Professor Ranjan Gupta
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Item The photometric study of light scattering from the surface of alumina powder and interpretations by Hapke formula(Sciencedirect, 2011-08-21) Deb, D; Sen, A.K.; Das, H.S.; et al.A laboratory experiment helps to understand the light scattering property of regolith like samples with known compositions and other physical parameters. The laboratory data so obtained can be compared with the existing in situ data on celestial objects like asteroids. Further, it may be analyzed with the help of various theoretical models to understand the light scattering processes from regolith more clearly. In this work we have performed laboratory based photometry of the light scattered from the surfaces of powdered alumina (Al2O3) at various tilt angles of the sample and at large phase angles, with the particles having diameter 0.3 lm. The wavelength of observation was 632.8 nm. These data have been fitted by a surface scattering model originally suggested by Hapke. Instead of using empirical Henyey–Greenstein phase function to fix the values of albedo and phase function to be used within Hapke formula, we have used Mie theory for the same. This approach helped us to determine the single particle properties such as particle diameter and complex refractive index from surface scattering phase curve alone. Mie theory depends only on the size parameter X(=2p(radius/wavelength)) and complex refractive index (n, k) of the material. Since the absorption coefficient (k) for alumina is known to be very low but not exactly zero, the best fit to the experimental data was obtained by least square technique with k as a free parameter, as the other parameters are known. Finally, we compare our results with other published results and discussItem Photopolarimetric study of the star-forming clouds CB3, CB25, and CB39(Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2010-09-07) Sen, A.K.; Polcaro, V. F; Dey, I.; et.alThe small compact isolated dark clouds also known as “Bok globules” are believed to be ideal sites for low-mass star formation. Some of these clouds are undergoing gravitational collapse, and the ambient magnetic field plays a key role in collapse dynamics. The background star polarimetry is generally accepted as a good tool to map the magnetic field, which is responsible for the alignment of dichroic grains that produce polarization. Aims. The background star polarization when studied together with extinction is expected to help us to understand various grain properties and the role of polarimetry as a tracer of magnetic field in these star-forming clouds. With this idea, polarization and colour excess E(B − V) values for a set of background stars have been studied together to understand various astrophysical process in some star-forming dark clouds. Methods. Optical photometric observations of the three clouds CB3, CB25, and CB39 were carried out at the 2 m H.C. Telescope, India, to determine the colour excess E(B − V) of the background stars by following a technique adopted by Bernabei & Polacaro (2001, A&A, 371, 123). These three clouds were selected from a set of eight clouds previously observed by us in optical polarimetry (Sen et al. 2000, A&AS, 141, 175). Further independent spectroscopic measurements of a few selected sample stars were recently carried out during February and March 2010 from 1.52 m Cassini Telescope, Loinao, Italy, to confirm the correctness of estimated E(B − V) values obtained by this photometric technique. Results. The colour excess E(B − V) values so obtained were compared with optical polarization values obtained for the same set of stars. It was found that the measured extinction values increase with the increase in percentage polarization for the cloud CB39 and to some extent for CB25. However, for cloud CB31 no such correlation was observed. It is normally expected that the grains causing extinction should also cause polarization of the light from background stars. Any possible deviation from this under different circumstances here has been discussed in the light of the ongoing physical processes in the star-forming clouds.Item Recent polarimetric observations of comet 67 P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko(Icy Bodies of the Solar System Proceedings IAU Symposium, 2009-11-24) Anny-Chantal Levasseur-Regourd1; Hadamcik, Edith; Sen, A.K.; et.alRemote observations of solar light scattered by dust in comet 67P/Churyumov- Gerasimenko coma are of major importance to assess the properties of the dust and thus to prepare the rendezvous of the Rosetta spacecraft with comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. We present polarimetric data obtained from India in December 2008 and France in March 2009. Compared with previous observations of this comet and of other Jupiter family comets, they confirm that it is dust-poor, although it may exhibit outbursts leading to the ejection of dust particles from its subsurface, especially after its perihelion passage.Item Polarimetric observations of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko during its 2008–2009 apparition(Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2010-04-12) Hadamcik, E; Sen, A.K.; Levasseur-Regourd, A. CContext. Remote observations of the light scattered by comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko dust coma are of major importance for determining the physical properties of the particles and prepare the rendezvous with the ESA/Rosetta spacecraft in 2014. Aims. Light scattering and especially linear polarization observations allow comparison between different coma regions and different comets, including comets that have been studied by space probes. Our aim is to retrieve physical properties of the dust particles and to characterize their evolution around perihelion passage. Methods. Recent imaging polarimetric observations were conducted at the Haute-Provence observatory (France) on 2009 March 17−19 at 35◦ phase angle and at IUCAA Girawali observatory (India) on 2008 December 25−27 at 36◦ phase angle and on 2009 April 30–May 1 at 29◦ phase angle. With the imaging technique, the intensity and linear polarization variations are studied through the various coma regions. These observations are compared to other cometary data (e.g. Jupiter family comets) and to numerical and experimental simulations. Results. The decrease in intensity as a function of the distance to nucleus in log-log scale is on average close to −1, although important variations with values down to −1.5 are noticed, in agreement with previous observations in 1982−83 and 1995−96. The intensity along the tailward direction decreases with a slope between −1.2 two months before perihelion (2009 February 28) to −1.0 two months after perihelion, and the decrease is more pronounced in the sunward direction. Before perihelion, aperture polarization values are comparable to polarization values measured on other comets at similar phase angles. The sharp decrease in intensity and the feature in the tailward direction, without any difference in