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At least 181 records · Page 10

Simulations of Deep Galaxy Fields I: Monte-Carlo Simulations of Optical and Near Infrared Counts

Monte-Carlo simulations of three dimensional galaxy distributions are performed, following the prescription of Chokishi & Wright (1988), to study the photometric properties of evolving galaxy populations in the optical and near infrared bands to high redshifts. Galaxies are spatially distributed according to the spatial two point correlation function in a range of cluster to field environments andin volume elements appropriate to the cosmological model under consideration. Details of individual galaxy properties, including luminosities, morphologies, disk-to-bulge ratios, and size distributions are simulated to match local observed galaxy properties. Galaxies have evolving gas fraction, metallicity and spectral energy distributions that include both stellar emission and internal dust absorption and re-emission. The simulations result in noiseless two dimensional galaxy distributions on the sky that canbe compared to the observed deep images in the blue and near-infrared bands...

faint↗

Rocket-borne instrument for observations of near-infrared and far-infrared extended astrophysical emission

We give a detailed description of the design and flight performance of an instrument onboard the S-520-15 rocket of the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science. The isntrument, consisting of a near-infrared spectrometer and a far-infrared photometer at the focus of a 10 cm liquid-helium cooled telescope, was designed to observe both the brightness and distribution of diffuse emission with high sensitivity. The rocket was successfully launched and the instrument observed near-infrared and far-infrared continuum emission, as well as (C II) 157.7 micrometer line emission from regions at high Galactic latitude. We also give a brief description of the design and performance of an onboard attitude control system.

Matsuhara, Hideo↗

Near-infrared photometry and stellar populations in dwarf elliptical and irregular galaxies

Studies of three different types of dwarf galaxies have been conducted, taking into account low surface brightness (LSB) dwarf irregular (dI) galaxies, dwarf elliptical (dE) galaxies, and blue compact dwarf galaxies (BCDGs). Near-infrared observations for a large sample of BCDGs have been reported by Thuan (1983). The present paper is concerned with complementary near-infrared observations for a large sample of LSB dI and dE galaxies, and, in addition, with a few additional BCDG observations. In a discussion of dwarf elliptical galaxies, attention is given to an infrared color-color diagram, optical-infrared colors and burst ages, and the UVK color plane. Low surface brightness dwarf irregular galaxies and blue compact dwarf galaxies are considered along with the possible evolutionary scenarios which may link LSB dIs, BCDGs, and dEs.

Thuan, T. X.↗

Texas Spectroscopic Search for Lyα Emission at the End of Reionization. II. The Deepest Near-infrared Spectroscopic Observation at z ≳ 7

Realizing the utility of Lyα emission to trace the evolution of the intergalactic medium (IGM) during the epoch of reionization requires deep spectroscopy across the boundary of optical and near-infrared (NIR) spectrographs at z ∼ 7.2 when Lyα emission is at ∼1 μm. Our Texas Spectroscopic Search for Lyα Emission at the End of Reionization includes 18 nights of deep spectroscopic observations using the Keck DEIMOS (optical) and MOSFIRE (NIR) spectrographs. Within this data set we observe Lyα emission from 183 photometric-redshift-selected galaxies at z = 5.5–8.3 from the Cosmic Assembly Near infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey. Our overlapping MOSFIRE observations, over 84 galaxies in total, provide the deepest NIR spectroscopic data yet obtained for Lyα from galaxies z > 7, with >16 hr integration time for four observed galaxies. Here we analyze these four targets, and we report the discovery of a new z = 7.60 Lyα detection as well as provide an updated observation of the previously confirmed z = 7.51 Lyα emission from Finkelstein et al. with a ∼3× longer exposure time. Our analysis of these Lyα emission-line profiles reveals a significant asymmetric shape. The detection of Lyα from two out of three bright sources (MUV < −20.25) could imply that these bright galaxies inhabit ionized bubbles in a partially neutral IGM, although deeper exposures may reveal Lyα emission in the fainter source.

Intae Jung↗

Effects of atmosphere and view and illumination geometry on visible and near infrared radiance data from the advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHR)

The use of Dave's models to evaluate satellite off-nadir remote sensing of green vegetation cover types by simulating the visible and near-infrared advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHRR) NOAA-6 and NOAA-7 radiances for three green-leaf biomass levels and bare soil. Ground measurements of surface reflectances were used. The simulations were done along a scan line at 30 deg latitude during the summer solstice, equinox, and winter solstice. The simulation models are described and the effect of atmosphere over moderately vegetated surfaces is discussed. The results show that sensor response to atmospheric path length can be substantial for the AVHRR visible and near-infrared channels and normalized difference values, but they can be minimized by high sun and clear atmospheric viewing. The results indicate that AVHRR data would be most useful for monitoring low green leaf biomas canopies.

