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At least 181 records · Page 10

Deconvolution of spectra for intimate mixtures

Visible to near infrared reflectance spectra of macroscopic mixtures have been shown to be linear combinations of the reflections of the pure mineral components in the mixture. However, for microscopic mixtures the mixing systematics are in general nonlinear. The systematics may be linearized by conversion of reflectance to single scattering albedo (w), where the equations which relate reflectance to w depend on the method of data collection. Several proposed mixing models may be used to estimate mineral abundances from the reflectance spectra of intimate mixtures. These models are summarized and a revised model is presented. A noniterative (linear) least squares approach was used for curve fitting and the data, measured as bi-directional reflectance with incidence and emergence angles of 30 and 0 deg were converted to w by a simplified version of Hapke's equation for bi-directional reflectance. This model was tested with two mixture series composed of 45 to 75 micron particles: an anorthite-enstatite series and an olivine-magnetite series. The data indicate that the simplified Hapke's equation may be used to convolve reflectance spectra into mineral abundances if appropriate endmembers are known or derived from other techniques. For surfaces that contain a significant component of very low albedo material, a somewhat modified version of this technique will need to be developed. Since the abundances are calculated using a noniterative approach, the application of this method is especially efficient for large spectral data sets, such as those produced by mapping spectrometers.

Mustard, John F.↗

LATE TIME MULTI-WAVELENGTH OBSERVATIONS OF SWIFT J1644+5734: A LUMINOUS OPTICAL/IR BUMP AND QUIESCENT X-RAY EMISSION

We present late time multi-wavelength observations of Swift J1644+57, suggested to be a relativistic tidal disruption flare (TDF). Our observations extend to >4 years from discovery and show that 1.4 years after outburst the relativistic jet switched off on a timescale less than tens of days, corresponding to a power-law decay faster than t{sup −70}. Beyond this point weak X-rays continue to be detected at an approximately constant luminosity of L{sub X} ∼ 5 × 10{sup 42} erg s{sup −1} and are marginally inconsistent with a continuing decay of t{sup −5/3}, similar to that seen prior to the switch-off. Host photometry enables us to infer a black hole mass of M{sub BH} = 3 × 10{sup 6} M{sub ⊙}, consistent with the late time X-ray luminosity arising from sub-Eddington accretion onto the black hole in the form of either an unusually optically faint active galactic nucleus or a slowly varying phase of the transient. Optical/IR observations show a clear bump in the light curve at timescales of 30–50 days, with a peak magnitude (corrected for host galaxy extinction) of M{sub R} ∼ −22 to −23. The luminosity of the bump is significantly higher than seen in other, non-relativistic TDFs and does not match any re-brightening seen at X-ray or radio wavelengths. Its luminosity, light curve shape, and spectrum are broadly similar to those seen in superluminous supervnovae, although subject to large uncertainties in the correction of the significant host extinction. We discuss these observations in the context of both TDF and massive star origins for Swift J1644+5734 and other candidate relativistic tidal flares.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The MOSDEF survey: AGN multi-wavelength identification, selection biases, and host galaxy properties

We present results from the MOSFIRE Deep Evolution Field (MOSDEF) survey on the identification, selection biases, and host galaxy properties of 55 X-ray, IR, and optically selected active galactic nuclei (AGNs) at 1.4<z<3.8. We obtain rest-frame optical spectra of galaxies and AGNs and use the BPT diagram to identify optical AGNs. We examine the uniqueness and overlap of the AGNs identified at different wavelengths. There is a strong bias against identifying AGNs at any wavelength in low-mass galaxies, and an additional bias against identifying IR AGNs in the most massive galaxies. AGN hosts span a wide range of star formation rates (SFRs), similar to inactive galaxies once stellar mass selection effects are accounted for. However, we find (at ∼2–3σ significance) that IR AGNs are in less dusty galaxies with relatively higher SFR and optical AGNs in dusty galaxies with relatively lower SFR. X-ray AGN selection does not display a bias with host galaxy SFR. These results are consistent with those from larger studies at lower redshifts. Within star-forming galaxies, once selection biases are accounted for, we find AGNs in galaxies with similar physical properties as inactive galaxies, with no evidence for AGN activity in particular types of galaxies. This is consistent with AGNs being fueled stochastically in any star-forming host galaxy. We do not detect a significant correlation between SFR and AGN luminosity for individual AGN hosts, which may indicate the timescale difference between the growth of galaxies and their supermassive black holes.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Visible and near-ultraviolet spectra of low-pressure rare-gas microwave discharges

