Curtis DeWitt
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View article: A Tale of Two Sightlines: Comparison of Hydrocarbon Dust Absorption Bands toward Cygnus OB2-12 and the Galactic Center
A Tale of Two Sightlines: Comparison of Hydrocarbon Dust Absorption Bands toward Cygnus OB2-12 and the Galactic Center Open
Infrared spectra of hydrocarbon dust absorption bands toward the bright hypergiant Cygnus OB2-12 are compared to published spectra of the Quintuplet Cluster, a sightline to the Galactic center. The Cyg OB2-12 data include a new ground-base…
View article: The Discovery of 25 <i>μ</i>m Interstellar Methanol
The Discovery of 25 <i>μ</i>m Interstellar Methanol Open
We present the first astrophysical detection of methanol (CH 3 OH) in the torsional band near 25 μ m. Using high-resolution mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy, we identified over 70 gas-phase CH 3 OH absorption lines between 20 and 28 μ m tow…
View article: Using SOFIA’s EXES to improve the upper limits for C6H2 and C4N2 in Titan’s atmosphere
Using SOFIA’s EXES to improve the upper limits for C6H2 and C4N2 in Titan’s atmosphere Open
IntroductionSaturn’s largest moon, Titan, has a dense atmosphere comprised mostly of nitrogen and methane. The photolysis and ionization of these major componentsleads to complex chemical reactions, which create substantial diversity among…
View article: Unveiling Two Deeply Embedded Young Protostars in the S68N Class 0 Protostellar Core with JWST/NIRSpec
Unveiling Two Deeply Embedded Young Protostars in the S68N Class 0 Protostellar Core with JWST/NIRSpec Open
The near-infrared (NIR) emission of the youngest protostars still needs to be characterized to better understand the evolution of their accretion and ejection activity. We analyze James Webb Space Telescope NIRSpec 1.7–5.3 μ m observations…
View article: Investigation of Vibrational Cooling in a Photoexcited Dichloro-Ruthenium Charge Transfer Complex Using Transient Electronic Absorption Spectroscopy
Investigation of Vibrational Cooling in a Photoexcited Dichloro-Ruthenium Charge Transfer Complex Using Transient Electronic Absorption Spectroscopy Open
Vibrational cooling of molecules in excited electronic states is ubiquitous in photochemical reactions in solution but challenging to infer in time-resolved electronic absorption experiments. We report the ultrafast photophysics of cis<…
View article: Improved Constraints on the Vertical Profile of CH<sub>4</sub> at Jupiter’s Mid- to High Latitudes, Using IRTF-TEXES and SOFIA-EXES Spectroscopy
Improved Constraints on the Vertical Profile of CH<sub>4</sub> at Jupiter’s Mid- to High Latitudes, Using IRTF-TEXES and SOFIA-EXES Spectroscopy Open
We present radiative transfer analyses of IRTF-TEXES and SOFIA-EXES mid-infrared spectra of Jupiter's mid- to high latitudes recorded between 2019 April 16 and 2023 July 20. The spectra were inverted across a photochemical model grid of va…
View article: Supernova Shocks in Molecular Clouds: Shocks Driven into Dense Cores in IC 443 and 3C 391
Supernova Shocks in Molecular Clouds: Shocks Driven into Dense Cores in IC 443 and 3C 391 Open
Supernova shocks into dense molecular cores in IC 443 (clumps B, C, and G) and 3C 391 were observed using the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy and complemented by archival data from the Herschel Space Observatory. The pure …
View article: SOFIA/EXES Observations of Warm H<sub>2</sub> at High Spectral Resolution. II. IC 443C, NGC 2071, and 3C 391
SOFIA/EXES Observations of Warm H<sub>2</sub> at High Spectral Resolution. II. IC 443C, NGC 2071, and 3C 391 Open
Using the EXES instrument on SOFIA, we have obtained velocity-resolved spectra of several pure rotational lines of H 2 toward shocked molecular gas within three Galactic sources: the supernova remnant (SNR) IC 443 (clump C), a protostellar…
View article: Supernova Shocks in Molecular Clouds: Shocks Driven into Dense Cores in IC 443 and 3C 391
Supernova Shocks in Molecular Clouds: Shocks Driven into Dense Cores in IC 443 and 3C 391 Open
Supernova shocks into dense molecular cores in IC 443 (clumps B, C, and G) and 3C 391 were observed using the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy and complemented by archival data from the Herschel Space Observatory. The pure …
View article: Unveiling two deeply embedded young protostars in the S68N Class 0 protostellar core with JWST/NIRSpec
Unveiling two deeply embedded young protostars in the S68N Class 0 protostellar core with JWST/NIRSpec Open
