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At least 235 records · Page 13

Direct uranium enrichment assay in gaseous uranium hexafluoride with laser induced breakdown spectroscopy

A set of eleven U atomic emission lines, between 421.099 and 421.460 nm, were characterized for direct enrichment assay of gaseous UF 6 samples with laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). Several iterative, multivariate nonlinear spectral-fitting algorithms were evaluated for their efficacies to extract the enrichment information from the measured LIBS spectra. Furthermore, wavelength-dependent weight factors, which take into consideration of the spectral-line position in the fitting model, the determined isotopic ratio, and the isotopic shift of the emission line, are essential for the spectral-fitting model to function adequately. The analytical accuracies and precision were typically within 0.5% in absolute [ 235 U/( 235 U + 238 U)] ratios.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

Emission Spectra of Uranium Particulates at High Temperature

The emission spectrum of micron-scale uranium particulates at high temperatures in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared spectral regions is investigated using a heterogeneous shock tube. Temperatures from 3000 to 9000 K are characterized in an inert argon environment and with incremental amounts of added oxygen. Atomic line spectra do not emerge above the continuum emission spectrum until between 4500 and 5000 K in pure argon, and 6100 and 6600 K in 1% oxygen. For 5% oxygen, however, the threshold for atomic emission drops below 3800 K. Uranium monoxide molecular emission in the strongest visible band at 595.4 nm is not observed at any condition. Uncertainties in particle temperature determination in high-temperature shock tube environments are discussed, and limitations to such measurements are presented, such as those from experimental factors such as the powder loading method and expected detection limits of uranium species in relevant conditions.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

Rocket and spacecraft studies of ultraviolet emissions from astrophysical targets

Rocket and spacecraft far-UV spectral measurements of several astrophysical targets are reviewed. These include observations of Ly-alpha emissions from Arcturus, Apollo-17 far-UV spectrometry of eta UMa and five other stars, Apollo-17 observations of the lunar atmosphere and the diffuse UV background, and far-UV spectral studies of Venus, Jupiter, and Comet Kohoutek. The Arcturus observations indicated a chromosphere with neutral atomic-hydrogen and atomic-oxygen emissions as well as a very weak atomic-carbon line. The planetary studies revealed O I and C I emissions in the Venusian spectrum as well as large Ly-alpha emissions and possible molecular-hydrogen emissions in that of Jupiter. The lunar observations demonstrated that solar protons do not produce an atomic-hydrogen atmosphere on the moon.

Fastie, W. G.↗

Submillimeter, millimeter, and microwave spectral line catalogue

A computer accessible catalogue of submillimeter, millimeter and microwave spectral lines in the frequency range between 0 and 3000 GHZ (i.e., wavelengths longer than 100 mu m) is presented which can be used a planning guide or as an aid in the identification and analysis of observed spectral lines. The information listed for each spectral line includes the frequency and its estimated error, the intensity, lower state energy, and quantum number assignment. The catalogue was constructed by using theoretical least squares fits of published spectral lines to accepted molecular models. The associated predictions and their estimated errors are based upon the resultant fitted parameters and their covariances. Future versions of this catalogue will add more atoms and molecules and update the present listings (133 species) as new data appear. The catalogue is available as a magnetic tape recorded in card images and as a set of microfiche records.

Poynter, R. L.↗

Submillimeter, millimeter, and microwave spectral line catalogue

This report describes a computer accessible catalogue of submillimeter, millimeter, and microwave spectral lines in the frequency range between 0 and 10000 GHz (i.e., wavelengths longer than 30 micrometers). The catalogue can be used as a planning guide or as an aid in the identification and analysis of observed spectral lines. The information listed for each spectral line includes the frequency and its estimated error, the intensity, lower state energy, and quantum number assignment. The catalogue has been constructed using theoretical least squares fits of published spectral lines to accepted molecular models. The associated predictions and their estimated errors are based upon the resultant fitted parameters and their covariances. Future versions of this catalogue will add more atoms and molecules and update the present listings (151 species) as new data appear. The catalogue is available from the authors as a magnetic tape recorded in card images and as a set of microfiche records.

Poynter, R. L.↗

Submillimeter, millimeter, and microwave spectral line catalog

This report describes a computer accessible catalogue of submillimeter, millimeter, and microwave spectral lines in the frequency range between 0 and 10000 GHz (i.e., wavelengths longer than 30 micrometers). The catalogue can be used as a planning guide or as an aid in the identification and analysis of observed spectral lines. The information listed for each spectral line includes the frequency and its estimated error, the intensity, lower state energy, and quantum number assignment. The catalogue has been constructed using theoretical least squares fits of published spectral lines to accepted molecular models. The associated predictions and their estimated errors are based upon the resultant fitted parameters and their covariances. Future versions of this catalogue will add more atoms and molecules and update the present listings (151 species) as new data appear. The catalogue is available from the authors as a magnetic tape recorded in card images and as a set of microfiche records.