polarization in the coma before perihelion, could suggest the presence of large dark particles. The post-perihelion increase in intensity and in polarization suggests that an outburst has occurred. The freshly ejected dust polarizes more the scattered light and is more sensitive to the solar radiation pressure, suggesting small micron- or submicron-sized grains. Conclusions. Polarization and intensity variations in the coma of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko are reminiscent of those noticed for some comets such as comet 81P/Wild 2 and comet 9P/Tempel 1. The presence of rather large particles can thus be suggested before and just after perihelion and the ejection of post-perihelion smaller grains, eventually in fluffy aggregates. A strong seasonal effect related to the obliquity of the comet suggests that the different grains originate in different hemispheres of the nucleus.Item Proposal for UV observations of star forming clouds(Bull. Astr. Soc. India, 2007-03-02) Sen, A.K.; Mukai, T.; Gupta, R; etThe small, compact dark clouds (also known as Bok Globules), are undergoing gravitational collapse that can result in the production of low mass stars. Light from background stars is scattered in forward direction by magnetically aligned dichroic dust grains. The degree and direction of align- ment is proportional to the strength and direction of ambient magnetic ¯eld in the cloud. Background star polarimetry provides the technique to probe this ¯eld. In order to relate the physical conditions within the cloud to the back- ground star polarization and to know the dust properties, we need to determine E(B ¡V ) for each background star and relate it to the corresponding observed polarization (p). However, observed data, do not always show a correlation between polarization and extinction. Due to this the question arises whether the grains that produce polarization also produce observed extinction? The observation that the polarization is not related to the extinction, can be explained if polarization and extinction are caused by two di®erent grain populations. Polarization is mainly caused by short grains, whereas the extinction is caused by larger ones. Based on these ¯ndings, justi¯cations are made here to detect these small grains (0.0035-0.01 ¹m) in the star forming clouds through UV observations to be made by TAUVEX. These particles can be best detected through the UV observations, as they show far-UV excess and characteristic features of 2175 ºA bump. We propose imaging of these clouds through the three bandpass ¯lters of TAUVEX. We expect to resolve many unanswered questions associated with star forming clouds, through this set of proposed observations.Item An analysis of the distribution of background star(Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc, 2002-02-02) Sen, A.K.; Mukai, T; Gupta, Ranjan; et al.The polarization observed for stars background to dark clouds (Bok Globules) is often used as diagnostic to study the ongoing star formation processes in these clouds. Such polarization maps in the optical have been reported for eight nearby clouds CB3, CB25, CB39, CB52, CB54, CB58, CB62 and CB246 in one of our previous work (Sen et al 2000). With a view to understand the origin of this polarization, in the present work attempts are made to look for any possible relation between this observed polarization and other physical parameters in the cloud (like temperature, turbulence etc.). The observed polarization does not seem to be clearly related to the dust and gas temperatures (Td and Tg) in the cloud as expected from Davis-Greenstein grain alignment mechanism (Davis & Greenstein 1952). However, the average observed polarization (pav) appears to be related to the turbulence V (measured by 12CO line width) by the mathematical relation pav = 2.95 exp(−0.24 V ). The possible relation between the direction of polarization vector and other physical parameters are also discussed. For this analysis in addition to the data on above eight dark clouds, the data on CB4 (Kane et al. 1995) are also included for comparison. In order to study the spatial distribution of the degree of polarization and position angles across the different parts of the cloud a simple model is proposed, where the cloud has been assumed to be a simple dichroic polarizing sphere and the light from the background star first passes through the IS medium and then through the cloud, before reaching the observer. One finds this simple model can explain to a reasonable extent the observed spatial (radial) dependence of the value of p for two of the clouds (CB25 , CB39), but for rest of the clouds the model fails. However, through this model one can explain why the polarization (p) need not always increase with total extinction Av as one moves in the deeper interior part of the cloud.Item Imaging polarimetry of some selected dark clouds?(Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser., 2000-01-11) Sen, A.K.; Gupta, Ranjan; Ramaprakash, A.N; et al.A set of eight Bok Globules CB3, CB25, CB39, CB52, CB54, CB58, CB62 and CB246 were observed polarimetrically in white light, using our Imaging Polarimeter (IMPOL), from the 1.2 m IR telescope at Mount Abu, India. The observations were carried out on di erent nights during the period December 1997 and April 1998. The CCD images obtained from the instrument (IMPOL) were analyzed, to produce polarization map of the Bok Globules. The stars in the eld, which are mostly background to the cloud show typically 2% of linear polarization. Clouds which are less dynamic (having 12CO line widths V < 2:5 km s−1), in general show slightly better alignment of polarization vectors with the projected direction of galactic plane. On the other hand the more dynamic group of clouds, has the polarization vectors more scattered and poorly aligned with the projected direction of the galactic plane. However one of the clouds observed CB58 does not follow this trend very well.Item An Imaging Polarimeter(IMPOL) for multi-wavelength observations(Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser, 2008-02-02) Ramaprakash, A.N; Gupta, Ranjan; Sen, A.K.; et.alTaking advantage of the advances in array detector technology, an imaging polarimeter (IMPOL) has been constructed for measuring linear polarization in the wavelength band from 400-800 nm. It makes use of a Wollaston prism as the analyser to measure simultaneously the two orthogonal polarization components that define a Stoke’s parameter. An achromatic half-wave plate is used to rotate the plane of polarization with respect to the axis of the analyser so that the second Stoke’s parameter also can be determined. With a field of view correponding to about 30 × 30 mm2 for a / 1.2 m, f/13 telescope, a sensitive, liquid-N2 cooled CCD camera as the detector and a built-in acquisition and guidance unit, the instrument can be used for studying stellar fields or extended objects with an angular resolution of ∼2′′ . The instrumental polarization is less than 0.05% and the accuracies of measurement are primarily limited by photon noise for typical observations.