The spectral emission characteristics of three commercial low pressure rare gas discharge lamps wire obtained in the near ultraviolet and visible wavelength range. All three lamps show a definite continuum over the entire wavelength range from 0.185 to 0.6 micrometers. Considerable line emission is superimposed on much of the continuum for wavelengths greater than 0.35 micrometers. These sources were used to make transmittance measurements on quartz samples in the near ultraviolet wavelength range.

Campbell, J. P.↗

Effect of Cr doping on structural and magnetic properties of ZnS nanoparticles

The structural, optical and magnetic properties of pure and Cr doped ZnS nanoparticles were studied at room temperature. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the absence of any mixed phase and the cubic structure of ZnS in pure and Cr doped ZnS nanoparticles. Fourier transfer infrared spectra confirmed the Zn-S stretching bond at 664 cm{sup −1} of ZnS in all prepared nanoparticles. The UV-Visible absorption spectra showed blue shift which became even more pronounced in Cr doped ZnS nanoparticles. However, at relatively higher Cr concentrations a slower red shift was shown by the doped nanoparticles. This phenomenon is attributed to sp-d exchange interaction that becomes prevalent at higher doping concentrations. Further, magnetic hysteresis measurements showed that Cr doped ZnS nanoparticles exhibited ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Amplified luminescence of heavily doped Al{sub x}Ga{sub 1 – x}N structures under optical pumping

Spectral, temporal, and polarisation characteristics of luminescence of heavily doped Al{sub x}Ga{sub 1 – x}N films on a sapphire substrate are studied under pulsed pumping at the wavelength λ = 266 m. Spectra of spontaneous emission related to donor – acceptor transitions are inhomogeneously broadened with the FWHM of above 0.5 eV and cover the entire visible range. Spectra of radiation emitted from an edge of investigated structure comprise several narrow-band equidistant components, each of them being split to TE and TM modes with mutually orthogonal polarisations. This is related to plane waves propagating inside a plane waveguide along a zigzag path in the conditions of total internal reflection from waveguide surfaces. The optical gains measured for Al{sub 0.5}Ga{sub 0.5}N/AlN at λ ≈ 510 nm, Al{sub 0.74}Ga{sub 0.26}N/AlN at λ ≈ 468 nm, and AlN/Al{sub 0.6}Ga{sub 0.4}N/AlN/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} at λ ≈ 480 nm were, respectively, ∼70, 20, and 44 cm{sup −1}. The luminescence quantum efficiencies measured for Al{sub 0.74}Ga{sub 0.26}N, Al{sub 0.65}Ga{sub 0.35}N, and Al{sub 0.5}Ga{sub 0.5}N films are, respectively, 0.79, 0.49, and 0.14; the transition cross sections calculated at emission band centres are ∼10{sup −18} cm{sup 2}. (paper)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Comparison of visible and near-infrared reflectance spectra of CM2 carbonaceous chondrites and primitive asteroids

Spectra of primitive asteroids (defined as C, P, and D classes and associated subclasses) were compared to the limited number of spectra of CM2 carbonaceous chondrites. An absorption feature located at 0.7 microns attributed to an Fe(+2) - Fe(+3) charge transfer absorption in iron oxides in phyllosilicates is apparent in some of the CM2 carbonaceous chondrite spectra and many of the asteroid spectra. Sawyer found a correlation between the area of the 0.7 micron feature and the mean semimajor axis of the asteroids. Spectra of a larger sample of carbonaceous chondrites, including 7 CM2 chondrites, covering a spectral interval of 0.30-2.5 microns were recently obtained using the Relab instrument at Brown University. These spectra were compared with spectrophotometric asteroid observations in a separate abstract. Those spectra of CM2 chondrites were isolated into the UV, visible and near-infrared spectral regions in order to compare them with high-quality narrowband reflectance spectra.