Holben, B. N.↗

A comparison of the near-infrared spectral features of early-type galaxies in the Coma Cluster, the Virgo cluster and the field

Earlier researchers derived the relative distance between the Coma and Virgo clusters from color-magnitude relations of the early-type galaxies in each cluster. They found that the derived distance was color-dependent and concluded that the galaxies of similar luminosity in the two clusters differ in their red stellar populations. More recently, the color-dependence of the Coma-Virgo distance modulus has been called into question. However, because these two clusters differ so dramatically in their morphologies and kinematics, it is plausible that the star formation histories of the member galaxies also differed. If the conclusions of earlier researchers are indeed correct, then some signature of the resulting stellar population differences should appear in the near-infrared and/or infrared light of the respective galaxies. We have collected near-infrared spectra of 17 Virgo and 10 Coma early-type galaxies; this sample spans about four magnitudes in luminosity in each cluster. Seven field E/S0 galaxies have been observed for comparison. Pseudo-equivalent widths have been measured for all of the field galaxies, all but one of the Virgo members, and five of the Coma galaxies. The features examined are sensitive to the temperature, metallicity, and surface gravity of the reddest stars. A preliminary analysis of these spectral features has been performed, and, with a few notable exceptions, the measured pseudo-equivalent widths agree well with previously published values.

Houdashelt, Mark L.↗

Eta Carinae across the 2003.5 Minimum: Analysis in the Visible and Near Infrared Spectral Region

We present analysis of the visible through near infrared spectrum of eta Car and its ejecta obtained during the 'eta Car Campaign with the Ultraviolet Visual Echelle Spectrograph (UVES) at the ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT)'. This is a part of larger effort to present a complete eta Car spectrum, and extends the previously presented analyses with the Hubble Space Telescope/Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (HST/STIS) in the UV (1240-3159 A) to 10,430 A. The spectrum in the mid and near UV is characterized by the ejecta absorption. At longer wavelengths, stellar wind features from the central source and narrow emission lines from the Weigelt condensations dominate the spectrum. However, narrow absorption lines from the circumstellar shells are present. This paper provides a description of the spectrum between 3060 and 10,430 A, including line identifications of the ejecta absorption spectrum, the emission spectrum from the Weigelt condensations and the P-Cygni stellar wind features. The high spectral resolving power of VLT/UVES enables equivalent width measurements of atomic and molecular absorption lines for elements with no transitions at the shorter wavelengths. However, the ground based seeing and contributions of nebular scattered radiation prevent direct comparison of measured equivalent widths in the VLT/UVES and HST/STIS spectra. Fortunately, HST/STIS and VLT/UVES have a small overlap in wavelength coverage which allows us to compare and adjust for the difference in scattered radiation entering the instruments apertures. This paper provide a complete online VLT/UVES spectrum with line identifications and a spectral comparison between HST/STIS and VLT/UVES between 3060 and 3160 A.

Nielsen, K. E.↗

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Signals Measure Neuronal Activity in the Cortex

Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is an emerging optical neuroimaging technology that indirectly measures neuronal activity in the cortex via neurovascular coupling. It quantifies hemoglobin concentration ([Hb]) and thus measures the same hemodynamic response as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), but is portable, non-confining, relatively inexpensive, and is appropriate for long-duration monitoring and use at the bedside. Like fMRI, it is noninvasive and safe for repeated measurements. Patterns of [Hb] changes are used to classify cognitive state. Thus, fNIRS technology offers much potential for application in operational contexts. For instance, the use of fNIRS to detect the mental state of commercial aircraft operators in near real time could allow intelligent flight decks of the future to optimally support human performance in the interest of safety by responding to hazardous mental states of the operator. However, many opportunities remain for improving robustness and reliability. It is desirable to reduce the impact of motion and poor optical coupling of probes to the skin. Such artifacts degrade signal quality and thus cognitive state classification accuracy. Field application calls for further development of algorithms and filters for the automation of bad channel detection and dynamic artifact removal. This work introduces a novel adaptive filter method for automated real-time fNIRS signal quality detection and improvement. The output signal (after filtering) will have had contributions from motion and poor coupling reduced or removed, thus leaving a signal more indicative of changes due to hemodynamic brain activations of interest. Cognitive state classifications based on these signals reflect brain activity more reliably. The filter has been tested successfully with both synthetic and real human subject data, and requires no auxiliary measurement. This method could be implemented as a real-time filtering option or bad channel rejection feature of software used with frequency domain fNIRS instruments for signal acquisition and processing. Use of this method could improve the reliability of any operational or real-world application of fNIRS in which motion is an inherent part of the functional task of interest. Other optical diagnostic techniques (e.g., for NIR medical diagnosis) also may benefit from the reduction of probe motion artifact during any use in which motion avoidance would be impractical or limit usability.

