Refractive index measurements of ammonia and hydrocarbon ices at 632.8 nm

Optical constants in a broad temperature and wavelength range are important input parameters in radiative transfer models used in studies of planetary atmospheres. In the laboratory, the refractive index values of ices at the HeNe laser wavelength (632.8 nm) are often used to monitor the growth rate and thickness of ice films. In this report we present laboratory measurements determining the refractive index at 632.8 nm of ammonia and hydrocarbon ices in the temperature range 80-100 K. Thin ice films are vapor-deposited on a cryogenically cooled mirror located inside a high-vacuum apparatus. The real component of the refractive index of these ice films is determined by a two-angle interferometric technique. Optical modeling calculations of the transmittance and reflectance through the thin ice films assist in the interpretation of the experimental results. We discuss our results and compare them with other measurements available in the literature. The results reported here are relevant to the spectroscopy of icy objects in the solar system; they are needed to perform laboratory characterization of ices, derive optical constants, and model spectra.     

The formation and stability of carbonic acid on outer Solar System bodies

The radiation chemistry, thermal stability, and vapor pressure of solid-phase carbonic acid (H₂CO₃) have been studied with mid-infrared spectroscopy. A new procedure for measuring this molecule’s radiation stability has been used to obtain intrinsic IR band strengths and half-lives for radiolytic destruction. We report, for the first time, measurements of carbonic acid’s vapor pressure (0.290-2.33 × 10⁻¹¹ bar for 240-255 K) and its enthalpy of sublimation (71 ± 9 kJ mol⁻¹). We also report the first observation of a chemical reaction involving solid-phase carbonic acid. Possible applications of these findings are discussed, with an emphasis on the outer Solar System icy surfaces.     

Characterization of halophiles in natural MgSO4 salts and laboratory enrichment samples: Astrobiological implications for Mars

The presence of sulfate salts and limited subsurface water (ice) on Mars suggests that any liquid water on Mars today will occur as (magnesium) sulfate-rich brines in regions containing sources of magnesium and sulfur. The Basque Lakes of British Columbia, Canada, represent a hypersaline terrestrial analogue site, which possesses chemical and physical properties similar to those observed on Mars. The Basque Lakes also contain diverse halophilic organisms representing all three Kingdoms of life, growing in surface and near-subsurface environments. Of interest from an astrobiological perspective, crushed magnesium sulfate samples that were analyzed using a modified Lowry protein assay contained biomass in every crystal inspected, with biomass values from 0.078 to 4.21 mg_biomass/g_salt; average=0.74±0.7 mg_biomass/g_salt. Bacteria and Archaea cells were easily observed even in low-biomass samples using light microscopy, and bacteria trapped within magnesium sulfate crystals were observed using confocal microscopy. Regions within the salt also contained bacterial pigments, e.g., carotenoids, which were separate from the cells, indicating that cell lysis might have occurred during entrapment within the salt matrix. These biosignatures, cells, and any ‘soluble’ organic constituents were primarily found trapped within fluid inclusions or fluid-filled void spaces between intergrown crystals. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (reflectance IR) analysis of enrichment cultures, containing cyanobacteria, Archaea, or dissimilatory sulfate-reducing bacteria, highlighted molecular biosignature features between 550-1650 and 2400-3000 cm⁻¹. Spectra from natural salts demonstrated that we can detect biomass within salt crystals using the most sensitive biosignatures, which are the 1530-1570 cm⁻¹, C-N, N-H, -COOH absorptions and the 1030-1050 cm⁻¹ C-OH, C-N, PO₄³⁻ bond features. The lowest detection limit for a biosignature absorption feature using reflectance IR was with a natural sample that possessed 0.78 mg_biomass/g_salt. In a model cell, i.e., a 0.5 by 1 μm bacillus, this biomass value corresponds to approximately 7.8×10⁸ cells/g_salt. Based on its ability to detect biomass entrapped within natural sulfate salts, reflectance IR may make an effective remote-sensing tool for finding enrichments of organic carbon within outcrops and surficial sedimentary deposits on Mars.     

