Professor Ranjan Gupta

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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 discuss
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.al
The 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.
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. C
Context. 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.

Professor Ranjan Gupta

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