逃逸大气层进行比较研究。该计划将从一年级的木卫一开始，然后是木卫二、水星和土卫二。为了量化逃逸率对这些贵重物品的依赖，将在多个轨道和磁场几何形状下获得多个大气物种的空间分辨地图和速度谱。间隔数周、数月和数年的观测将探究逃逸时间变异性的真实本质。该小组将在毛伊岛的空军AEOS望远镜上使用HiVIS梯级光谱仪。AEOS/HiVIS组合是研究逃逸大气的理想工具。首先，梯队格式捕获了木卫一、木卫二和水星上已知的多种明亮物质的辐射：在可见光范围内的钠、钾和氧，以及利用仪器的红外臂可能产生的硫和一氧化碳。其次，高光谱分辨率很容易将发射从物体反射的太阳连续体中分离出来，同时允许精确测量线宽和速度偏移，以及任何高速尾。第三，卓越的AEOS图像质量将允许对这些物体的逃逸大气进行前所未有的空间映射。第四，HiVIS的设施位置和AEOS的灵活调度允许根据科学要求进行观测，而不是仪器块调度或单次用户仪表。在此之前的大气逃逸研究中，没有哪项研究同时具有以上两种优势，这凸显了该计划的潜力。有了AEOS/HiVIS能力，团队将完成以下工作：绘制木卫一和木卫二大气中多种成分的空间分布，并将结果与大气源和逃逸过程联系起来。他们将找到钠快速逃逸的源区域，并测试氧气释放来自逃逸分子而不是原子的假设。量化大气逃逸率及其时间变异性。研究人员将描述木卫一的大气层和磁层的供应。将这些技术扩展到水星和土卫二，基于对木卫一（大气逃逸的原型）观测技术的优化。该项目还将通过培训、正式和非正式的教育，就技术如何克服地球大气的模糊效应产生更广泛的影响。首先，本科生和研究生将积极参与项目。其次，研究人员教授光学和观测天文学课程，并将根据他们在AEOS的经验扩大自适应光学的覆盖范围。最后，该项目将在科罗拉多大学校园的Sommers Bausch天文台启用“视频天文之夜”。该小组进行的观测将实时显示大气的影响，以及即使是小型望远镜也能克服这些影响。在这个项目的过程中，数以百计的学生和公众将有更多的机会接触和欣赏这项重要的新技术

AST 0709343SchneiderAST 0708478KuhnDrs. Nicholas Schneider, University of Colorado, and Jeffrey Kuhn, University of Hawaii, will carry out a three-year program of observations focused on a comparative study of four escaping atmospheres of the solar system. The program will start with Io in Year 1, then add Europa, Mercury and Enceladus. Spatially-resolved maps and velocity spectra of multiple atmospheric species will be obtained in multiple orbital and magnetic field geometries in order to quantify the dependence of escape rates on these valuables. Observations spaced over weeks, months and years will probe the true nature of the temporal variability of escape. The team will use the HiVIS echelle spectrograph on the Air Force's AEOS telescope on Maui. The AEOS/HiVIS combination is the ideal tool for study of escaping atmospheres. First, the echelle format captures emissions from multiple bright species known at Io, Europa and Mercury: sodium, potassium and oxygen in the visible range, and potentially sulfur and sulfur monoxide using the IR arm of the instrument. Second, the high spectral resolution easily separates the emissions from the objects' reflected solar continua, while allowing accurate measurements of line widths and velocity offsets, plus any high-velocity tails. Third, the excellent AEOS image quality will allow unprecedented spatial mapping of these objects' escaping atmospheres. Fourth, the facility standing of HiVIS and the flexible scheduling of AEOS allow observing according to scientific requirements, not instrument block scheduling or single-shot user-instrumentation. No previous atmospheric escape study has had more that two of these advantages at the same time, which underscores the potential of the proposed program.With AEOS/HiVIS capabilities, the team will accomplish the following: . Map the spatial distribution of multiple constituents of Io and Europa's atmospheres, and relate the results to atmospheric source and escape processes. They will locate the source region for fast sodium escape, and test the hypothesis that oxygen emission comes from escaping molecules vs. atoms.. Quantify atmospheric escape rates and their temporal variability. The researchers will characterize Io's atmosphere & supply to the magnetosphere.. Extend these techniques to Mercury and Enceladus, based on optimization of observational techniques at Io - the archetype for atmospheric escape.This project will also have a broader impact through training, formal & informal education on how technology overcomes the blurring effects of Earth's atmosphere. First, undergraduate and graduate students will actively participate the project. Second, the investigators teach classes on optics and observational astronomy, and will expand their coverage of adaptive optics based on their experiences at AEOS. Finally, this project will enable "Video Astronomy Nights" at the Sommers Bausch Observatory on the University of Colorado campus. Observations carried out by the team will show in real time the effects of the atmosphere, and how even a small telescope can overcome these effects. Over the course of the project, hundreds of students and members of the generalpublic will have a greater exposure to and appreciation of this important new technology.***