ABOUT
Nanograindb provides laboratory and theoretical spectral and morphological data for astrophysically-relevant grains of a wide range of sizes (from nanometers to microns). These solid particles are analogs of cosmic dust grains present in various astrophysical environment (galaxies, interstellar medium, protoplanetary disks), atmospheric aerosols and cloud particles.
Theoretical Library:
Single nanometer-sized (0.4 to 1.3 nm) nanograin structures were obtained using classic molecular dynamics (MD) and the reactive force field ReaxFF. Their IR spectra as a function of microstructure were computed using the self-consistent-charge density-functional tight binding method (SCC-DFTB). Details of the specific theoretical methodology are provided in each theoretical dataset.
Experimental Library:
Solid organic refractory particles spanning sub-micron sizes (50 to 500 nm) were synthesized with the NASA ARC COSmIC facility from various gas mixtures using plasma chemistry. The Visible to far infrared (0.6–200 μm) spectra of the laboratory-generated nanograins, cosmic grain and exoplanet aerosol analogs were measured using the NASA ARC Optical Constants Facility and the morphological properties (size distribution, shape) were obtained using Scanning Electron Microscopy.