Dr. Bishun Khare SETI Institute Principal Investigator
As carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are increasingly being considered for use in harsh environments, it becomes important to understand how the integrity of CNTs can be compromised. Having long studied planetary atmospheres, Bishun Khare also explores the impact of exposing CNTs to conditions like those found in space. For example, significant concentrations of protons are present in the radiation belts around Earth and outer planets like Jupiter. As Khare and his colleagues attempt to anticipate uses of CNT-based nanoelectronics in environments beyond Earth, they have demonstrated that proton irradiation can have deleterious effects on CNTs. Their research suggests the potential value of shielding spacecraft with hydrogren, as a way to protect sensitive nanoelectronics within from proton radiation. - SETI Institute Explorer, Special Edition 2005
Projects
Optical Properties of Tholin Produced in a Hydrogen-Rich Early Earth Atmosphere
NNA06CB59A
Our goal is to make a systematic study to determine the optical constants of haze with the mixing ratio of hydrogen at least 0.3 or more that might have existed during the epoch of the faint young Sun; we propose to measure the optical properties of early Earth tholin from the gas composition that will have H2 mixing ratio 0.3 and higher. We will determine several sets of optiocal constants corresponding to increasing hydrogen mixing ratio and conduct the radiative transfer calculations for each set of tholins. This will help know the onset of H2 mixing ratio that starts to produce greenhouse effects on the early Earth.
|