For prospective students
Research projects in the AIMIS Laboratory can be designed around whatever object in the solar system interests you the most. Take your pick from Earth, Mars, satellites of Jupiter and Saturn, and Kuiper Belt Objects. A list of possible projects follows.Projects
Solid Ozone Spectroscopy - Ozone may be used in coming years as a potential biomarker molecule in the study of extrasolar planets (planets that orbit around stars other than our own Sun). Ozone is also produced in irradiated ice and has been observed on some of the icy satellites in the Solar System.Carbonic Acid Spectrosopy - Carbonic acid is a fundamentally important but elusive molecule. It plays imporant roles in chemistry in our bodies and on Earth, and may also be an important component of icy planetary bodies in the Solar System.
Ammonia Oxidation in Ice - Ammonia is thought to be a major component of the outer Solar System bodies. If present, it should form an icy mixture with water. When the water ice is exposed to radiation, it produces strong oxidizers such as OH and H2O2. It is unknown what effect these oxidizers have on ammonia in the ice. The oxidation of ammonia may provide energy to drive cryovolcanism on icy planetary bodies.
Water-Complexes - Weakly bound water complexes have recently been found to be small but potentially important components of Earth's atmosphere. The spectroscopy of such complexes will reveal if IR absorption bands may provide additional but unrecognized contributions to Earth's energy budget. Fundamental knowledge of hydrogen bonding is also gained.