ABSTRACT
A method to detect the acoustic oscillation spectrum of giant planets and stars exploits the multiplex properties of a Fourier-transform spectrometer (FTS). It is based on measurement of the small Doppler shift related to the oscillation of the atmosphere measured from all the lines in a portion of the planetary or the stellar spectrum directly from the interferogram. The resulting amplitude modulation of the output signal is recorded continuously over several consecutive nights at a fixed path difference selected from criteria of optimum efficiency. Hence the Fourier transform of this signal yields the pressure-mode spectrum of the object. Applications to Jupiter, Saturn, and Procyon, observed in this mode with the step-scan FTS installed in the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, are presented. Future projects are discussed.
ABSTRACT
Deuterium on Mars has been detected by the resolution of several Doppler-shifted lines ofHDO near 3.7 micrometers in the planet's spectrum. The ratio of deuterium to hydrogen is (9 +/- 4) x 10(-4); the abundance of H(2)0 was derived from lines near 1.1 micrometers. This ratio is enriched on Mars over the teiluric value by a factor of6 +/- 3. The enrichment implies that hydrogen escaped more rapidly from Mars in the past than it does now, consistent with a dense and warm ancient atmosphere on the planet.
