Dr. Sugata Tan

Research interests focus on the development of thermodynamic equations of state for atmospheres, liquid bodies, and ices relevant to outer solar system objects, such as the satellites of Saturn and KBOs. The equation of state is known as CRYOCHEM, which can deal comprehensively with phase equilibria for a wide variety of chemicals, at a wide range of low temperatures and pressures, where fluids and solid solutions may occur in multiple-phase equilibria, e.g., vapor-liquid, vapor-liquid-liquid, vapor-solid-liquid, vapor-solid-solid, vapor-liquid-liquid-solid, etc. CRYOCHEM has been applied for describing Titan’s atmosphere, solid and liquid condensates from this atmosphere, and the resulting surface and subsurface liquids. It has also been used for modeling the phase equilibria between the atmosphere and surface ices on Pluto. Recently, the application was extended to high-temperature and high-pressure atmosphere of Venus, and is planned to include the atmospheres of the gas giants.