Vilas, F.↗

In Situ UV-Visible Assessment of Iron-Based High-Temperature Water-Gas Shift Catalysts Promoted with Lanthana: An Extent of Reduction Study

Here, the extent of reduction of unsupported iron-based high-temperature water-gas shift catalysts with small (<5 wt %) lanthana contents was studied using UV-visible spectroscopy. Temperature- programmed reduction measurements showed that lanthana content higher than 0.5 wt % increased the extent of reduction to metallic Fe, while 0.5 wt % of lanthana facilitated the reduction to Fe 3 O 4 . In situ measurements on the iron oxide catalysts using mass and UV-visible spectroscopies permitted the quantification of the extent of reduction under temperature-programmed reduction and high-temperature water-gas shift conditions. The oxidation states were successfully calibrated against normalized absorbance spectra of visible light using the Kubelka-Munk theory. The normalized absorbance relative to the fully oxidized Fe 2 O 3 increased as the extent of reduction increased. XANES suggested that the average bulk iron oxidation state during the water-gas shift reaction was Fe +2.57 for the catalyst with no lanthana and Fe +2.54 for the catalysts with 1 wt % lanthana. However, the UV-vis spectra suggest that the surface oxidation state of iron would be Fe +2.31 for the catalyst with 1 wt % lanthana if the oxidation state of iron in the catalyst with 0 wt % lanthana were Fe +2.57 . The findings of this paper emphasize the importance of surface sensitive UV-visible spectroscopy for determining the extent of catalyst reduction during operation. Furthermore, the paper highlights the potential to use bench-scale UV-visible spectroscopy to study the surface chemistry of catalysts instead of less-available synchrotron X-ray radiation facilities.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

THE RADIO JET ASSOCIATED WITH THE MULTIPLE V380 ORI SYSTEM

The giant Herbig–Haro object 222 extends over ∼6′ in the plane of the sky, with a bow shock morphology. The identification of its exciting source has remained uncertain over the years. A non-thermal radio source located at the core of the shock structure was proposed to be the exciting source. However, Very Large Array studies showed that the radio source has a clear morphology of radio galaxy and a lack of flux variations or proper motions, favoring an extragalactic origin. Recently, an optical–IR study proposed that this giant HH object is driven by the multiple stellar system V380 Ori, located about 23′ to the SE of HH 222. The exciting sources of HH systems are usually detected as weak free–free emitters at centimeter wavelengths. Here, we report the detection of an elongated radio source associated with the Herbig Be star or with its close infrared companion in the multiple V380 Ori system. This radio source has the characteristics of a thermal radio jet and is aligned with the direction of the giant outflow defined by HH 222 and its suggested counterpart to the SE, HH 1041. We propose that this radio jet traces the origin of the large scale HH outflow. Assuming that the jet arises from the Herbig Be star, the radio luminosity is a few times smaller than the value expected from the radio–bolometric correlation for radio jets, confirming that this is a more evolved object than those used to establish the correlation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

On the electrical and optical properties of oxide nanolayers produced by the thermal oxidation of metal tin

Thin SnO{sub 2–x} layers, 30 nm in thickness, are produced by the thermal oxidation of metal tin nanolayers at a temperature of 450–750°C. The electrical and optical properties of the layers are studied. During the thermal oxidation of tin nanolayers, an unsteady variation in their conductivity is observed. For the oxide films produced at 450 and 550°C, an absorption band at 340 nm (3.65 eV) is detected in the optical spectra. The conductivity-activation energy is determined for samples oxidized to different degrees. On the basis of experimental data and the data reported in publications, an oxidation mechanism controlling the properties of Sn nanolayers is proposed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Luminescence of Pr{sup 3+} Impurity Centers and Defects in Sr{sub 9}Sc (PO{sub 4}){sub 7}:Pr{sup 3+}

