Radiative transfer modelling for the NOMAD-UVIS instrument on the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter mission

The NOMAD (Nadir and Occultation for MArs Discovery) instrument is a 3-channel (2 IR, 1 UV/Vis) spectrometer due to fly on the 2016 ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter mission. A radiative transfer model for Mars has been developed providing synthetic spectra to simulate observations of the UVIS channel in both solar occultation and nadir viewing geometries. This will allow for the characterization and mitigation of the influence of dust on retrievals of ozone abundance

Martian atmospheric O₃ retrieval development for the NOMAD-UVIS spectrometer

The composition of atmospheric trace gases and aerosols is a highly variable and poorly constrained component of the martian atmosphere, and by affecting martian climate and UV surface dose, represents a key parameter in the assessment of suitability for martian habitability. The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) carries the Open University (OU) designed Ultraviolet and VIsible Spectrometer (UVIS) instrument as part of the Belgian-led Nadir and Occultation for MArs Discovery (NOMAD) spectrometer suite. NOMAD will begin transmitting science observations of martian surface and atmosphere back-scattered UltraViolet (UV) and visible radiation in Spring 2018, which will be processed to derive spatially and temporally averaged atmospheric trace gas and aerosol concentrations, intended to provide a better understanding of martian atmospheric photo-chemistry and dynamics, and will also improve models of martian atmospheric chemistry, climate and habitability. Work presented here illustrates initial development and testing of the OU’s new retrieval algorithm for determining O3 and aerosol concentrations from the UVIS instrument

Rayleigh scattering in the transmission spectrum of HAT-P-18b

We have performed ground-based transmission spectroscopy of the hot Jupiter HAT-P-18b using the ACAM instrument on the William Herschel Telescope (WHT). Differential spectroscopy over an entire night was carried out at a resolution of $R \approx 400$ using a nearby comparison star. We detect a bluewards slope extending across our optical transmission spectrum which runs from 4750 to 9250\AA. The slope is consistent with Rayleigh scattering at the equilibrium temperature of the planet (852K). We do not detect enhanced sodium absorption, which indicates that a high-altitude haze is masking the feature and giving rise to the Rayleigh slope. This is only the second discovery of a Rayleigh scattering slope in a hot Jupiter atmosphere from the ground, and our study illustrates how ground-based observations can provide transmission spectra with precision comparable to the Hubble Space Telescope.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

A New Sub-Period-Minimum Cataclysmic Variable With Partial Hydrogen Depletion And Evidence Of Spiral Disk Structure

We present time-resolved spectroscopy and photometry of CSS 120422:111127+571239 (=SBS 1108+574), a recently discovered SU UMa-type dwarf nova whose 55 minute orbital period is well below the cataclysmic variable (CV) period minimum of similar to 78 minutes. In contrast with most other known CVs, its spectrum features He I emission of comparable strength to the Balmer lines, implying a hydrogen abundance less than 0.1 of long-period CVs-but still at least 10 times higher than that in AM CVn stars. Together, the short orbital period and remarkable helium-to-hydrogen ratio suggest that mass transfer in CSS 120422 began near the end of the donor star's main-sequence lifetime, meaning that this CV is a strong candidate progenitor of an AM CVn system as described by Podsiadlowski et al. Moreover, a Doppler tomogram of the Ha line reveals two distinct regions of enhanced emission. While one is the result of the stream-disk impact, the other is probably attributable to spiral disk structure generated when material in the outer disk achieves a 2:1 orbital resonance with respect to the donor.NSF AST-1211196, AST-9987045Department of Physics at the University of Notre DameNSF Telescope System Instrumentation Program (TSIP)Ohio Board of RegentsOhio State University Office of ResearchAstronom

ROSAT HRI X-ray Observations of the Open Globular Cluster NGC 288

A ROSAT HRI X-ray image was obtained of the open globular cluster NGC 288, which is located near the South Galactic Pole. This is the first deep X-ray image of this system. We detect a Low Luminosity Globular Cluster X-ray source (LLGCX) RXJ005245.0-263449 with an X-ray luminosity of (5.5+-1.4)x10^32 ergs/s (0.1-2.0 keV), which is located very close to the cluster center. There is evidence for X-ray variability on a time scale of <~ 1 day. The presence of this LLGCX in such an open cluster suggests that dense stellar systems with high interaction rates are not needed to form LLGCXs. We also searched for diffuse X-ray emission from NGC 288. Upper limits on the X-ray luminosities are L_X^h < 9.5x10^32 ergs/s (0.52-2.02 keV) and L_X^s < 9.3x10^32 ergs/s (0.11-0.41 keV). These imply upper limits to the diffuse X-ray to optical light ratios in NGC 288 which are lower than the values observed for X-ray faint early-type galaxies. This indicates that the soft X-ray emission in these galaxies is due either to a component which is not present in globular clusters (e.g., interstellar gas, or a stellar component which is not found in low metallicity Population II systems), or to a relatively small number of bright Low Mass X-ray Binaries (LMXBs).Comment: The Astrophysical Journal in press. Minor revisions to improve presentation. 6 pages with 3 embedded Postscript figures in emulateapj.st

Rapid crack propagation in loosely fitted PE liner pipe

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