Harrivel, Angela↗

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Signals Measure Neuronal Activity in the Cortex

Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is an emerging optical neuroimaging technology that indirectly measures neuronal activity in the cortex via neurovascular coupling. It quantifies hemoglobin concentration ([Hb]) and thus measures the same hemodynamic response as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), but is portable, non-confining, relatively inexpensive, and is appropriate for long-duration monitoring and use at the bedside. Like fMRI, it is noninvasive and safe for repeated measurements. Patterns of [Hb] changes are used to classify cognitive state. Thus, fNIRS technology offers much potential for application in operational contexts. For instance, the use of fNIRS to detect the mental state of commercial aircraft operators in near real time could allow intelligent flight decks of the future to optimally support human performance in the interest of safety by responding to hazardous mental states of the operator. However, many opportunities remain for improving robustness and reliability. It is desirable to reduce the impact of motion and poor optical coupling of probes to the skin. Such artifacts degrade signal quality and thus cognitive state classification accuracy. Field application calls for further development of algorithms and filters for the automation of bad channel detection and dynamic artifact removal. This work introduces a novel adaptive filter method for automated real-time fNIRS signal quality detection and improvement. The output signal (after filtering) will have had contributions from motion and poor coupling reduced or removed, thus leaving a signal more indicative of changes due to hemodynamic brain activations of interest. Cognitive state classifications based on these signals reflect brain activity more reliably. The filter has been tested successfully with both synthetic and real human subject data, and requires no auxiliary measurement. This method could be implemented as a real-time filtering option or bad channel rejection feature of software used with frequency domain fNIRS instruments for signal acquisition and processing. Use of this method could improve the reliability of any operational or real-world application of fNIRS in which motion is an inherent part of the functional task of interest. Other optical diagnostic techniques (e.g., for NIR medical diagnosis) also may benefit from the reduction of probe motion artifact during any use in which motion avoidance would be impractical or limit usability.

Harrivel, Angela↗

The near-infrared continuum emission of visual reflection nebulae

In the past, reflection nebulae have provided an astrophysical laboratory well suited for the study of the reflection properties of interstellar dust grains at visual and ultraviolet wavelengths. The present investigation is concerned with observations which were begun with the objective to extend to near-infrared wavelengths the study of grains in reflection. Observations of three classical visual reflection nebulae were conducted in the wavelength range from 1.25 to 2.2 microns, taking into account NGC 7023, 2023, and 2068. All three nebulae were found to have similar near-infrared colors, despite widely different colors of their illuminating stars. The brightness level shown by two of the nebulae at 2.2 microns was too high to be easily accounted for on the basis of reflected light. Attention is given to a wide variety of possible emission mechanisms.

Sellgren, K.↗

Differences in visible and near-infrared light reflectance between orange fruit and leaves

The objective was to find the best time during the season (April 26, 1972 to January 8, 1973) to distinguish orange fruit from leaves by spectrophotometrically determining at 10-day intervals when the difference in visible (550- and 650-nm wavelengths) and near-infrared (850-nm wavelength) light reflectance between fruit and nearby leaves was largest. December 5 to January 8 was the best time to distinguish fruit from leaves. During this period the fruit's color was rapidly changing from green to yellow, and the difference in visible light reflectance between fruit and leaves was largest. The difference in near-infrared reflectance between leaves and fruit remained essentially constant during ripening when the difference in visible light reflectance between leaves and fruit was largest.

Gausman, H. W.↗

The Development of Microshutters for the Near Infrared Spectrograph on the James Webb Space Telescope

One of the James Webb Space Telescope's (JWST) primary science goals is to characterize the epoch of galaxy formation in the universe and observe the first galaxies and clusters of galaxies. This goal requires multi-band imaging and spectroscopic data in the near infrared portion of the spectrum for large numbers of very faint galaxies. Because such objects are sparse on the sky at the JWST resolution, a multi-object spectrograph is necessary to efficiently carry out the required observations. We have developed a fully programmable microshutter array that will be used as the field selector for the Near Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) on JWST. This device allows slits to be opened at the locations of selected galaxies in the field of view while blocking other unwanted light from the sky background and bright sources. In practice, greater than 100 objects within the field of view will be observed simultaneously. In this paper, we describe the microshutter arrays, their development, fabrication, testing, and progress toward delivery of flight qualified devices to the NIRSpec instrument team in 2008.

