Project 002 Description:The student will be trained in laboratory techniques top prepare the samples (sieving, crushing, etc.), make the KBr pellets and measure their
transmission in a Fouriet Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. They will help develop a robust and repeatable procedure to ensure the accuracy of
the measurements. The student will also participate in the analysis of the data to derive the complex refractive index (n +i ) for each sample. Using a
Mie or Rayleigh scattering model and a fitting algorithm, we will determine the best fit parameters for each sample. Once a large database exists, we will
explore the natural variability found in all samples, and attempt to identify controlling factors to create a quantitative parameterization. We estimate this
work will require a time commitment of 10h/week over the course of the year.