Collaborative Research: A laboratory experimental study of astronomical dust analogs at ultraviolet-visible wavelengths

AST-1009544/1008330/1009113Pitman/Hofmeister/SpeckUnderstanding宇宙尘埃的性质和形成对我们理解宇宙至关重要。宇宙尘埃对光的吸收、散射和再发射对各种天体中观测到的光谱特征和辐射传输过程的解释有着深远的影响。尘埃对恒星的形成过程至关重要，了解高红移的尘埃对于宇宙学模型和暗能量研究是至关重要的。为了适当地考虑天体物理环境中的能量平衡，需要了解从几种类型的实验室数据获得的尘埃的物理性质：(1)可与观测光谱相比较的吸收光谱，以及(2)可用于推导(3)光学函数的反射率光谱。然而，对于许多据信存在于太空中的化合物，特别是在紫外线和可见光(UV-Vis)波长下，无法获得高质量的实验室数据。该项目将为陨石和凝聚序列中发现的一套固态材料提供所有三种形式的UV-VIS实验室数据。主要目标是：(1)确定选定的硅酸盐、硫化物、氧化物、玻璃和其他可能存在于太空中的材料的光谱行为；(2)确定这些材料的光学功能；(3)将这些数据应用于天文学中悬而未决的问题，并将所有数据提供给天文学社区。这项研究将扩大未被充分代表的群体的参与，并加强研究和教育的基础设施。这项协同的、跨学科的研究涉及天体物理、矿物物理和行星科学的科学家，使用实验室、观测和理论建模技术。天体物理学的实验室基础研究正处于关键阶段，这项工作将培训这一领域的新美国研究人员和学生，使人员与未充分利用但可用的设备相匹配。女性首席研究人员都是女性在科学领域的杰出榜样，在公共宣传和对本科生、研究生和K-12学生的积极指导方面有很强的历史。

AST-1009544/1008330/1009113Pitman/Hofmeister/SpeckUnderstanding the nature and formation of cosmic dust is crucial to our understanding of the Universe. The absorption, scattering, and re-emission of light by cosmic dust has a profound effect on the interpretation of observed spectral signatures and radiative transfer processes in a variety of astronomical objects. Dust is crucial to star formation processes, and understanding the dust at high redshift is vital to cosmological models and dark energy studies. To account properly for energy budgets in astrophysical environments requires an understanding of the physical properties of the dust, gained from several types of laboratory data: (1) absorbance spectra, which can be compared to observational spectra, and (2) reflectivity spectra, which may be used to derive (3) optical functions. However, quality laboratory data are not available for many of the compounds believed to exist in space, particularly at ultraviolet and visible (UV-vis) wavelengths. This project will provide all three forms of UV-vis laboratory data for a suite of solid-state materials found in meteorites and in the condensation sequence. The major goals are: (1) Determine the spectral behavior of selected silicates, sulfides, oxides, glasses, and other materials that may be present in space; (2) Determine optical functions for these materials; and (3) Apply these data to outstanding questions in astronomy, and make all of the data available to the astronomical community.This research will broaden the participation of under-represented groups and enhance the infrastructure for research and education. The synergistic, cross-disciplinary study involves scientists in astrophysics, mineral physics, and planetary science, using laboratory, observational, and theoretical modeling techniques. Laboratory fundamental research for astrophysics is at a critical stage and this work will train new U.S. researchers and students in this area, matching personnel with underutilized but available equipment. The female lead researchers are all strong role models for women in science, and have strong histories of public outreach and active mentorship of undergraduate, graduate, and K-12 students.