01-023

Planetary Atmospheres

Cover Page/Proposal Summary

ROSS-00    NRA 00-OSS-01

Date Due: 4/28/2000

NASA PROCEDURE FOR HANDLING PROPOSALS

This proposal shall be used and disclosed for evaluation purposes only, and a copy of this Government notice shall be applied to any reproduction or abstract thereof. Any authorized restrictive notices that the submitter places on this proposal shall also be strictly complied with. Disclosure of this proposal for any reason outside the Government evaluation purposes shall be made only to the extent authorized by the Government.

Proposal Type: New Proposal

Proposal Category: Laboratory

Major Equipment Proposal? No

Do you intend to submit an Education/Public Outreach (E/PO) proposal? No


Proposal Title:

Recombination rates of methyl radicals at low temperatures in hydrogen. Deuterium abundance in ethene and ethane resulting from VUV irradiation of CH3D. HD/H2 ratio in gases released after VUV irradiation of partially deuterated water vapor and ice.

Abbreviated Proposal Title:
Low temperature photochemistry of methane and ice

Principal Investigator:
Dr. Richard Bersohn
Chemistry 3104
Columbia University
3000 Broadway
New York, NY 10027
Phone: 212-854-2192   Fax: 212-932-1289   E-mail: rbl8@columbia.edu

SignatureDate
_________________________________________________

Co-Investigators and Collaborators:
NONE


Proposal Summary:

1. low temperature photochemistry of methane Methyl radicals have been found in the atmosphere of Saturn. There is then a need to determine the rate of recombination of methyl radicals at low temperature in a hydrogen atmosphere. This will be done using methane and methyl chloride as sources of methyl radicals. Photochemistry studies will be carried out on CH3D in a nitrogen atmosphere (to simulate Titan); the ethylene and ethane products will be mass analyzed to determine their D abundance. 2. photochemistry of partially deuterated water vapor and ice The D/H atom ratio in several comets is twice that of the earth and the Martian ratio is six times the terrestrial ratio. Isotope selective photodissociation of HDO, that is a preference for H + OD over D + OH may be the cause. This ratio will be measured both at 193 (appropriate to the atmosphere of Mars) and at 121.6 nm (appropriate to light bodies without an atmosphere). The measurements will be done on both gaseous and solid water which will be a mixture of H2O, HOD and D2O. In the gas phase laser induced fluorescence will be used to detect the H and D atoms. Ice will be irradiated with vuv sources at 193 and 121.6 nm and electron spin resonance measurements will be made of the D/H ratios. When the ice is melted the mixture of H2, D2 and HD will be analyzed by Raman spectroscopy.

Certification of Compliance with Applicable Executive Orders and U.S. Code


By submitting the proposal identified in this Cover Sheet/Proposal Summary in response to this NRA or AO, the Authorizing Official of the proposing institution (or the individual proposer if there is no proposing institution) as identified below:

  • certifies that the statements made in this proposal are true and complete to the best of his/her knowledge;
  • agrees to accept the obligations to comply with NASA award terms and conditions if an award is made as a result of this proposal; and
  • confirms compliance with all provisions, rules, and stipulations set forth in the three Certifications contained in this NRA [namely, (i) Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters Primary Cover Transactions, (ii) Certification Regarding Lobbying, and (iii) Certification of Compliance with the NASA Regulations Pursuant to Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted Programs].
    Willful provision of false information in this proposal and/or its supporting documents, or in reports required under an ensuing award, is a criminal offense (U.S. Code, Title 18, Section 1001).