Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-2015
DOI
10.1088/0004-637X/813/1/12
Publication Title
Astrophysical Journal
Volume
813
Issue
1
Pages
12 (1-8)
Abstract
Hot methane is found in many "cool" sub-stellar astronomical sources including brown dwarfs and exoplanets, as well as in combustion environments on Earth. We report on the first high-resolution laboratory absorption spectra of hot methane at temperatures up to 1200 K. Our observations are compared to the latest theoretical spectral predictions and recent brown dwarf spectra. The expectation that millions of weak absorption lines combine to form a continuum, not seen at room temperature, is confirmed. Our high-resolution transmittance spectra account for both the emission and absorption of methane at elevated temperatures. From these spectra, we obtain an empirical line list and continuum that is able to account for the absorption of methane in high temperature environments at both high and low resolution. Great advances have recently been made in the theoretical prediction of hot methane, and our experimental measurements highlight the progress made and the problems that still remain. © 2015. The American Astronomical Society.
Original Publication Citation
Hargreaves, R. J., Bernath, P. F., Bailey, J., & Dulick, M. (2015). Empirical line lists and absorption cross sections for methane at high temperatures. Astrophysical Journal, 813(1), 12. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/813/1/12
ORCID
0000-0002-1255-396X (Bernath)
Repository Citation
Hargreaves, R. J.; Bernath, P. F.; Bailey, J.; and Dulick, M., "Empirical Line Lists and Absorption Cross Sections for Methane at High Temperatures" (2015). Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications. 70.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/chemistry_fac_pubs/70