Physics Department Seminar Series -FR

Event date(s): September 28, 2023
Time(s): 01:15 PM - 02:15 PM
Category: Fredericton
Location: Fredericton

UNB Physics Department Seminar
 

When: Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023 @ 1:15-2:15 p.m.
Location: Toole Hall, Rm. 3

Speaker: Timothy Blackmore

Title: Laser Based Studies of Iron Monohydride (FeH): New Electronic States and Zeeman Spectroscopy in Support of Exoplanet Research

Abstract: Astronomers are searching for planets in the habitable zone of cool M-class stars. One technique they use is the radial velocity method where they search for a periodic Doppler shift in the star’s spectrum. The shifts are caused by motion of the star as it orbits the center of mass of the star/exoplanet system. To use the radial velocity method, it is useful look for oscillations of known transitions of molecules in the star’s atmosphere. The unstable molecule FeH is commonly found in M-class stars, however, its known transitions are often unusable to astronomers. This is because the lines in FeH are very sensitive to magnetic splitting, so a star’s magnetic field changes the appearance of the FeH spectrum. We will use laser spectroscopy to measure the magnetic response of FeH in the regions of interest to astronomers so individual transitions can be modelled at various magnetic fields and be identified in a star. We discovered and investigated a new electronic state in FeH in the visible which can provide some of the data astronomers require. Additionally, we have done some preliminary magnetic response measurements on several FeH transitions.

Building: Toole Hall

Room Number: 3