Laboratory Simulation of Infrared Astrophysical Features
Abstract
Laboratory infrared emission and absorption spectra have been taken of terrestrial silicates, meteorites and lunar soils in the form of micrometer and sub-micrometer grains. The emission spectra were taken in a way that imitates telescopic observations. The purpose was to see which materials best simulate the 10 μm astrophysical feature. The emission spectra of dunite, fayalite and Allende give a good fit to the 10 μm broadband emission feature of comets Bennett and Kohoutek. A study of the effect of grain size on the presence of the 10 μm emission feature of dunite shows that for particles larger than 37 μm no feature is seen. The emission spectrum of the Murray meteorite, a Type 2 carbonaceous chondrite, is quite similar to the intermediate resolution spectrum of comet Kohoutek in the 10 μm region. Hydrous silicates or amorphous magnesium silicates in combination with high-temperature condensates, such as olivine or anorthite, would yield spectra that match the intermediate resolution spectrum of comet Kohoutek in the 10 μm region. Glassy olivine and glassy anorthite in approximately equal proportions would also give a spectrum that is a good fit to the cometary 10 μm feature.
- Publication:
-
Astrophysics and Space Science
- Pub Date:
- September 1979
- DOI:
- 10.1007/BF00643489
- Bibcode:
- 1979Ap&SS..65...47R
- Keywords:
-
- Astronomical Spectroscopy;
- Infrared Astronomy;
- Infrared Spectra;
- Kohoutek Comet;
- Lunar Soil;
- Meteoritic Composition;
- Absorption Spectra;
- Carbonaceous Chondrites;
- Dunite;
- Emission Spectra;
- Fayalite;
- Mineralogy;
- Silicates;
- Spectrophotometry;
- Astrophysics