Planetary astronomy and supporting laboratory research

Abstract

The aim was to obtain form laboratory measurements the molecular parameters needed to interpret observations of planetary and cometary spectra, and to develop the analytical and computational techniques to interpret the observed spectra in terms of planetary atmospheres including solids and cometary ices. The gas phase molecular parameters measured include the intensities and half-widths of vib-rotational lines, total intensities of absorption bands, temperature dependencies, and absorption and pressure parameters in random-band models of absorption bands. Computation of line shapes of H2 quadrupole lines from quantum mechanical first principles for comparison with laboratory data and use in modeling of planetary atmospheres was accomplished. The solid phase measurements include band profile and quantitative intensity measurements and dependence on composition as well as thermal and photolytic processing which mimics the particular astrophysical environments. Work on GeH4, PH3, has made significant progress