Infrared reflectance spectra of Hyperion,Titania, and Triton

Medium-resolution infrared (1–2.5 μm; Δλ/λ ∽ 0.05) photometry of Triton, Titania, and Hyperion and medium-resolution (1.5–2.4 μm; Δλ/λ ? 0.01) spectroscopy of Triton are presented. Hyperion and Titania have spectra roughly similar to the laboratory spectrum of water frost, while the spectrum of Triton is inconsistent with the spectra of frosts likely to be major surface constituents.     

Near-infrared reflectance spectra from bulk samples of the two Martian meteorites Zagami and Nakhla

Abstract— Zagami and Nakhla are achondrites and belong to the Shergotty-Nakhla-Chassigny (SNC) meteorite group. It is generally accepted that Mars is their parent body. Mineralogical and chemical analyses have revealed that the major mineral phases of these two meteorites are pyroxene, olivine, maskelynite, and plagioclase. In this work, near-infrared biconical reflectance measurements were performed on sawed surfaces of chips from Zagami and Nakhla. Spectra obtained with an analytical spot diameter on the order of the mineral grain size reflect the heterogeneous distribution of different mineral phases. The characteristic absorption bands of the pyroxenes are numerically evaluated in terms of the modified Gaussian model. Spectra with overlapping absorption features are resolved into the basic absorption bands. From these results, it can be estimated what kind of clinopyroxenes belong to the investigated mineral assemblages. As a result, the major clinopyroxene phase in Nakhla is Ca-rich augite, whereas in Zagami both Ca-rich and Ca-poor pyroxenes are present. By means of such a procedure, laboratory spectra of minerals become more informative and may help in discussing Martian remote sensing data in the near-infrared region.     

Infrared diffuse reflectance spectra of carbonaceous chondrites: Amount of hydrous minerals

Abstract— Infrared diffuse reflectance spectra (2.53–25 μm) of some carbonaceous (C) chondrites were measured. The integrated intensity of the absorption bands near 3 μm caused by hydrous minerals were compared with the modal content of hydrous minerals for the meteorites. The CM and CI chondrites show larger values of the integrated intensity than those of the unique C chondrites Y82162, Y86720 and B7904, suggesting that the amount of hydrous minerals in the CM and CI chondrites is larger, which supports the contention that hydrous minerals were dehydrated by thermal metamorphism in the unique chondrites. Orgueil (CI) has the largest value of the integrated intensity among the C chondrites we measured and shows a sharp absorption band at 3685 cm^?1 (2.71 μm) that is not seen in the spectra of the CM chondrites. There is an excellent correlation between the observed hydrogen content in C chondrites and the integrated intensity. The CM chondrites show a wide variation in the strength of absorption bands at 1470 cm^?1 (6.8 μm), despite the similarity in absorption features near 3 μm for all CM chondrites. The 1470 cm^?1 band could be due to the presence of some hydrocarbons but may also be a result of terrestrial alteration processes.     

Tsunamis on Mars: Earth analogues of projected Martian sediment

Bolide impacts on Mars, within the proposed ocean boundaries (“contacts 1 and 2”) in the northern lowlands, would certainly have generated ultra high energy waves similar to tsunamis on Earth. Impacts into putative Noachian and Hesperian seas of variable areal extents and depths would have experienced high-energy inundations (transgressions), which would have left an imprint in the stack of deposits adjacent to the proposed shorelines. On Earth, the principal influencing factors for tsunami-wave energy are the character of shoreline topography and coastal water depth, which control wave compression and shoreline friction. Shorelines with narrow embayments and steep offshore gradients produce wave compression and increased collision of grains within the carried load contrasted with linear shorelines and shallow offshore gradients that dissipate energy. Steep offshore gradients produce concentrated major wave friction with the bed engendering high kinetic energy in the wave during emplacement of tsunami-generated sediment, which differs from shallow offshore beds that produce lower frictional effects over a wider area and drawdown of wave energy. Thus, overprinting of transported quartz grains on Earth is greatest where wave energy is highest, attenuated down to minor or nil overprinting where wave energy is less. Such grain overprinting in the form of energy-induced microtextures would also be observed in other grain types such as olivine and plagioclase, as such mineralogies are expected to dominate the Martian landscape based on orbital and local field (lander and rover) perspectives. Kinetic energy variation in tsunamis is controlled more by the square of velocity than mass, the resulting collisional effects of which produce swarms of v-shaped percussion microfeatures on quartz and other silicate mineral surfaces when velocity and compression are highest. This work indicates that a valid test for the ocean hypothesis is targeting “coastal” areas adjacent to narrow embayments where offshore depths are known to be highest, as possible tsunami-emplaced sediments, especially those that have been protected from atmospheric conditions through relatively rapid burial, may reveal a high frequency of percussion cracks, features of which appear to be unique to such terrestrial environments.     

