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

AST 0709343施耐德AST 0708478 Kuhndrs.科罗拉多大学的尼古拉斯·施奈德和夏威夷大学的杰弗里·库恩将进行一项为期三年的观测计划，重点是对太阳系四种逃逸大气进行比较研究。该计划将在第一年从木卫一开始，然后添加木卫二、水星和土卫二。将在多轨道和磁场几何结构中获得多种大气物种的空间分辨地图和速度谱，以便量化逃逸率对这些贵重物品的依赖程度。间隔几周、几个月、几年的观察将探索逃逸时间变异性的真实本质。该团队将在毛伊岛的空军AEOS望远镜上使用HiVis梯形光谱仪。AEOS/HiVis组合是研究逃逸大气的理想工具。首先，梯形格式捕捉木卫一、木卫二和水星上已知的多种明亮物质的排放：钠、钾和氧在可见光范围内，以及潜在的硫和一氧化硫，使用仪器的红外臂。其次，高光谱分辨率很容易将辐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，以及任何高速尾巴。第三，优秀的AEOS图像质量将允许这些物体逃逸大气的前所未有的空间映射。第四，HiVIS的设施地位和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发用户仪器。以前的大气逃逸研究从未同时具有超过两个以上的优势，这突显了拟议计划的潜力。借助AEOS/HiVis能力，该团队将完成以下工作：绘制木卫一和木卫二大气多种成分的空间分布图，并将结果与大气来源和逃逸过程联系起来。他们将定位快速钠逃逸的来源区域，并测试氧排放来自逃逸分子与原子的假设。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对磁层的供应。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--的观测技术的优化。该项目还将通过培训、正式和非正式教育，就技术如何克服地球大气层的模糊影响产生更广泛的影响。首先，本科生和研究生将积极参与该项目。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的经验扩大他们对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内的萨默斯·博施天文台实现“视频天文之夜”。该团队进行的观测将实时显示大气的影响，以及即使是一个小型望远镜也可以克服这些影响。在项目过程中，数百名学生和普通公众将更多地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.***