Poynter, R. L.↗

Modeling Competing Line-broadening Mechanisms in Neutron Star Atmospheres: Interference between Motional Stark and Ion Broadening

Neutron star surfaces have extremely high magnetic fields. In the atmosphere, the broadening of spectral lines will be substantial from the dense plasma as well as from the magnetic field. One broadening mechanism of note is due to the motional Stark effect (MSE)—an additional electric field that arises from the motion of the atom in the magnetic field. However, approximate formulae are often used to construct atmosphere models, and the MSE is assumed to be the dominant line-broadening mechanism even in ions. Detailed pressure-broadening models in these extreme magnetic fields are now currently being developed. In these more detailed models, it was suggested that the MSE may not be as large as previously predicted. If correct, this hypothesis implies that neutron star line widths might be dominated by pressure broadening rather than by motional Stark broadening. We find that, in the absence of plasma perturbations, for typical magnetic fields (B = 10 12 G), mid-Z elements, such as oxygen, have motional Stark widths of order 1 eV for transitions between dipole-allowed transitions from the ground state, though higher temperatures and transitions to higher-energy states are expected to have more broadening. The MSE also breaks down selection rules, giving rise to forbidden transitions, which have much larger widths. When plasma perturbations are included, we find that the plasma perturbation and motional Stark processes are not independent and, as a result, the spectral lines become narrow in a nontrivial way and display harmonics of the ion cyclotron frequency.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Velocity mapping in the plume of a 30-kW ammonia arcjet

The flow velocity of atomic hydrogen in the plume of an ammonia-propelled arcjet was measured using LIF. The velocity was obtained by the Doppler shift of the absorption peak of the Balmer alpha spectral line. Measurements were made at the nozzle exit, varying the distance from the plume centerline. Results are presented for arcjet operating conditions 13, 20 and 27 kW with a mass flow of 0.31 g/s. The on-axis H flow velocity varies from 14 km/s to 28 km/s over this range of input power. The axial velocity as a function of the distance from the axis is sharply peaked, dropping to almost zero at a radius of less than 5 mm.

Pham-Van-diep, Gerald C.↗

Shock-tube studies of atomic silicon emission in the spectral range 180 to 300 nm

Emission spectroscopy of shock-heated atomic silicon was performed in the spectral range 180 to 300 nm, in an environment simulating the ablation layer expected around a Jovian entry probe with a silica heat shield. From the spectra obtained at temperatures from 6000 to 10,000 K and electron number densities from 1 quadrillion to 100 quadrillion per cu cm, the Lorentzian line-widths were determined. The results showed that silicon lines are broadened significantly by both electrons (Stark broadening) and hydrogen atoms (Van der Waals broadening), and the combined line-widths are much larger than previously assumed. From the data, the Stark and the Van der Waals line-widths were determined for 34 silicon lines. Radiative transport through a typical shock layer was computed using the new line-width data. The computations showed that silicon emission in the hot region is large, but it is mostly absorbed in the colder region adjacent to the wall.

Prakash, S. G.↗

Electron-impact excitation data for W 2+ in support of tungsten spectroscopy and re-deposition measurements for magnetically-confined plasmas

Abstract To better understand plasma wall interactions involving tungsten, accurate atomic structure and electron-impact driven collisional processes for near-neutral ion stages of tungsten are required. Complementing existing work on neutral and singly ionised tungsten, atomic structure and collisional calculations for W 2+ electron-impact excitation have been completed. These excitation calculations are an important component of S/XB coefficients for near-neutral charge states, which may be used to spectroscopically infer re-deposition of tungsten at the plasma-solid boundary of fusion relevant devices. With W 2+ in particular having emission lines that can be observed at ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths, while higher charge states of tungsten are unlikely to have lines possible to observe outside of the vacuum UV range. The atomic structure was generated using the General-purpose Relativistic Atomic Structure Package (GRASP 0 ), implementing the Multi-configuration Dirac Fock approach. This structure was the basis for a subsequent Dirac R -matrix electron-impact excitation calculation to provide Maxwellian averaged rate coefficients. A synthetic spectrum was generated from this data using a collisional-radiative model to predict the strongest W III spectral lines and these lines were compared to emission from the Compact Toroidal Hybrid (CTH) plasma device. Several of the strongest W III lines are observed in CTH and agree well with the modelled line wavelengths and intensities, a table of these lines is provided that could be observed in other devices.