Infrared spectra of polyoxymethylene grains

The optical constantsn andk for polyoxymethylene (POM) have been calculated in the spectral range between 7 and 13 , using transmission measurements and the Kramers-Kronig dispersion relations. These constants may be of use in making detailed comparisons of observational data such as the interstellar 10 band.     

Comparative Raman microscopy of a Martian meteorite and Antarctic lithic analogues

The Raman microspectra of the Nakhla SNC meteorite, which probably originates from Mars, are reported here for the first time. The specimen is shown to be heterogeneous, even at a sampling level of 2 μm, but several important mineralogical features have been identified, including clinopyroxene, olivine and plagioclase. In some sampling regions, α-quartz particles are evident and in one sample region the ν(CO²⁻₃) mode of calcite at 1086 cm⁻¹ is found. There is no evidence for organic chemical content detectable in this meteorite specimen, based on an absence of ν(CH) and δ(CH₂) modes near 3000 and 1400 cm⁻¹, respectively. Comparative Raman spectroscopic analyses were made on epilithic examples of Xanthoria elegans from Crater Cirque, northern Victoria Land, Antarctica, and cryptoendoliths from East Beacon, McMurdo Dry Valleys, as positive controls for microbial organics in cold, arid habitats analogous to former Martian conditions. Finally, an assessment is made of the potential role of Raman spectroscopy for extra-terrestrial characterisation of geological specimens.     

Infrared spectra of small interstellar grains

It is shown that surface stresses in small particles will lead to a broadening and weakening of strong resonances in the infrared spectrum of interstellar dust.     

Infrared low-resolution spectra of symbiotic stars

The IRAS low-resolution spectra (LRS) of 29 symbiotic stars are presented in this paper. It is found that silicate dust is common material in the circumstellar shells of symbiotic stars. From the IRAS low-resolution spectra, IRAS colors, symbiotic types and spectral types, some physical properties of symbiotic stars with the LRS spectra are also discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Infrared spectra of cooling flow galaxies

We have taken K -band spectra covering seven cooling flow clusters. The spectra show many of the 1-0S transitions of molecular hydrogen, as well as some of the higher vibrational transitions, and some lines of ionized hydrogen. The line ratios allow us to conclude that the rotational states of the first excited vibrational state are in approximate local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE), so that densities above 10⁵ cm⁻³ are likely, but there is evidence that the higher vibrational states are not in LTE. The lack of pressure balance between the molecular gas and the ionized components emphasizes the need for dynamic models of the gas. The ratios of the ionized to molecular lines are relatively constant but lower than from starburst regions, indicating that alternative heating mechanisms are necessary.     

Space weathering and the interpretation of asteroid reflectance spectra

Lunar-style space weathering is well understood, but cannot be extended to asteroids in general. The two best studied Asteroids (433 Eros and 243 Ida) exhibit quite different space weathering styles, and neither exhibits lunar-style space weathering. It must be concluded that at this time the diversity and mechanisms of asteroid space weathering are poorly understood. This introduces a significant unconstrained variable into the problem of analyzing asteroid spectral data. The sensitivity of asteroid surface material characterizations to space weathering effects - whatever their nature - is strongly dependent upon the choice of remote sensing methodology. The effects of space weathering on some methodologies such as curve matching are potentially devastating and at the present time essentially unmitigated. On other methodologies such as parametric analysis (e.g., analyses based on band centers and band area ratios) the effects are minimal. By choosing the appropriate methodology(ies) applied to high quality spectral data, robust characterizations of asteroid surface mineralogy can be obtained almost irrespective of space weathering. This permits sophisticated assessments of the geologic history of the asteroid parent bodies and of their relationships to the meteorites. Investigations of the diversity of space weathering processes on asteroid surfaces should be a fruitful area for future efforts.     

