Priscilla N. Mohammed and Paul G. Steffes
Georgia Institute of Technology
School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0250
A model, based on the Van Vleck-Weisskopf lineshape, was developed for the centimeter-wavelength opacity of PH3, which provides an order of magnitude improvement over previous models (Hoffman et al. 2001). New laboratory measurements indicate that the model is also accurate at 94 GHz (3.2 mm) under conditions for the outer planets. Measurements of the opacity and refractivity of PH3 in a hydrogen/helium (H2/He) atmosphere were conducted at 94 GHz (3.2 mm) at pressures of 0.5 to 2 bars and at temperatures of 293 K and 213 K. Additionally, new high-precision laboratory measurements of the opacity and refractivity of NH3 in an H2/He atmosphere were conducted at the same frequency at pressures from 0.5 to 2 bars and at temperatures of 204 K, 213 K and 290 K. Results show that existing models which predict NH3 opacity in an H2/He environment, understate the absorption due to the pressure broadened rotational lines. A new model is proposed for use at 94 GHz (3.2 mm) which uses a Ben Reuven lineshape (Ben Reuven, 1966) for the inversion lines and a Kinetic lineshape (Gross, 1955) for the rotational lines. Results of measurements of both PH3 and NH3 can be used to better interpret maps of Saturn’s emission at this wavelength and can potentially be used to deduce spatial variations in the abundances of both gases in the atmosphere of Saturn.