Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Sep 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009dps....41.1705m&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #41, #17.05
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
1
Scientific paper
Spectra and optical constants of nitrile ices known or suspected to be in Titan's atmosphere are presented from 2.5 to 200 microns (4000 to 50 cm-1). These results are relevant to the ongoing modeling of Cassini CIRS observations of Titan's winter pole. Ices studied include: HCN, hydrogen cyanide; HC3N, cyanoacetylene; CH3CN, acetonitrile; C2H5CN, propionitrile; C2N2, cyanogen; and C4N2, dicyanoacetylene. For each of these molecules we have calculated optical constants at a variety of temperatures from 15 to at least 95 K for crystalline-phase nitrile ice. Our results are focused on the crystalline ice phase formed after annealing the amorphous nitrile ice condensed at 50 K. In addition, we have recorded spectra for each nitrile deposited near its vaporization temperature and then cooled to 95 K, in search of metastable phases that would be relevant to Titan.
This laboratory effort uses a dedicated FTIR spectrometer to record transmission spectra of thin-film ice samples. Laser interference is used to measure film thickness during condensation onto a transparent cold window attached to the tail section of a helium cryostat. Optical constants, real (n) and imaginary (k) refractive indices, are determined using Kramers-Kronig (KK) analysis. Our calculation reproduces the complete spectrum, including all interference effects.
Support for this work comes from NASA's Cassini Data Analysis and Planetary Atmospheres Programs
Anderson Christian
Ferrante Robert F.
Hudson Reggie L.
Moore Marla H.
Moore William
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