Colloquium Abstract - Chanover - 2025May02

May 2, 2025

11:00am Mountain

Nancy Chanover (NMSU)

The Application of Acousto-optic Tunable Filter Devices to Solar System Studies

 

Abstract

Acoustic-optic tunable filters are solid state devices that take advantage of the birefringence property of some crystals. These can be used as a spectral selection element in both imagers and spectrometers, and offer the advantages of being small, lightweight, and spectrally agile. In this talk I will review the application of these devices in two planetary science investigations: studies of atmospheric structure of the giant planets, and biosignature detection in planetary cave analog environments. Spectral image cubes of Jupiter and Saturn, such as those obtained with an AOTF-based imager, provide a means of extracting spectra of different latitude bands or discrete storm features and modeling the atmospheric structure in those regions. Planetary caves are desirable environments for the search for biosignatures corresponding to extant or extinct extraterrestrial life due to the protection they offer from surface-level solar radiation and ionizing particles. Near-infrared (NIR) reflectance spectroscopy obtained with an AOTF-based point spectrometer is one of a multitude of techniques that, when taken together, can provide a comprehensive understanding of the geomicrobiology in planetary subsurface regions. The broad utility of AOTF devices make them an attractive capability for future solar system missions and Earth-based supporting observations.


Local Host: Bryan Butler

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