60 research outputs found
Laboratory Astrophysics and the State of Astronomy and Astrophysics
Laboratory astrophysics and complementary theoretical calculations are the
foundations of astronomy and astrophysics and will remain so into the
foreseeable future. The impact of laboratory astrophysics ranges from the
scientific conception stage for ground-based, airborne, and space-based
observatories, all the way through to the scientific return of these projects
and missions. It is our understanding of the under-lying physical processes and
the measurements of critical physical parameters that allows us to address
fundamental questions in astronomy and astrophysics. In this regard, laboratory
astrophysics is much like detector and instrument development at NASA, NSF, and
DOE. These efforts are necessary for the success of astronomical research being
funded by the agencies. Without concomitant efforts in all three directions
(observational facilities, detector/instrument development, and laboratory
astrophysics) the future progress of astronomy and astrophysics is imperiled.
In addition, new developments in experimental technologies have allowed
laboratory studies to take on a new role as some questions which previously
could only be studied theoretically can now be addressed directly in the lab.
With this in mind we, the members of the AAS Working Group on Laboratory
Astrophysics, have prepared this State of the Profession Position Paper on the
laboratory astrophysics infrastructure needed to ensure the advancement of
astronomy and astrophysics in the next decade.Comment: Position paper submitted by the AAS Working Group on Laboratory
Astrophysics (WGLA) to the State of the Profession (Facilities, Funding and
Programs Study Group) of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey
(Astro2010
Recommended from our members
Laboratory Astrophysics White Paper
Laboratory astrophysics and complementary theoretical calculations are the foundations of astronomical and planetary research and will remain so for many generations to come. From the level of scientific conception to that of the scientific return, it is our understanding of the underlying processes that allows us to address fundamental questions regarding the origins and evolution of galaxies, stars, planetary systems, and life in the cosmos. In this regard, laboratory astrophysics is much like detector and instrument development at NASA and NSF. These efforts are necessary for the astronomical research being funded by the agencies
Recommended from our members
New Discoveries in Planetary Systems and Star Formation through Advances in Laboratory Astrophysics
As the panel on Planetary Systems and Star Formation (PSF) is fully aware, the next decade will see major advances in our understanding of these areas of research. To quote from their charge, these advances will occur in studies of solar system bodies (other than the Sun) and extrasolar planets, debris disks, exobiology, the formation of individual stars, protostellar and protoplanetary disks, molecular clouds and the cold ISM, dust, and astrochemistry. Central to the progress in these areas are the corresponding advances in laboratory astro- physics which are required for fully realizing the PSF scientific opportunities in the decade 2010-2020. Laboratory astrophysics comprises both theoretical and experimental studies of the underlying physics and chemistry which produce the observed spectra and describe the astrophysical processes. We discuss four areas of laboratory astrophysics relevant to the PSF panel: atomic, molecular, solid matter, and plasma physics. Section 2 describes some of the new opportunities and compelling themes which will be enabled by advances in laboratory astrophysics. Section 3 provides the scientific context for these opportunities. Section 4 discusses some experimental and theoretical advances in laboratory astrophysics required to realize the PSF scientific opportunities of the next decade. As requested in the Call for White Papers, we present in Section 5 four central questions and one area with unusual discovery potential. We give a short postlude in Section 6
A Multi-Wavelength Study of Parent Volatile Abundances in Comet C/2006 M4 (SWAN)
Volatile organic emissions were detected post-perihelion in the long period comet C/2006 M4 (SWAN) in October and November 2006. Our study combines target-of-opportunity, observations using the infrared Cryogenic Echelle Spectrometer (CSHELL) at the NASA-IRTF 3-m telescope, and millimeter wavelength observations using the Arizona Radio Observatory (ARO) 12-m telescope. Five parent volatiles were measured with CSHELL (H2O, CO, CH3OH, CH4, and C2H6), and two additional species (HCN and CS) were measured with the ARID 12-m. These revealed highly depleted CO and somewhat enriched CH3OH compared with abundances observed in the dominant group of long-period (Oort cloud) comets in our sample and similar to those observed recently in Comet 8P/Tuttle. This may indicate highly efficient H-atom addition to CO at very low temperature (approx.10-20 K) on the surfaces of interstellar (pre-cometary) grains. Comet C12006 M4 had nearly "normal" C2H6, and CH4, suggesting a processing history similar to that experienced by the dominant group. When compared with estimated water production at the time of the millimeter observations, HCN was slightly depleted compared with the normal abundance in comets based on 1R observations but was consistent with the majority of values from the millimeter. The ratio CS/HCN in C/2006 M4 was within the range measured in ten comets at millimeter wavelengths. The higher apparent H-atom conversion efficiency compared with most comets may indicate that the icy grains incorporated into C/2006 M4 were exposed to higher H-atom densities, or alternatively to similar densities but for a longer period of time
New Discoveries in Stars and Stellar Evolution through Advances in Laboratory Astrophysics
As the Stars and Stellar Evolution (SSE) panel is fully aware, the next
decade will see major advances in our understanding of these areas of research.
To quote from their charge, these advances will occur in studies of the Sun as
a star, stellar astrophysics, the structure and evolution of single and
multiple stars, compact objects, SNe, gamma-ray bursts, solar neutrinos, and
extreme physics on stellar scales. Central to the progress in these areas are
the corresponding advances in laboratory astrophysics, required to fully
realize the SSE scientific opportunities within the decade 2010-2020.
