Observations of the D/H ratio in Methane in the atmosphere of Saturn's moon, Titan - where did the Saturnian system form?
Paper
Paper/Presentation Title | Observations of the D/H ratio in Methane in the atmosphere of Saturn's moon, Titan - where did the Saturnian system form? |
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Presentation Type | Paper |
Authors | Kedziora-Chudczer, Lucyna (Author), Bailey, Jeremy (Author) and Horner, Jonathan (Author) |
Editors | Short, Wayne and Cairns, Iver |
Journal or Proceedings Title | Proceedings of the 12th Australian Space Science Conference (ASSC 2012) |
Number of Pages | 12 |
Year | 2013 |
Place of Publication | Sydney, Australia |
ISBN | 9780977574063 |
Web Address (URL) of Paper | http://www.nssa.com.au/12assc/12assc-proceedings-web.pdf |
Conference/Event | 12th Australian Space Science Conference (ASSC 2012) |
Event Details | 12th Australian Space Science Conference (ASSC 2012) Parent Australian Space Science Conference (ASSC) Delivery In person Event Date 24 to end of 26 Sep 2012 Event Location Melbourne, Australia |
Abstract | The details of the Solar system's formation are still heavily debated. Questions remain about the formation locations of the giant planets, and the degree to which volatile material was mixed throughout the proto-planetary system. One diagnostic which offers great promise in helping to unravel the history of planet formation is the study of the level of deuteration in various Solar system bodies. For example, the D/H ratio of methane in the atmosphere of Titan can be used as a diagnostic of the initial conditions of the solar nebula within the region of giant planet formation, and can help us to determine where Titan (and, by extension, the Saturnian system) accreted its volatile material. The level of Titanian deuteration also has implications for both the sources and long term evolution of Titan's atmospheric composition. We present the results of observations taken in the 1.58 microns window using the NIFS spectrometer on the Gemini telescope, and model our data using the VSTAR line--by--line transfer model, which yields a D/H ratio for Titan's atmosphere of 143+/-16) x 10^{-6} [1]. We are currently in the process of modeling the Gemini high resolution GNIRS spectra using new sets of line parameters derived for methane in the region between 1.2-1.7 microns [2]. |
Keywords | Titan, methane, spectroscopy, radiative transfer, deuterium, planetary formation |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 510109. Stellar astronomy and planetary systems |
519999. Other physical sciences not elsewhere classified | |
510101. Astrobiology | |
Public Notes | Copyright © 2013 National Space Society of Australia Ltd. No evidence of copyright restrictions preventing deposit of Accepted version. |
Byline Affiliations | University of New South Wales |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q4538/observations-of-the-d-h-ratio-in-methane-in-the-atmosphere-of-saturn-s-moon-titan-where-did-the-saturnian-system-form
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