Infrared reflectance spectroscopy on thin films: Interference effects

Laboratory simulations of processes on astronomical surfaces that use infrared reflectance spectroscopy of thin films to analyze their composition and structure often ignore important optical interference effects which often lead to erroneous measurements of absorption band strengths and give an apparent dependence of this quantity on film thickness, index of refraction and wavelength. We demonstrate these interference effects experimentally and show that the optical depths of several absorption bands of thin water ice films on a gold mirror are not proportional to film thickness. We describe the method to calculate accurately band strengths from measured absorbance spectra using the Fresnel equations for two different experimental cases, and propose a way to remove interference effects by performing measurements with P-polarized light incident at Brewster's angle.     

Comparison between infrared Martian disk spectra and optical properties of terrestrial analogs

Medium spectral resolution (20 cm^?1) infrared measurements of the Martian disk made between 2900 and 5600 cm^?1 from the NASA Lear Airborne Observatory have been successfully compared with predictions derived from a model of the Martian soil and atmosphere. Modeling of the Martian atmosphere permitted the extraction of Martian soil reflectance in the CO₂ bands centered at 3657 cm^?1. Three previously considered acceptable Martian soil analogs, limonite, montmorillonite, and basalt, were analyzed to determine the optical complex indices of refraction in the same range as the airborne observations, for mathematical modeling. A characteristic surface particle size ～1 to 3 μm diameter is indicated. It is concluded that the Martian soil surface near-infrared optical properties are consistent with a soil composition similar to montmorillonite or limonite, mixed with a basalt.     

Infrared spectra of quasars and related objects

An attempt is made to explain the infrared radiation observed for several quasars and Seyfert galaxies as thermal radiation of a dust envelope surrounding the cores of these objects. Two kinds of dust particles (graphite and silica) are taken into consideration. It is shown that the observed spectral behaviour and the luminosity in the infrared can be introduced as thermal radiation of silica grains. In the case of 3C 273 one finds that the radius of the dust envelope is about 50 pc and the total mass of dust is about 600M _⊙.     

The dependence of reflectance spectra of Mercury on surface terrain

Reflectance spectra of Mercury, covering the spectral range of ～0.3–1.1 μm obtained during 1963–1976, were examined for any correlations with surface terrain. Mercury's 6.1385°/day rotational rate, the phases of the planet around maximum elongations, and bidirectional reflectance spectroscopy theory were used to identify the surface area associated with each spectrum. Data from 1974–1975, re-reduced with improved standard star flux ratios, show a weak absorption band in the near infrared not see in earlier analyses. Older spectra suggest that the western longitudes of the unimaged side of Mercury are similar to the rest of the planet. Spectra of the intercrater plains in the 0–90° quadrant suggest a possible absorption band. Spectra of areas dominated by Caloris Basin with the encompassing smooth plains may show Fe²⁺ abundances in the soil comparable to lunar highlands soil. No striking differences between spectra of intercrater plains and spectra of smooth plains are found. The absorption features seen in spectra of Mercury are generally weaker than features seen in lunar spectra.     

Spectral reflectance of Martian meteorites: Spectral signatures as a template for locating source region on Mars

Abstract— We report the spectral reflectance of Martian meteorites from 0.3‐2.6 microns for the purpose of cataloguing spectra and the association of their spectral properties with mineralogy and petrology. We fit the spectra to a series of overlapping, modified Gaussian absorptions using least squares fitting. The results are validated against established relationships between photon interactions with mineral chemistry and the band parameters. These resultant band parameters can be used to constrain interpretations of Martian reflectance spectra in the search for the source region of meteorites from Mars. The limitations of the fitting method are discussed.     

