Mid-infrared extinction coefficients of amorphous silicates

Abstract

Mid-infrared extinction coefficients of five natural amorphous silicates and seven synthetic glasses were measured. Three bands at about 10, 12, and 20 μm were seen for all the measured samples. The quantities of these bands are found to have good correlations with the SiO₂ content of the samples. The correlations are the most remarkable for the 10 μm band. As the SiO₂ content decreases, the peak wavelengthλ _m shifts to longer side, the peak heightK _m decreases and the full width of half maximumW increases. A quantityλ _m K _m W is constant within 15%. Empirical formula

$$\lambda_m (\mu m) = {11.10-2.30 x 10^-2} {[SiO_2 wt.\%]} \pm 0.15$$

and

$$W(\mu m) = {5.14-4.68 x 10^- 2} {[SiO_2 wt.\%]} \pm 0.30$$

are obtained for the measured samples. Therefore, the correlation is present between the 10 μm peak wavelengthλ _m and peak widthW for amorphous silicates. The change in peak widthW is remarkable compared the change in peak wavelengthλ _m as the SiO₂ content varies. For the 12 μm band the correlations with the SiO₂ content are not so good. A tendency that theλ _m shifts to the red and theK _m lowers as the decreasing SiO₂ content are found. For the samples with SiO₂ content less than 50% the 12 μm band cannot recognized as the peak. For the 20 μm band, theλ _m is almost independent on SiO₂ content and theK _m lowers with decreasing SiO₂ content.

The results are compared with the observed 10 μm band of the astronomical objects. A method to estimate the SiO₂ content of astronomical grain materials is proposed and 48±8% SiO₂ wt.% is found corresponding to the peak wavelength of 9.7 μm and the peak width of 2.5–3.0 μm of typical celestial objects.