Laboratory Studies Required to Quantify Airglow in CO2 Planets

凭借这一奖项，Konstantinos Kalogerakis博士将开展实验，以(1)测量在二氧化碳存在的情况下O+O和O+O2复合的速率系数；(2)确定它们在160 400 K范围内的温度依赖关系，这与火星和金星等行星上的二氧化碳有关；以及(3)研究氧原子复合产生的O2基态和激发态的产额。这些实验室测量对于定量了解和可靠地模拟二氧化碳行星的大气层和它们的气辉是必要的。了解涉及原子氧的过程对于研究和模拟行星大气中的组成、能量传递、气辉和传输动力学至关重要。我们对上述过程的理解存在很大的差距和不确定性，实验室测量的相关信息往往缺失或过时。这些实验室研究解决了行星科学中的具体问题，并提供了目前需要的基本物理测量，以解释和模拟火星和金星高层大气中重要的O原子过程。为了量化这两颗行星上的气辉并通过遥感探测它们的大气动力学，需要进行这些测量。Kalogerakis博士的实验室在进行这些类型的实验方面拥有深入的经验和良好的表现记录。这项工作的结果将有助于行星大气的建模人员、理论工作者和光学空气工学工作者。它们将提高过去和未来前往金星和火星任务的科学回报。将基础化学和物理学应用于在基础水平上研究碰撞过程，对于理解激光，特别是高功率化学激光器的运行也是至关重要的。最后，该项目将有助于一个或多个博士后研究员和暑期本科生的培训和研究经验。

AST0709173KalogerakisWith this award Dr. Konstantinos Kalogerakis will conduct experiments to (1) measure the rate coefficients for O + O and O + O2 recombination in the presence of CO2; (2) determine their temperature dependence in the range 160 400 K, relevant to the CO2 on planets such as Mars and Venus; and (3) investigate the yields of the O2 ground and excited states produced following O-atom recombination. These laboratory measurements are necessary for a quantitative understanding and reliable modeling of the atmospheres of the CO2 planets and their airglow. Understanding processes involving atomic oxygen is crucial for the study and modeling of composition, energy transfer, airglow, and transport dynamics in planetary atmospheres. Significant gaps and uncertainties exist in our understanding of the above processes, and often the relevant input from laboratory measurements is missing or outdated.These laboratory investigations address specific problems in planetary science and supply basic physical measurements currently needed to interpret and model important O-atom processes in the upper atmospheres of Mars and Venus. The measurements are needed to quantify airglow in these two planets and probe their atmospheric dynamics by remote sensing. Dr. Kalogerakis' laboratory has in-depth experience and a strong performance record in conducting these types of experiments.The results of the work will benefit modelers of planetary atmospheres, theoreticians, and optical aeronomers. They will enhance the scientific returns on past and future missions to Venus and Mars. Application of basic chemistry and physics to the study of collisional processes on a fundamental level is also critical for understanding the operation of lasers, especially high-power chemical lasers. Finally, the project will contribute to the training and research experience of one or more postdoctoral fellows and summer undergraduate students.***