UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
Under this award Drs. Lucy Ziurys and DeWayne Halfen (University of Arizona) will continue their investigation of the chemistry of the refractory elements through the ongoing joint laboratory/observational program. The laboratory investigations will focus on new metal oxide, carbide, nitride, and cyanide species such as KO, AlO+, HMgNC, and MgC. The Ziurys group has already recorded spectra of numerous oxides, carbides, and cyanide species, and this new work will be an extension of well-understood techniques. In addition, the laboratory studies will be expanded to include possible new phosphorus-bearing species. A new phosphorus source has been developed in the Ziurys group for this purpose, which has already been successfully employed. Molecules of interest include C3P, PCO, PNH+, NiP, and FeP. The latter two species are likely precursors to schreibersite, [Fe,Ni]3P, the proposed solid-state carrier of circumstellar phosphorus. The proposed observations will entail searching for these possible new species in circumstellar and, in certain cases (i.e., for PNH+), interstellar gas via their pure rotational spectra. Measurements of both ions and neutrals are essential in identifying the major carriers of the refractory elements in dense material, and will aid in establishing chemical formation mechanisms. These studies will also help draw the connection between gas-phase molecules and dust grains, and allow for a more quantitative evaluation of elemental depletions. The target source list will include asymptotic giant branch and supergiant envelopes (both oxygen- and carbon-rich), planetary nebulae, and select molecular clouds.
This research is highly interdisciplinary and will involve the interplay of observational and experimental methods. The bulk of the research will be carried out by graduate and undergraduate students, the majority of which are female, who will receive a very unique education with diverse skills, enabling them to better contribute as scientists to society. Dr. Ziurys is actively involved in the development of interdisciplinary courses and a website for basic molecular spectroscopy. The development of highly sensitive gas-phase laboratory spectrometers is also relevant to defense and homeland security, particularly in the terahertz frequency regime.
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| AWARD OVERVIEW |
| Award Number |
0906534 |
Funding Agency |
National Science Foundation |
| Total Award Amount |
$200,000 |
Project Location - City |
Tucson |
| Award Date |
09/05/2009 |
Project Location - State |
AZ |
| Project Status |
Completed |
Project Location - Zip |
85721-0001
|
| Jobs Reported |
0.30 |
Congressional District |
07 |
| Project Location - Country |
US |
|
|
Recipient Information
(Grants)
| Recipient Information (Grants) |
|
Recipient Name
|
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA |
| Recipient DUNS Number |
806345617
|
| Recipient Address |
888 N EUCLID AVE |
| Recipient City |
TUCSON |
| Recipient State |
Arizona |
| Recipient Zip |
85719-4824 |
| Recipient Congressional District |
07 |
| Recipient Country |
USA |
Required to Report Top 5
Highly Compensated Officials |
No |
Projects and Jobs Information
| Projects and Jobs Information |
| Project Title |
Following Refractory Elements from Circumstellar Ejecta to the Interstellar Medium: A Combined Laboratory and Observational Study |
| Project Status |
Completed |
| Final Project Report Submitted |
Yes |
| Project Activities Description |
Astronomy & Astrophysics |
| Quarterly Activities/Project Description |
During this time period, we completed our manuscript concerning observations of CO, HCO+, and H2CO in the Helix Nebula. It was submitted for publication and reviewed. We are in the process of submitting the revised manuscript to the journal, which we anticipate will be accepted for publication. Our study found that the gas kinetic temperature was TK~15–40 K across the nebula with a gas density of n(H2)~0.1–4 × 105 cm-3. At many positions, multiple velocity components exhibiting different temperatures and densities were observed, suggesting a clumpy medium. For CO, the fractional abundance, relative to molecular hydrogen, was determined to be f(CO/H2)~0.3–6×10-4. Fractional abundances of HCO+ and H2CO were f (HCO+/H2 ~0.2-5.3 × 10-8 and f (H2CO/H2)~ 0.2–2.5 × 10-7 – several orders of magnitude higher than predicted by chemical models. During this period, observations of the Red Spider nebula were analyzed, including spectra for CCH, CN, N2H+, SO, HCN, HNC, and H2CO, in addition to CS and HCO+. The Red Spider is estimated to be about 1,500 years old; yet, it appears to be more chemically complex than the younger planetary nebula NGC7027. A manuscript has been prepared for publication and is about to be submitted. A manuscript concerning the survey of 6 older planetary nebulae in CS, CO, and HCO+ was also written during this time period. It should be submitted for publication shortly.. All of these studies are being carried out by graduate students, who are receiving research assistantships. |
| Jobs Created |
0.30 |
| Description of Jobs Created |
Prime recipient created or retained graduate assistants. |
Purchaser Information
(Grants)
| Purchaser Information |
| Contracting Office ID |
Not Reported |
| Contracting Office Name |
Not Available |
| Contracting Office Region |
Not Available |
| TAS Major Program |
49-0101 |
| Award Information |
| Award Date |
09/05/2009 |
| Award Number |
0906534 |
| Order Number |
|
| Award Type |
Grants |
| Funding Agency ID |
49 |
| Funding Agency Name |
National Science Foundation |
| Funding Office Name |
Not Available |
| Awarding Agency ID |
49 |
| Awarding Agency Name |
National Science Foundation |
| Amount of Award |
$200,000 |
| Funds Invoiced/Received |
$199,980 |
| Expenditure Amount |
$199,980 |
| Infrastructure Expenditure Amount |
$0 |
| Infrastructure Purpose and Rationale |
Not Reported |
| Infrastructure Point of Contact Name |
Not Reported |
| Infrastructure Point of Contact Email |
Not Reported |
| Infrastructure Point of Contact Phone |
Not Reported |
| Infrastructure Point of Contact Address |
Not Reported |
| Infrastructure Point of Contact City |
Not Reported |
| Infrastructure Point of Contact State |
Not Reported |
| Infrastructure Point of Contact Zip |
Not Reported |
Product or Service Information
(Grants)
| Product or Service Information |
| Primary Activity Code |
U04.02 |
| Activity Description |
Astronomy & Astrophysics |
| Sub-Awards Information |
| Sub-awards to Organizations |
0 |
| Sub-award Amounts to Organizations |
$0 |
| Sub-Awards to Individuals |
0 |
| Sub-Award Amounts to Individuals |
$0 |
| Number of Sub-awards less than $25,000/award |
0 |
| Amount of Sub-awards less than $25,000/award |
$0 |
| Number of payments to vendors greater than $25,000 |
0 |
| Total Amount of payments to vendors greater than $25,000/award |
$0 |
| Number of payments to vendors less than $25,000/award |
29 |
| Total Amount of payments to vendors less than $25,000/award |
$43,134 |
| Location Information |
| Latitude, Longitude |
32º 13' 54",
-110º 56' 57" |
| Congressional District |
07 |
| Address 1 |
|
| Address 2 |
|
| City |
Tucson |
| County |
Pima |
| State |
AZ |
| Zip |
85721-0001 |
|
 |