A Study of Water in Comet C2007 N3 (Lulin)

Emily Sudholt
Department of Physics and Astronomy
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Advisor: Dr. Erika Gibb

Abstract
 A sensitive search for HDO and detected H2O and OH in the spectra of comet C/2007 N3 (Lulin) obtained by NIRSPEC at the Keck II telescope atop Mauna Kea, Hawaii, has been conducted. OH prompt emission (OH*) is a direct proxy for H2O production and eliminates "inter-setting" calibration uncertainties in evaluating the HDO/H2O ratio. An upper limit for HDO/H2O, and spatial profiles, rotational temperatures, and production rates for H2O is reported.
Emily Sudholt a Missouri native, is currently a senior in the department of Physics and Astronomy at UM-St. Louis. Emily plans to continue working toward a PhD in Physics and would like to continue studying Astrochemistry in relation to the origin of life on earth.
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