The spectroscopic characteristics and luminescence decay kinetics of Sr{sub 9}Sc(PO{sub 4}){sub 7}:Pr{sup 3+}(1%) were investigated using synchrotron radiation of ultraviolet (UV), vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) and X-ray ranges, as well as pulsed cathodoluminescence (PCL) methods at temperatures of 10, 90, and 295 K. The luminescence spectra contain three groups of bands and lines. In the UV range, the observed bands correspond to interconfigurational 5d → 4f transitions in Pr{sup 3+} ions. In the visible spectrum, the wide luminescence band of defects dominates, as well as narrow lines associated with intraconfigurational 4f → 4f transitions in Pr{sup 3+} ions. When excited by an electron beam (5 Hz), the main component with a decay time τ ∼ 17 ns dominates in the decay kinetics of the 5d → 4f luminescence. The decay kinetics of 5d → 4f luminescence upon excitation with high-frequency (τ ∼ 8 MHz) synchrotron radiation of the X-ray range contains a fast component (τ ∼ 15 ns) against the background of the slow component of the μs-range. An effective nonradiative energy transfer is observed from impurity centers to defects, as well as from the host to Pr{sup 3+} ions and defects.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Effects of Palagonitic Dust Coatings on Visible, Near-IR, and Mossbauer Spectra of Rocks and Minerals: Implication for Mineralogical Remote Sensing of Mars

Visible, near-IR, and Mossbauer measurements on dust coated rocks and minerals show that a 300 5m thick layer is required to obscure the substrate for VNIR measurements and that a greater than 2000-micron-thick layer is required to obscure the substrate for Mossbauer measurements. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Morris, R.↗

Spectral characteristics of the iron oxides with application to the Martian bright region mineralogy

Reflectance spectra of eight polymorphs of FeOOH and Fe2O3 are determined in order to clarify the nature and significance of the iron oxide mineralogy on Mars. The effect of other components that might interfere with iron oxide absorption features is qualitatively constrained through the use of the Kebulka-Munk theory. It is found that the effect of temperature complicates the identification of a given Fe(3+) phase based on the position of the 6A1-4T1 absorption feature. While the Fe(3+) crystal field transitions are spin forbidden, most of the iron oxide polymorphs exhibit anomalously intense crystal field absorption features due to magnetic coupling between adjacent FeO6 octahedra. It is suggested that the resulting deviations from observed remotely sensed reflectance spectra of Mars may provide a basis for the exclusion of many iron oxide phases as significant components of the Martian Fe(3+) mineralogy. A comparison of these results with the visible region spectra of Martian bright regions indicates that the predominant Fe(3+)-bearing phase may be a magnetically disordered material, such as amorphous gels, some ferric sulphates, and other minerals in which Fe(3+) ions in the crystal structure are not magnetically coupled.

Sherman, D. M.↗

Effects of size reduction on microstructural, optical, vibrational, magnetic and photocatalytic properties of ZnO nanocrystals

