Engineering topics
Encrenaz, Therese
Publications and source records attributed to Encrenaz, Therese.
Unique Spectroscopy and Imaging of Mars with the James Webb Space Telescope
In this paper, we summarize the main capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) for performing observations of Mars. The distinctive vantage point of JWST at the Sun-Earth Lagrange point (L2) will allow sampling the full observable disk, permitting the study of short-term phenomena, diurnal processes (across the east-west axis), and latitudinal processes between the hemispheres (including seasonal effects) with excellent spatial resolutions (0.''07 at 2 micron). Spectroscopic observations will be achievable in the 0.7-5 micron spectral region with NIRSpec at a maximum resolving power of 2700 and with 8000 in the 1-1.25 micron range. Imaging will be attainable with the Near-Infrared Camera at 4.3 micrometers and with two narrow filters near 2 micron, while the nightside will be accessible with several filters in 0.5 to 2 micron. Such a powerful suite of instruments will be a major asset for the exploration and characterization of Mars. Some science cases include the mapping of the water D/H ratio, investigations of the Martian mesosphere via the characterization of the non-local thermodynamic equilibrium CO2 emission at 4.3 micron, studies of chemical transport via observations of the O2 nightglow at 1.27 micron, high-cadence mapping of the variability dust and water-ice clouds, and sensitive searches for trace species and hydrated features on the Martian surface. In-flight characterization of the instruments may allow for additional science opportunities.
Methane on Mars: Measurements and Possible Origins
The presence of abundant methane in Earth's atmosphere (~1.6 parts per million) requires sources other than atmospheric chemistry. Living systems produce more than 90% of Earth's atmospheric methane; the balance is of geochemical origin. On Mars, methane has been sought for nearly 40 years because of its potential biological significance, but it was detected only recently [1-5]. Its distribution on the planet is found to be patchy and to vary with time [1,2,4,5], suggesting that methane is released recently from the subsurface in localized areas, and is then rapidly destroyed [1,6]. Before 2000, searchers obtained sensitive upper limits for methane by averaging over much of Mars' dayside hemisphere, using data acquired by Marsorbiting spacecraft (Mariner 9) and Earth-based observatories (Kitt Peak National Observatory, Canada- France-Hawaii Telescope, Infrared Space Observatory). These negative findings suggested that methane should be searched at higher spatial resolution since the local abundance could be significantly larger at active sites. Since 2001, searches for methane have emphasized spatial mapping from terrestrial observatories and from Mars orbit (Mars Express).
The structure, stability, and global distribution of Io's atmosphere
The paper reports on high-resolution millimeter-wave spectroscopic observations of Io carried out in 1990 and 1991 which allowed the first unambiguous ground-based detection of SO2 in Io's atmosphere. A reassessment of the IRIS-Voyager observations of the nu3 band of SO2 is presented, and it is shown that non-LTE effects are important in the formation of this band. It is thus concluded that the global SO2 atmosphere observed from earth has characteristics (pressure, temperature) similar to those observed at Loki by Voyager. The paper concludes with a simple thermal model of Io's lower atmosphere and a discussion of new upper limits that can be placed on the presence of H2S, SO, and CO in Io's atmosphere.
Millimeter-wave observations of Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune - CO and HCN on Neptune
Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune were observed at millimeter wavelengths with the IRAM 30 m telescope. The major result is the detection of CO and HCN in Neptune's stratosphere, with respective mixing ratios of (6.5 +/- 3.5) x 10 exp -7 and (3 +/- 1.5) x 10 exp -10. CO seems to be present in Neptune's troposphere as well and to slowly decrease with altitude (scale height about 200 km). HCN is probably formed from reactions between CH3 and N, which can be supplied in sufficient amounts by escape from Triton's atmosphere. The origin of CO, however, is more problematic, because: (1) thermochemical models fail to reproduce the observed abundance by a factor of about 1000; and (2) an external source would require a very large flux of oxygen. CO appears to be at least 15 times less abundant on Uranus than on Neptune. Finally, an upper limit of 10 exp -7 for CO in Saturn's stratosphere suggests an internal origin for Saturnian CO.
Io's atmosphere from microwave detection SO2
The microwave detection of SO2 at 222 GHz in Io's atmosphere is reported. The observations imply an SO2 surface pressure of 4-35 nanobars, covering 3-15 percent of the surface on both leading and trailing sides of Io when illuminated by the sun. This supports atmospheric models in which the partial pressure of SO2 at the surface is determined by the Io surface temperature, favoring, in particular, the 'albedo cold-trap' models. The failure to detect H2S at 169 GHz suggests that the pressure of this gas is probably below 10 to the -10th bar. These results, taken together with Pioneer ionospheric data, suggest that an atmospheric gas other than SO2 is present. It is proposed that the locally buffered SO2 atmosphere coexists with a background atmosphere of oxygen with a partial surface pressure of about 20 nanobars.
On the carbon abundance in Comet Halley derived from the 3 micron feature: Comparison with interstellar dust
In spite of some similarities with the infrared features observed in the interstellar medium, the 3 micron signature observed in comet Halley's spectrum shows two distinct differences: (1) the 3.28 micron and 3.37 micron cometary features are both in emission, while the 3.37 micron interstellar feature is most often observed in absorption; and (2) there is no associated emission feature beyond 6 micron in the cometary spectrum. These two facts can be simply explained if it is assumed that the excitation mechanism is resonance fluorescence by the solar IR radiation field. With this assumption, it is found that hydrocarbons are present in roughly equal quantities in both the saturated forms, with a total carbon abundance of about 30 percent of H2O. This carbon abundance can be compared with the abundances derived for the interstellar dust when all condensed (or condensable) components are considered.
Detection of parent molecules in the IR spectrum of P/Halley with the IKS-Vega spectrometer
The two spectroscopic channels of the IKS experiment on board the Vega probes were designed for the detection of emission bands of parent molecules and/or cometary dust, in the 2.5 to 5 micrometer range and the 6 to 12 micron range respectively. On Vega 1, the experiment worked successfully, and cometary spectra were recorded at distances from the comet nucleus ranging from about 250,000 to 40,000 km. The field of view was 1 deg and the spectral resolving power was about 50. On Vega 2, no result could be obtained due to a failure of the cryogenic system. The emission spectra obtained are briefly analyzed.
Enhanced acetylene emission near the north pole of Jupiter
The present paper is concerned with observations of acetylene fundamental and hot band vibrational emission lines from the planet Jupiter. It is pointed out that the observation of a polar bright spot in the atmosphere of Jupiter is characterized by an enhancement in the individual lines of C2H2 which can be interpreted as an enhancement in the acetylene abundance. However, a purely thermal effect, on non-LTE phenomena cannot be excluded. The intensity of the observed hot band lines is also consistent with either hypothesis. The reported observations were performed with a cooled Fabry-Perot Grating Spectrometer (FPGS). Observations and instrumentation are considered in detail along with the calculation of synthetic spectra on the basis of a line-by-line computation, and the interpretation of the obtained data.