Analysis of faint absorption bands in the reflectance spectra of A-type asteroids

Faint absorption bands detected in the visible range of the reflectance spectra of A-type asteroids suggest a various mineralogical composition of their surface. From the analysis of these bands, we conclude that, on some asteroids of this optical type, both olivine and pyroxene are present, while mostly clinopyroxene with minor admixtures of Cr-containing minerals, presumably chromites, is on the surface of others. A new estimate of the forsterite content in the olivine of the asteroids 289 Nenetta and 446 Aeternitas (Fo ～ 50–60%) made by the absorption band near 500 nm in their spectra agrees with the estimate we obtained previously from the modeling of the reflectance spectra of the asteroid Aeternitas.     

Deconvolution of lunar olivine reflectance spectra: Implications for remote compositional assessment

Lunar olivines typically contain inclusions of Cr-spinel (chromite) that influence their measured optical properties. These altered optical properties complicate modeled predictions of olivine composition from reflectance spectra. Approaches developed for inclusion-free terrestrial olivine spectra must be modified to be applied to chromite-bearing lunar olivine spectra. We present a revised approach for predicting the compositions of chromite-bearing lunar olivines using the Modified Gaussian Model (MGM). The results of this revised approach for chromite-bearing lunar olivines are consistent with previous results for terrestrial olivine reflectance spectra, and successfully predict the olivine’s composition. These results are an important step in compositional assessment of remotely-sensed olivine spectra, and are essential to ongoing investigations of that topic. Our results are based on a limited set of available lunar olivine separates, and would be strengthened by the inclusion of additional compositions.     

Infrared spectra of evolved stars with unusual dust shells

New mid-infrared spectra are presented of a number of oxygen-rich evolved stars which have IRAS LRS (Low Resolution Spectrometer) spectra that were classified as showing SiC emission. Two of the sources, IRC−20445 and IRC−20461, show the unidentified infrared (UIR) bands superposed on silicate emission features. Both objects have been classified as M supergiants. Several other sources show three-component spectra, with peaks at 10, 11 and 13 μm. The 13-μm source FI Lyr shows a narrow emission feature at 19 μm. Emission by oxide grains may be responsible for the 11-, 13- and 19-μm features. One object, IRC−20455, shows a self-absorbed silicate feature. There is no clear evidence for SiC emission in any of the spectra: the LRS spectra were erroneously classified as showing SiC emission because of the relatively strong 11-μm emission.     

Vestoid surface composition from analysis of faint absorption bands in visible reflectance spectra

Faint absorption bands in the visible range of the smoothed vestoid spectra have been found. The bands centered near 505, 530, and 550 nm are attributed to ferrous iron in low-calcium pyroxene and are typical for pyroxene-bearing vestoid surfaces. In accordance with characteristics of the faint absorption bands around 600 and 650 nm the studied vestoid spectra can be sorted into five types. Since the same absorptions are also seen in the laboratory spectra of the minerals and meteorites, which appear to be similar to vestoid material, spectral types of the vestoids can be related to their surface compositions. Regolith of the Type-I vestoids consists of pure low-calcium pyroxenes. Minor amount of olivine along with pyroxene appear to be on the Type-II vestoids whereas the mixtures of low-calcium pyroxene with minor chromite define the Type-III and -IV. The causes for the fifth spectral type in terms of minor mineral phases are unclear now. Simulation of the spectra of vestoids was employed to estimate content of olivine (∼6-12 vol%) and chromite (∼12-30 vol%) on their surfaces.     

Infrared hydrogen emission lines in the spectra of Be stars

For the interpretation of observed hydrogen emission lines in the spectrum of Cas calculations of the relative intensities of spectral lines of the Balmer, Paschen, Brackett and Pfund series are carried out, by using the theory of moving stellar envelopes.It is shown that in the spectra of Be stars, which have opaque envelopes and therefore a slow Balmer decrement, infrared hydrogen lines must be relatively strong.It is also found that the observed relative line intensities of Cas are in qualitative agreement with those calculated for the case of a simple model-envelope which consists of low and high opacity regions.