High-Resolution Temperature-Dependent Photoabsorption Cross Section Measurements of S2, with Application to HST UV Spectra of SL9/Jupiter

摘要

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) UV spectra of Jupiter after the collision of Comet SL9 show predominantly molecular features of S2, CS2, NH3, and H2S in the 1800-3200 A region. The HST observations were made under various phases of impact conditions which gave temperatures higher than 1000 K. It is thus clear that temperature-dependent laboratory cross section data are required in order to determine the molecular abundances in Jupiter's atmosphere after the impact of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9. The required high-resolution temperature dependent S2 absorption cross sections have not been directly measured in the laboratory. To provide the required data for modelers our objective is to accurately measure the high-resolution (FWHM = 0.003 A) and medium resolution (FWHM - 0.08 A) temperature dependent S2 in the 2450-3200 A region. Using the experimental setup we have obtained absorbtion spectra of S2 under various temperature conditions.