The near-infrared (NIR) emission of the youngest protostars still needs to be characterized to better understand the evolution of their accretion and ejection activity. We analyze James Webb Space Telescope NIRSpec 1.7 -- 5.3 $μ$m observat…
View article: SOFIA/EXES observations of warm H2 at high spectral resolution: II. IC443C, NGC2071, and 3C391
SOFIA/EXES observations of warm H2 at high spectral resolution: II. IC443C, NGC2071, and 3C391 Open
Using the EXES instrument on SOFIA, we have obtained velocity-resolved spectra of several pure rotational lines of H2 toward shocked molecular gas within three Galactic sources: the supernova remnant (SNR) IC443 (Clump C), a protostellar o…
View article: Constraining the global composition of D/H and 18O/16O in Martian water using SOFIA/EXES
Constraining the global composition of D/H and 18O/16O in Martian water using SOFIA/EXES Open
Isotopic ratios in water vapour carry important information about the water reservoir on Mars. Localized variations in these ratios can inform us about the water cycle and surface–atmosphere exchanges. On the other hand, the global isotopi…
View article: High-resolution SOFIA/EXES Spectroscopy of Water Absorption Lines in the Massive Young Binary W3 IRS 5
High-resolution SOFIA/EXES Spectroscopy of Water Absorption Lines in the Massive Young Binary W3 IRS 5 Open
We present in this paper mid-infrared (5–8 μ m) spectroscopy toward the massive young binary W3 IRS 5, using the Echelon Cross Echelle Spectrograph (EXES) spectrometer in high-resolution mode ( R ∼ 50,000) from the NASA Stratospheric Obser…
View article: High-resolution SOFIA/EXES Spectroscopy of Water Absorption Lines in the Massive Young Binary W3 IRS 5
High-resolution SOFIA/EXES Spectroscopy of Water Absorption Lines in the Massive Young Binary W3 IRS 5 Open
We present in this paper mid-infrared (5-8~$μ$m) spectroscopy toward the massive young binary W3~IRS~5, using the EXES spectrometer in high-resolution mode ($R\sim$50,000) from the NASA Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOF…
View article: The Mid-infrared Molecular Inventory toward Orion IRc2
The Mid-infrared Molecular Inventory toward Orion IRc2 Open
We present the first high spectral resolution mid-infrared survey in the Orion BN/KL region, covering 7.2–28.3 μ m. With SOFIA/EXES, we target the enigmatic source Orion IRc2. While this is in the most prolifically studied massive star-for…
View article: The mid-infrared molecular inventory towards Orion IRc2
The mid-infrared molecular inventory towards Orion IRc2 Open
We present the first high spectral resolution mid-infrared survey in the Orion BN/KL region, covering 7.2 to 28.3 micron. With SOFIA/EXES we target the enigmatic source Orion IRc2. While this is in the most prolifically studied massive sta…
View article: Surveying the inner structure of massive young stellar objects using <i>L</i>-band spectroscopy
Surveying the inner structure of massive young stellar objects using <i>L</i>-band spectroscopy Open
We present results from a high spectral resolution (6 km s-1) survey of five massive protostars in the wavelength range of 2.95 and 3.25 µm, conducted with iSHELL at the InfraRed Telescope Facility (IRTF). Our targets are Mon R2 IRS 2, Mon…
View article: Infrared H<sub>2</sub>O Absorption in Massive Protostars at High Spectral Resolution: Full Spectral Survey Results of AFGL 2591 and AFGL 2136
Infrared H<sub>2</sub>O Absorption in Massive Protostars at High Spectral Resolution: Full Spectral Survey Results of AFGL 2591 and AFGL 2136 Open
We have performed a high-resolution 4–13 μ m spectral survey of the hot molecular gas associated with the massive protostars AFGL 2591 and AFGL 2136. Here we present the results of the analysis of the ν 2 band of H 2 O, detected with the E…
View article: Detection of the S(1) Rotational Line of H<sub>2</sub> toward IRC+10216: A Simultaneous Measurement of the Mass-loss Rate and CO Abundance
Detection of the S(1) Rotational Line of H<sub>2</sub> toward IRC+10216: A Simultaneous Measurement of the Mass-loss Rate and CO Abundance Open
We report the first detection of the S(1) pure rotational line of ortho-H 2 at 17.04 μ m in an asymptotic giant branch star, using observations of IRC+10216 with the Echelon-cross-echelle Spectrograph (EXES) mounted on the Stratospheric Ob…
View article: Spatial Variation in Temperature and Density in the IC 63 PDR from H<sub>2</sub> Spectroscopy
Spatial Variation in Temperature and Density in the IC 63 PDR from H<sub>2</sub> Spectroscopy Open
We have measured the gas temperature in the IC 63 photodissociation region (PDR) using the S(1) and S(5) pure rotation lines of molecular hydrogen with SOFIA/EXES. We divide the PDR into three regions for analysis based on the illumination…
