Bulletin of the American Physical Society
49th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics APS Meeting
Volume 63, Number 5
Monday–Friday, May 28–June 1 2018; Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Session K07: Spectroscopy in Astrophysics |
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Chair: Thomas Gorczyca, Western Michigan University Room: Grand D |
Wednesday, May 30, 2018 2:00PM - 2:30PM |
K07.00001: Laboratory Astrophysics Studies along the Cosmic Cycle of Gas Invited Speaker: Daniel Wolf Savin Tracing the evolution of baryonic matter from atoms in space to stars such as our Sun hinges on an accurate understanding of the underlying physics controlling the properties of the gas at every step along this pathway. Here I will explain some of the key epochs in this cosmic cycle of gas and highlight our laboratory studies into the underlying atomic, molecular, and optical physics which control the observed properties of the gas. [Preview Abstract] |
Wednesday, May 30, 2018 2:30PM - 3:00PM |
K07.00002: Laboratory Spectroscopy for Exoplanets Invited Speaker: Peter Bernath Recent results from our laboratory will be surveyed on the analysis of TiO spectra and preparation of line lists for NH, OH, OH$^{+}$ using experimental measurements with a Fourier transform spectrometer for line positions and ab initio dipole moment functions for line intensities. Our measured cross-sections and line lists for high temperatures for small polyatomic molecules such as methane and ammonia will also be presented as well as measurements of infrared absorption cross-sections for small hydrocarbons. [Preview Abstract] |
Wednesday, May 30, 2018 3:00PM - 3:30PM |
K07.00003: A Link between Atomic Physics and Gravitational Wave Spectroscopy Invited Speaker: Christopher Fontes Neutron star mergers are promising candidates for the observation of an electromagnetic (EM) signal coincident with gravitational waves. The recent observation of GW170817~[1] appears to be such an event, with gravitational waves confirmed by subsequent EM signals ranging from the infrared to x-ray portions of the spectrum. The properties of the ejecta produced during these events are predicted to play an important role in the electromagnetic transients called macronovae or kilonovae. Characteristics of the ejecta include large velocity gradients and the presence of heavy $r$-process elements, which pose significant challenges to the accurate calculation of radiative opacities and radiation transport. For example, these opacities include a dense forest of bound-bound features arising from near-neutral lanthanide and actinide elements. We use the Los Alamos suite of atomic physics and plasma modeling codes~[2] to investigate the use of detailed, fine-structure opacities~[3] to model the EM emission from macronovae. Our simulations~[4] predict emission in a range of EM bands, depending on issues such as the presence of winds, elemental composition, and viewing angle. This talk emphasizes various atomic-physics aspects of the spectral modeling of neutron star mergers. \vspace{\baselineskip} \\ \noindent [1] B.P.~Abbott et al, Astrophys.~J.~Lett.~{\bf 848}, L12 (2017). \\ \noindent [2] C.J.~Fontes, H.L.~Zhang, J.~Abdallah, Jr., R.E.H.~Clark, D.P.~Kilcrease, J.~Colgan, R.T.~Cunningham, P.~Hakel, N.H.~Magee and M.E. Sherrill, J.~Phys.~B {\bf 48}, 144014 (2015). \\ \noindent [3] C.J.~Fontes, C.L.~Fryer, A.L.~Hungerford, R.T.~Wollaeger, S.~Rosswog and E.~Berger, preprint, arXiv:1702.02990 (2017). \\ \noindent [4] R.T.~Wollaeger, O.~Korobkin, C.J.~Fontes, S.K.~Rosswog, W.P.~Even, C.L.~Fryer, J.~Sollerman, A.L.~Hungerford, D.R.~van Rossum, A.B.~Wollaber, preprint, arXiv:1705.07084 (2017) [Preview Abstract] |
Wednesday, May 30, 2018 3:30PM - 4:00PM |
K07.00004: Probing the Molecular Universe with Rotational Spectroscopy: A Laboratory and Observational Perspective Invited Speaker: Lucy Ziurys Astrophysical observations over the past 40 years have clearly revealed that much of interstellar space is molecular in content, with a rich chemical composition. To date, over 180 different chemical compounds have been identified in interstellar gas, ranging from diatomic molecules to large carbon clusters, with many exotic radicals and ions. A key factor in these studies has been pure rotational spectroscopy, which enables molecule identification on the basis of a distinct ``fingerprint,'' first measured in the laboratory and then at radio/millimeter telescopes. The Ziurys group has been pursuing a joint program of laboratory measurements and astronomical observations of possible new gas-phase interstellar molecules. Our experimental work involves millimeter/sub-mm/THz spectroscopy, and well as Fourier transform microwave/mm-wave techniques. As reactive species are generally studied, unusual molecule production techniques involving lasers, electrical discharges, ovens, and supersonic jet expansions are employed. Our current studies focus on diatomic hydride radicals such as FeH and SH$^{\mathrm{+}}$, small metal-carbon clusters, including AlC$_{\mathrm{2}}$ and ScC$_{\mathrm{2}}$, and more ``organic''-type molecules such as CH$_{\mathrm{3}}$NCO. Astronomical searches have been carried out for many of these molecules at millimeter telescopes, with some surprising results. [Preview Abstract] |
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