白钨矿的原位高压X射线衍射研究

使用金刚石对顶砧高压装置(DAC)和同步辐射光源,对天然白钨矿进行了原位高压能量色散X射线衍射(EDXD)研究,实验最高压力为16.0 GPa.在实验压力范围内观察到了一次白钨矿结构→钨锰铁矿结构的可逆相变:压力小于5.3 GPa时为白钨矿结构(I4_1/a),在5.3～12.3 GPa压力区间内为白钨矿结构与钨锰铁矿结构(P2/c)并存,大于12.3 GPa时完全相变为钨锰铁矿结构.从键长、配位数和配位多面体角度对白钨矿→钨锰铁矿结构的相变机制进行了解释.     

GPS天线相位中心校正对GRACE卫星精密定轨的影响

使用GRACE卫星星载GPS观测数据,研究地面获取的先验PCV模型和利用残差法估计的在轨PCV模型对低轨卫星精密定轨的影响,并采用GFZ精密轨道对比和SLR检核手段对其进行评估。结果表明,使用先验PCV模型会降低GRACE卫星定轨精度,相反利用在轨PCV模型可以提高定轨精度,提升数量级可达mm级。     

利用量子力学势能数据预测温度、压力、盐度和沉积物孔径对甲烷水合物形成和分解的影响

介绍一个预测不同温度、压力、盐度和沉积物毛细管孔径条件下甲烷水合物 溶液 气体多相平衡模型。该模型以Van der Waals和 Platteeuw热力学模型、量子力学从头算粒子相互作用势能、DMW 92状态方程和Pitzer电解质理论为基础,能在很宽广温压范围内预测温度、压力、盐度和毛细管力对甲烷水合物形成和分解的影响。通过对比本模型的预测结果与实验数据,可知本模型能够准确地预测海水和多孔介质中甲烷水合物的相平衡条件。对于一定盐度下多孔介质中甲烷水合物的形成温压条件的在线计算可浏览: www.geochem model.org/models.htm。     

Identification of phase and sex-related ISSR markers of red algaGracilaria lemaneiformis

Six ISSR primers are employed to display the polymorphism of different phases and sexes of red alga Gracilaria lemaneiformis, and two of them, P1 and P3, amplified distinct band patterns. The ISSR pattern amplified by primer P1 of the female gametophyte is identical to that of tetrasporophyte, but distinct from that of male gametophyte. Of the bands produced by primer P3, one is specific to female gametophyte. Three morphologically similar fronds can be easily identified using ISSR technique. Two specific markers, SM1 and SF3, related to male gametophyte and female gametophyte, are cloned and sequenced. The homologous sequences of SM1 are found to encode a hypothetical protein. There is no homologous sequence of SF3 that can be found in GenBank.     

ISIS IR: The first infrared fibre-fed spectrograph

ISIS IR is the first attempt to use fibre optics for near infrared spectroscopy (1.8m). It is a field spectrograph (2D spectroscopy), and can work at various resolving powers (up to 25000). It can be transported anywhere, and soon it will be used at CFHT with one NICMOS 3-based camera.Département d'Astrophysique Extragalactique et de Cosmologie     

The project “spice”

Proposed to both the French and the European Space Agency as one possible small mission, SPICE is a project for a dedicated small satellite for a near-IR spectroscopic all-sky survey. The instrument would cover the spectral range 1.8 - 3.6µm, possibly extended to 1.8 - 7µm, at a resolution of 100, with pixels of 1 arc-min. The excellent sensitivity (0.02 MJy sr-1) results from: i) the quasi-zero level of background due to the efficient passive cooling of the whole experiment; ii) the use of large format arrays; iii) the non-stop observing mode (drift-scanning). The spectral domain, complementing the one of ISO, partially opaque from the ground, is specially rich in spectral features tracing stars and all components of the Interstellar Medium (molecular, atomic and ionized gas, dust). With a cooling below 80 K of the focal instrument, then it becomes possible to consider doubling the spectral domain and to cover the whole 1.8 - 7µm range.     

高稳定性数字钟的分析与实现

介绍一种高稳定、低功耗、多功能、小型化的数字钟 ,由数字钟插入相位噪声引起的 1pps输出信号相位抖动为 5 .3ps,前沿上升时间为 4 .6ns ,指标测量通过 2m长 5 0Ω高频同轴电缆并接 5 0Ω电阻性负载 ,输入信号为 10MHz正弦波信号 ,移相精度为 10 0ns,同步精度≤ 10 0ns,通过RS 2 32接口每秒一次的速率以ASCII码格式输出时间信息 (年、月、日、时、分、秒 ) ,在接数显钟面时其功耗为2W ,不接数显钟面时为 1.2W。