Studies on production processes of exospheric atmospheres of Mercury and Io based on development of a spectro-imager
| Project/Area Number |
15340160
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Space and upper atmospheric physics
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| Research Institution | Tohoku University |
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Principal Investigator |
MISAWA Hiroaki Tohoku University, Graduate School of Science, Associate Professor, 大学院・理学研究科, 助教授 (90219618)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
MORIOKA Akira Tohoku University, Graduate School of Science, Professor, 大学院・理学研究科, 教授 (50004479)
OKANO Shoichi Tohoku University, Graduate School of Science, Professor, 大学院・理学研究科, 教授 (10004483)
TSUCHIYA Fuminori Tohoku University, Graduate School of Science, Research Associate, 大学院・理学研究科, 助手 (10302077)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2003 – 2005
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| Project Status |
Completed (Fiscal Year 2005)
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| Budget Amount *help |
¥7,800,000 (Direct Cost: ¥7,800,000)
Fiscal Year 2005: ¥1,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000)
Fiscal Year 2004: ¥600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000)
Fiscal Year 2003: ¥6,000,000 (Direct Cost: ¥6,000,000)
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| Keywords | 2D spectroscopy / imaging / planet / satellite / exospheric atmosphere / gas production process / Mercury / Io |
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| Research Abstract |
1. Development of a 2D spectro-imaging system for exospheric atmospheres
A spectro-imaging system for detection of sodium emissions of exospheric atmospheres of planets and satellites is developed. The system consists of 1)a dimension converting optics made of an optical fiber bundle, and 2)a F-number adjusting optics to connect the dimension converting optics to light-entrance and exit optics. The optical fiber bundle is arranged in 12x12(entrance) and 144x1(exit). The system is set up on an optical bench and connected to the 60cm diameter coude telescope (entrance side) and high-resolution grating spectrometer (exit side) of Tohoku University. A spectrum datum is projected onto a Li-N2 cooled CCD camera and reconstructed to a spectro-image on a computer.
2. Observations of exospheric atmospheres of Io and Mercury
Observations of exospheric atmospheres of Io, one of the Galilean satellites, and Mercury have been made using the spectro-imaging system. It has been suggested that production
… More
rate of Io's atmosphere depends on Io's phase angel (Io's apparent position with respect to Jupiter). In order to confirm the dependence, we have made observations of Io for various Io's phase angles and obtained significant data-sets. On the other hand, Mercury observations have been made intensively for the period when Mercury is viewed largely apart from the sun. Due to bad weather condition in main, reliable images for investigating gas production processes have not been sufficiently acquired in the research period. We plan to make follow-up observations after June, 2006 when Mercury is viewed most largely apart from the sun in 2006.
3. Numerical simulation for investigating gas production processes
A Monte-Carlo simulation model has been developed and adopted for the investigations of gas production processes. As the result for Mercury's atmosphere, it is suggested that ion sputtering by solar wind protons is operated further more effectively than previously predicted on Mercury's surface to product the atmosphere. As for Io's atmosphere, it is inferred that the amount of the atmosphere might be controlled by the coupling process of sputtering and/or peering by Jupiter's magnetospheric plasma and the photon stimulated desorption by the sunlight. Less
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Report
(4 results)
Research Products
(20 results)
