PLANETARY LUNCH (Course ESS286)


Fall 2009

October 01

Rachel Smith UCLA, Dept. Earth & Space Sciences

Observations of Unusual CO Fractionation in Young Stellar Objects

We are using high resolution CO ro-vibrational absorption spectra of CO isotopologues obtained with the Cryogenic Infrared Echelle Spectrograph (CRIRES-VLT, R=100,000) to derive precise isotope ratios of carbon and oxygen for young stellar objects (YSOs) in various stages of evolution. I will present our results showing varying oxygen and carbon fractionations in several YSOs, including our most recent findings of mysteriously high 12C/13C fractionation in several sources. I will describe how observations of YSOs aid our understanding of the evolution of protoplanetary disks and the solar nebula.

Reading

Lyons and Young (2005) ...about self-shielding.

Planet Lunch talks are held 12:00 - 13:00 and are informal in nature. Bring your (planet) lunch and bring your questions.


Planet Lunch home

Jewitt home ESS home e-mail: David Jewitt