Highlights: • ZnO nanocrystals of different sizes 4–19 nm, thus different S/V ratios synthesized. • Lattice strain and lattice volume increase with size reduction. • Raman spectra show enhanced surface effects with phonon mode disappearance. • ESR shows exchange interaction; VSM shows surface originated ferromagnetism. • Photocatalysis is less affected with size reduction and surface enhancement. - Abstract: ZnO nanocrystals were synthesized in the size range 4 nm–19 nm by chemical co-precipitation method and extensively characterized by various techniques. Size control was achieved by changing the concentration of ME that acted as the capping agent. Lattice strain and lattice volume were found to increase with the decrease in crystallite size that could be attributed to an enhanced influence of surface atoms. Raman spectroscopy provided evidence of enhancement of surface influence and reduction of crystallinity with the observation of decrease in E{sub 2}{sup high} phonon mode intensity with a decrease in crystallite size. Electron spin resonance spectra revealed the presence of exchange interaction as well as presence of lattice disorder. Vibrating sample magnetometry results showed that M-H curves exhibit hysteresis loops which confirmed the ferromagnetic nature of the nanocrystals and it could be attributed to the interaction between localized electron spins resulting from oxygen vacancies at the surface. Blue shift of the UV–Visible absorption spectra was observed with decrease in crystallite size, which could be attributed to quantum confinement effect. Room temperature photoluminescence spectra were recorded under UV light excitation, which showed emission of different colours (light violet, violet, blue and green) in the visible region, attributable to the presence of various types of defects such as zinc interstitial, zinc vacancy and oxygen vacancy in the ZnO nanocrystals. Photodegradation of aqueous methylene blue by the ZnO nanocrystals was performed under simulated sunlight irradiation. There was a very small increase in efficiency of photodegradation with size reduction, which showed that there was no significant change in surface defects with size reduction in the nanocrystals despite the surface enhancement. A mechanism for photocatalysis involving defect states has been proposed.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Spatial variations of the 3-micron emission features within Orion's Bar

3-micron spectra of the Orion Bar region have been obtained at three positions corresponding to different distances from the exciting source. The recently discovered unidentified features at 3.46, 3.51, and 3.57 microns are clearly visible. The spectra show that the 3.4 and 3.51-micron emission features increase in intensity relative to the strong 3.3-micron feature as the distance from the exciting source increases. The implications for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and recent ideas concerning their ultraviolet excitation and spatial evolution are discussed.

Moorhouse, A.↗

A SURVEY FOR NEW MEMBERS OF THE TAURUS STAR-FORMING REGION WITH THE SLOAN DIGITAL SKY SURVEY

Previous studies have found that ∼1 deg{sup 2} fields surrounding the stellar aggregates in the Taurus star-forming region exhibit a surplus of solar-mass stars relative to denser clusters like IC 348 and the Orion Nebula Cluster. To test whether this difference reflects mass segregation in Taurus or a variation in the initial mass function, we have performed a survey for members of Taurus across a large field (∼40 deg{sup 2}) that was imaged by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). We obtained optical and near-infrared spectra of candidate members identified with those images and the Two Micron All Sky Survey, as well as miscellaneous candidates that were selected with several other diagnostics of membership. We have classified 22 of the candidates as new members of Taurus, which includes one of the coolest known members (M9.75). Our updated census of members within the SDSS field shows a surplus of solar-mass stars relative to clusters, although it is less pronounced than in the smaller fields toward the stellar aggregates that were surveyed for previously measured mass functions in Taurus. In addition to spectra of our new members, we include in our study near-IR spectra of roughly half of the known members of Taurus, which are used to refine their spectral types and extinctions. We also present an updated set of near-IR standard spectra for classifying young stars and brown dwarfs at M and L types.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Preparation and characterization of double layer thin films ZnO/ZnO:Ag for methylene blue photodegradation

Double layer (DL) thin films of zinc oxide and silver-doped zinc oxide (ZnO/ZnO:Ag) were deposited on glass substrate by sol-gel spray coating technique. The prepared thin films were subjected for optical and photocatalytic studies. UV-visible transmission spectra shows that the subtitution of Ag in ZnO leads to band gap reduction. The influence of Ag doping on the photocatalytic activity of ZnO for the degradation of methylene blue dye was studied under solar radiation. The light absorption over an extended visible region by Ag ion doping in ZnO film contributed equally to improve the photocatalytic activity up to 98.29%.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Reflectance spectra for 277 asteroids

Visible and near-infrared reflectance spectra are presented for 277 asteroids. These represent the results of an 8-yr program and constitute all spectra available in 1979. There are approximately 80 recognizably different spectral types among the asteroids surveyed. Relatively few of these can be explained as mixtures of C- and S-type materials on individual asteroids, although Eos family members may be an exception.

Chapman, C. R.↗