View article: SOFIA upGREAT/FIFI-LS Emission-line Observations of Betelgeuse during the Great Dimming of 2019/2020
SOFIA upGREAT/FIFI-LS Emission-line Observations of Betelgeuse during the Great Dimming of 2019/2020 Open
We report NASA-DLR SOFIA upGREAT circumstellar [O i ] 63.2 μ m and [C ii ] 157.7 μ m emission profiles and FIFI-LS [O i ] 63.2 μ m, [O i ] 145.5 μ m, and [C ii ] 157.7 μ m fluxes obtained shortly after Betelgeuse’s 2019/2020 Great Dimming …
View article: Spatial variation in temperature and density in the IC 63 PDR from $\rm H_{2}$ Spectroscopy
Spatial variation in temperature and density in the IC 63 PDR from $\rm H_{2}$ Spectroscopy Open
We have measured the gas temperature in the IC 63 photodissociation region (PDR) using the S(1) and S(5) pure rotation lines of molecular hydrogen with SOFIA/EXES. We divide the PDR into three regions for analysis based on the illumination…
View article: Multifrequency high spectral resolution observations of HCN toward the circumstellar envelope of Y Canum Venaticorum
Multifrequency high spectral resolution observations of HCN toward the circumstellar envelope of Y Canum Venaticorum Open
High spectral resolution observations toward the low mass-loss rate C-rich, J-type asymptotic giant branch (AGB) star Y CVn were carried out at 7.5, 13.1, and 14.0 μm with the Echelon-cross-echelle Spectrograph mounted on the Stratospheric…
View article: Detection of infrared fluorescence of carbon dioxide in R Leonis with SOFIA/EXES
Detection of infrared fluorescence of carbon dioxide in R Leonis with SOFIA/EXES Open
<p>We report on the detection of hot CO<sub>2</sub> in the O-rich AGB star R Leo based on high spectral resolution observations in the range 12.8-14.3 µm carried out with the Echelon-cross-Echelle Spectrograph (EXES…
View article: Early Results from SOFIA/EXES High Resolution Spectroscopic Observations of Circumstellar Envelopes of AGB Stars
Early Results from SOFIA/EXES High Resolution Spectroscopic Observations of Circumstellar Envelopes of AGB Stars Open
We present early results from our project to investigate if there is a relationship between the mass-loss rates of AGB stars and the chemistry within the circumstellar envelopes that this process creates. We have obtained high spectral res…
View article: Accretion in the Inner Regions of Disks Around Massive Young Stellar Objects
Accretion in the Inner Regions of Disks Around Massive Young Stellar Objects Open
View article: Detection of infrared fluorescence of carbon dioxide in R Leonis with SOFIA/EXES
Detection of infrared fluorescence of carbon dioxide in R Leonis with SOFIA/EXES Open
We report on the detection of hot CO 2 in the O-rich asymptotic giant branch star R Leo based on high spectral resolution observations in the range 12.8−14.3 μ m carried out with the Echelon-cross-Echelle Spectrograph (EXES) mounted on the…
View article: High-resolution Infrared Spectroscopy of Hot Molecular Gas in AFGL 2591 and AFGL 2136: Accretion in the Inner Regions of Disks around Massive Young Stellar Objects
High-resolution Infrared Spectroscopy of Hot Molecular Gas in AFGL 2591 and AFGL 2136: Accretion in the Inner Regions of Disks around Massive Young Stellar Objects Open
We have performed a high-resolution 4–13 μ m spectral survey of the hot molecular gas associated with the massive protostars AFGL 2591 and AFGL 2136, utilizing the Echelon Cross Echelle Spectrograph (EXES) on board the Stratospheric Observ…
View article: High Resolution Infrared Spectroscopy of Hot Molecular Gas in AFGL 2591\n and AFGL 2136: Accretion in the Inner Regions of Disks Around Massive Young\n Stellar Objects
High Resolution Infrared Spectroscopy of Hot Molecular Gas in AFGL 2591\n and AFGL 2136: Accretion in the Inner Regions of Disks Around Massive Young\n Stellar Objects Open
We have performed a high resolution 4-13 ${\\mu}m$ spectral survey of the hot\nmolecular gas associated with the massive protostars AFGL 2591 and AFGL 2136,\nutilising the Echelon-Cross-Echelle-Spectrograph (EXES) on-board the\nStratospher…
View article: The H<sub>2</sub>O Spectrum of the Massive Protostar AFGL 2136 IRS 1 from 2 to 13 μm at High Resolution: Probing the Circumstellar Disk
The H<sub>2</sub>O Spectrum of the Massive Protostar AFGL 2136 IRS 1 from 2 to 13 μm at High Resolution: Probing the Circumstellar Disk Open
We have observed the massive protostar AFGL 2136 IRS 1 in multiple wavelength windows in the near- to mid-infrared at high (∼3 km s −1 ) spectral resolution using VLT+CRIRES, SOFIA+EXES, and Gemini North+TEXES. There is an abundance of H 2…