Silverberg, Robert F.↗

Near-infrared mapping spectrometer optical subsystem development and testing

The Near-Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (NIMS) is one of the four remote-sensing science instruments of the Galileo Orbiter scientific payload. The NIMS scientific objectives require operating the detector and optical subsystem at cryogenic temperatures. The necessity of assembling, aligning, and testing the optics at room temperature and meeting design specifications at the cryogenic operating temperature (130 K) presented a set of challenging technical problems. A systematic approach to the development of athermalized mounts and supporting structures for optical components is described. A technique utilizing the visible spectral range and supplementary ray-trace information for alignment of an infrared instrument is presented. The optical subsystem point-spread function and spatial and spectral resolution were determined at room temperature using selected spectral and spatial targets. Based on thermal-distortion analyses of the structure and mounts, compensators were selected, implemented, and verified at cryogenic temperatures. The selection of the compensator and the overall system performance were verified in a thermal vacuum chamber. Various external and internal calibration targets were used.

Macenka, S. A.↗

The new near-infrared array camera at the University of Rochester

A near-infrared array camera system has been constructed for use in the 1-5 micron region. The camera is based on a 32 x 32 element InSb focal plane array. The performance of most of the individual detectors in the system is found to be comparable to or better than the performance of any single-element InSb detector system currently in use. A thorough description of the camera system and its image processing subsystems is given, and some sample images are provided.

Forrest, W. J.↗

A near infrared vegetation index formed with airborne multispectral scanner data

A near infrared vegetation index (NIVI) has been formed with the 1.24 and 1.65 micron bands on the NS001 Thematic Mapper Simulator. The NIVI was compared to the more traditional Perpendicular Vegetation Index (PVI) formed with the 0.66 and 0.83 micron bands. The PVI was found to be less susceptible to problems with rock and soil spectral variations than the VIVI.

Elvidge, Christopher D.↗

Prompt Emission of GRB 121217A from Gamma-Rays to the Near-Infrared

The mechanism that causes the prompt-emission episode of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is still widely debated despite there being thousands of prompt detections. The favoured internal shock model relates this emission to synchrotron radiation. However, it does not always explain the spectral indices of the shape of the spectrum, which is often fit with empirical functions, such as the Band function. Multi-wavelength observations are therefore required to help investigate the possible underlying mechanisms that causes the prompt emission. We present GRB 121217A, for which we were able to observe its near-infrared (NIR) emission during a secondary prompt-emission episode with the Gamma-Ray burst Optical Near-infrared Detector (GROND) in combination with the Swift and Fermi satellites, which cover an energy range of 5 orders of magnitude (10(exp −3) keV to 100 keV). We determine a photometric redshift of z = 3.1 +/- 0.1 with a line-of-sight with little or no extinction (AV approx. 0 mag) utilising the optical/NIR SED. From the afterglow, we determine a bulk Lorentz factor of Gamma(sub 0) approx. 250 and an emission radius of R < 1018 cm. The prompt-emission broadband spectral energy distribution is well fit with a broken power law with beta1 = −0.3 +/- 0.1 and beta2 = 0.6 +/- 0.1 that has a break at E = 6.6 +/- 0.9 keV, which can be interpreted as the maximum injection frequency. Self-absorption by the electron population below energies of Ea < 6 keV suggest a magnetic field strength of B approx. 10(exp 5) G. However, all the best fit models underpredict the flux observed in the NIR wavelengths, which also only rebrightens by a factor of approx. 2 during the second prompt emission episode, in stark contrast to the X-ray emission, which rebrightens by a factor of approx. 100. This suggests an afterglow component is dominating the emission. We present GRB 121217A, one of the few GRBs that has multi-wavelength observations of the prompt-emission period and shows that it can be understood with a synchrotron radiation model. However, due to the complexity of the GRB's emission, other mechanisms that result in Band-like spectra cannot be ruled out.

prompt↗

Detection of Foreign Materials on Broiler Breast Meat Using a Fusion of Visible Near-Infrared and Short-Wave Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging

Foreign material (FM) found on a poultry product lowers the quality and safety of the product. We developed a fusion method combining two hyperspectral imaging (HSI) modalities in the visible-near infrared (VNIR) range of 400–1000 nm and the short-wave infrared (SWIR) range of 1000–2500 nm for the detection of FMs on the surface of fresh raw broiler breast fillets. Thirty different types of FMs that could be commonly found in poultry processing plants were used as samples and prepared in two different sizes (5 × 5 mm 2 and 2 × 2 mm 2 ). The accuracies of the developed Fusion model for detecting 2 × 2 mm 2 pieces of polymer, wood, and metal were 95%, 95%, and 81%, respectively, while the detection accuracies of the Fusion model for detecting 5 × 5 mm 2 pieces of polymer, wood, and metal were all 100%. The performance of the Fusion model was higher than the VNIR- and SWIR-based detection models by 18% and 5%, respectively, when F1 scores were compared, and by 38% and 5%, when average detection rates were compared. The study results suggested that the fusion of two HSI modalities could detect FMs more effectively than a single HSI modality.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