Date of Award

Spring 2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Physics

Committee Director

Peter Bernath

Committee Member

Craig Bayse

Committee Member

Alex Gurevich

Committee Member

Amaryan Moskov

Committee Member

Colm Whelan

Abstract

Spectroscopic methods are used to study planetary and stellar atmospheres. The information obtained from spectroscopic studies provides insight into atmospheric compositions and dynamics, which can be used to model and characterize atmospheres and climates. Laboratory-recorded absorption cross-sections are needed to interpret the recorded spectra of planets and stars. High resolution ethane, neopentane, propene, and n-butane spectra have been recorded, and absorption cross-sections have been provided for different temperatures and total pressures with different broadening gases, including hydrogen, helium, and nitrogen. The Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE) satellite orbits Earth and records spectra through solar occultation limb observations. HOCl is a chlorine reservoir molecule found in the Earth’s stratosphere and is also responsible for polar ozone destruction. HOCl retrievals have been developed using the spectra recorded by the ACE. Analysis of ACE HOCl VMR data globally for the entire mission (2004-2020) shows a decreasing trend attributed to the Montreal Protocol’s success. In ACE version 5.0 data, HFC-32 is a new molecule added. Global altitude-latitude VMR profiles for 2004 to 2020 were studied, and HFC-32 abundances are increasing exponentially. LaO and YO are characteristic features in the spectra of cool S-type stars. The B2Σ +-X2Σ + and A2Π-X2Σ + transitions of LaO and the B2Σ +- X 2Σ + transition of YO were rotationally analyzed to provide spectroscopic constants and, more importantly, a line list suitable for simulating stellar spectra.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

DOI

10.25777/7f67-kf04

ISBN

9798382773452

ORCID

0000-0003-4814-4970

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