Laboratory astrophysics comprises both theoretical and experimental studies of
the underlying physics that produces the observed astrophysical processes. The
6 areas of laboratory astrophysics, which we have identified as relevant to the
CFP panel, are atomic, molecular, solid matter, plasma, nuclear physics, and
particle physics. In this white paper, we describe in Section 2 the scientific
context and some of the new scientific opportunities and compelling scientific
themes which will be enabled by advances in laboratory astrophysics. In Section
3, we discuss some of the experimental and theoretical advances in laboratory
astrophysics required to realize the SSE scientific opportunities of the next
decade. As requested in the Call for White Papers, Section 4 presents four
central questions and one area with unusual discovery potential. Lastly, we
give a short postlude in Section 5.Comment: White paper submitted by the AAS Working Group on Laboratory
Astrophysics (WGLA) to the SSE SFP of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal
Survey (Astro2010
New Discoveries in Galaxies across Cosmic Time through Advances in Laboratory Astrophysics
As the Galaxies across Cosmic Time (GCT) panel is fully aware, the next
decade will see major advances in our understanding of these areas of research.
To quote from their charge, these advances will occur in studies of the
formation, evolution, and global properties of galaxies and galaxy clusters, as
well as active galactic nuclei and QSOs, mergers, star formation rate, gas
accretion, and supermassive black holes. Central to the progress in these areas
are the corresponding advances in laboratory astrophysics that are required for
fully realizing the GCT scientific opportunities within the decade 2010-2020.
Laboratory astrophysics comprises both theoretical and experimental studies of
the underlying physics that produce the observed astrophysical processes. The 5
areas of laboratory astrophysics that we have identified as relevant to the CFP
panel are atomic, molecular, solid matter, plasma, nuclear, and particle
physics. In this white paper, we describe in Section 2 some of the new
scientific opportunities and compelling scientific themes that will be enabled
by advances in laboratory astrophysics. In Section 3, we provide the scientific
context for these opportunities. Section 4 briefly discusses some of the
experimental and theoretical advances in laboratory astrophysics required to
realize the GCT scientific opportunities of the next decade. As requested in
the Call for White Papers, Section 5 presents four central questions and one
area with unusual discovery potential. Lastly, we give a short postlude in
Section 6.Comment: White paper submitted by the AAS Working Group on Laboratory
Astrophysics (WGLA) to the GCT SFP of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal
Survey (Astro2010
New Discoveries in the Galactic Neighborhood through Advances in Laboratory Astrophysics
As the Galactic Neighborhood (GAN) panel is fully aware, the next decade will
see major advances in our understanding of this area of research. To quote from
their charge, these advances will occur in studies of the galactic
neighborhood, including the structure and properties of the Milky Way and
nearby galaxies, and their stellar populations and evolution, as well as
interstellar media and star clusters. Central to the progress in these areas
are the corresponding advances in laboratory astrophysics that are required for
fully realizing the GAN scientific opportunities within the decade 2010-2020.
Laboratory astrophysics comprises both theoretical and experimental studies of
the underlying physics and chemistry that produces the observed astrophysical
processes. The 5 areas of laboratory astrophysics that we have identified as
relevant to the GAN panel are atomic, molecular, solid matter, plasma, and
nuclear physics. In this white paper, we describe in Section 2 some of the new
scientific opportunities and compelling scientific themes that will be enabled
by advances in laboratory astrophysics. In Section 3, we provide the scientific
context for these opportunities. Section 4 briefly discusses some of the
experimental and theoretical advances in laboratory astrophysics required to
realize the GAN scientific opportunities of the next decade. As requested in
the Call for White Papers, Section 5 presents four central questions and one
area with unusual discovery potential. Lastly, we give a short postlude in
Section 6.Comment: White paper submitted by the AAS Working Group on Laboratory
Astrophysics (WGLA) to the GAN SFP of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal
Survey (Astro2010
New Discoveries in Cosmology and Fundamental Physics through Advances in Laboratory Astrophysics
As the Cosmology and Fundamental Physics (CFP) panel is fully aware, the next
decade will see major advances in our understanding of these areas of research.
To quote from their charge, these advances will occur in studies of the early
universe, the microwave background, the reionization and galaxy formation up to
virialization of protogalaxies, large scale structure, the intergalactic
medium, the determination of cosmological parameters, dark matter, dark energy,
tests of gravity, astronomically determined physical constants, and high energy
physics using astronomical messengers. Central to the progress in these areas
are the corresponding advances in laboratory astrophysics which are required
for fully realizing the CFP scientific opportunities within the decade
2010-2020. Laboratory astrophysics comprises both theoretical and experimental
studies of the underlying physics which produce the observed astrophysical
processes. The 5 areas of laboratory astrophysics which we have identified as
relevant to the CFP panel are atomic, molecular, plasma, nuclear, and particle
physics. Here, Section 2 describes some of the new scientific opportunities and
compelling scientific themes which will be enabled by advances in laboratory
astrophysics. In Section 3, we provide the scientific context for these
opportunities. Section 4 briefly discusses some of the experimental and
theoretical advances in laboratory astrophysics required to realize the CFP
scientific opportunities of the next decade. As requested in the Call for White
Papers, Section 5 presents four central questions and one area with unusual
discovery potential. Lastly, we give a short postlude in Section 6.Comment: White paper submitted by the AAS Working Group on Laboratory
Astrophysics (WGLA) to the CFP SFP of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal
Survey (Astro2010
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