McCann, M. (ORCID:0000000215321240)↗

Deriving Plasma Densities and Elemental Abundances from SERTS Differential Emission Measure Analysis

We use high-resolution spectral emission line data obtained by the SERTS instrument during three rocket flights to demonstrate a new approach for constraining electron densities of solar active region plasma.We apply differential emission measure (DEM) forward-fitting techniques to characterize the multithermal solar plasma producing the observed EUV spectra, with constraints on the high-temperature plasma from the Yohkoh Soft X-ray Telescope. In this iterative process, we compare line intensities predicted by an input source distribution to observed line intensities for multiple iron ion species, and search a broad range of densities to optimize chi-square simultaneously for the many available density-sensitive lines. This produces a density weighted by the DEM, which appears to be useful for characterizing the bulk of the emitting plasma over a significant range of temperature. This "DEM-weighted density" technique is complementary to the use of density-sensitive line ratios and less affected by uncertainties in atomic data and ionization fraction for any specific line. Once the DEM shape and the DEM-weighted density have been established from the iron lines, the relative elemental abundances can be determined for other lines in the spectrum. We have also identified spectral lines in the SERTS wavelength range that may be problematic

corona↗

Radiation transfer in the spectra of short-pulse laser-heated targets

The conditions in laser-produced plasmas are frequently determined with x-ray spectroscopy by comparing calculated to measured spectra. Line spectra from K-shell transitions of low- to mid-atomic number elements are most often used since the important physical processes are well understood and reliable spectra can be readily measured and calculated. Radiation transfer effects due to large optical depths of strong lines can influence the spectra. In this work, the effects of radiation transfer on the emission spectra of short-laser pulse-heated targets are studied. The possible errors made in inferring electron temperature by not including radiation transfer are quantified. The inclusion of radiative transfer in spectral calculations improves the accuracy of typical temperature diagnostics and allows the use of strong lines for diagnostics.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

A Sounding Rocket Mission Concept to Acquire High-Resolution Radiometric Spectra Spanning the 9 nm - 31 nm Wavelength Range

When studying Solar Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) emissions, both single-wavelength, two- dimensional (2D) spectroheliograms and multi-wavelength, one-dimensional (1D) line spectra are important, especially for a thorough understanding of the complex processes in the solar magnetized plasma from the base of the chromosphere through the corona. 2D image data are required for a detailed study of spatial structures, whereas radiometric (i.e., spectral) data provide information on relevant atomic excitation/ionization state densities (and thus temperature). Using both imaging and radiometric techniques, several satellite missions presently study solar dynamics in the EUV, including the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), Hinode, and the Solar-Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO). The EUV wavelengths of interest typically span 9 nm to 31 nm, with the shorter wavelengths being associated with the hottest features (e.g., intense flares and bright points) and the longer wavelengths associated with cooler features (e.g., coronal holes and filaments). Because the optical components of satellite instruments degrade over time, it is not uncommon to conduct sounding rocket underflights for calibration purposes. The authors have designed a radiometric sounding rocket payload that could serve as both a calibration underflight for and a complementary scientific mission to the upcoming Solar Ultraviolet Imager (SUVI) mission aboard the GOES-R satellite (scheduled for a 2015 launch). The challenge to provide quality radiometric line spectra over the 9-31 nm range covered by SUVI was driven by the multilayer coatings required to make the optical components, including mirrors and gratings, reflective over the entire range. Typically, these multilayers provide useful EUV reflectances over bandwidths of a few nm. Our solution to this problem was to employ a three-telescope system in which the optical components were coated with multilayers that spanned three wavelength ranges to cover the three pairs of SUVI bands. The complete system was designed to fit within the Black Brandt-IX 22.-diameter payload skin envelope. The basic optical path is that of a simple parabolic telescope in which EUV light is focused onto a slit and shutter assembly and imaged onto a normal-incidence diffraction grating, which then disperses the light onto a 2048 2048 CCD sensor. The CCD thus records 1D spatial information along one axis and spectral information along the other. The slit spans 40 arc-minutes in length, thus covering a solar diameter out to +/- 1.3 solar radii. Our operations concept includes imaging at three distinct positions: the north-south meridian, the northeast-southwest diagonal, and real-time pointing at an active region. Six 10-second images will be obtained at each position. Fine pointing is provided by the SPARCS-VII attitude control system typically employed on Black Brandt solar missions. Both before and after launch, all three telescopes will be calibrated with the EUV line emission source and monochromater system at NASA's Stray Light Facility at Marshall Spaceflight Center. Details of the payload design, operations concept, and data application will be presented.

Krause, L. Habash↗

Measurement of neutral gadolinium oscillator strengths using dual-comb absorption spectroscopy in laser-produced plasmas

The oscillator strengths of 43 transitions of neutral gadolinium from 530 to 535 nm were determined based on high-resolution absorption spectra measured by probing a laser-produced plasma (LPP) using time-resolved dual-comb spectroscopy (DCS). Absorption spectra were measured at various time delays, ranging from 33 to 252 µs after the onset of the plasma formation, over which the temperature and number density varied as the ablation plume evolved. A Boltzmann analysis was used to determine the excitation temperature and column density of Gd in the ablation plume, based on measured absorption from 20 Gd I spectral lines with known oscillator strengths. Oscillator strengths were then determined for additional dipole-allowed Gd I transitions identified in the absorption spectra, 19 of which were previously unreported. Oscillator strengths of all measured transitions were compared with literature values when available and show good agreement in most cases. Time-resolved measurement of atomic absorption in the cooling plasma provides access to a range of excitation temperatures and optical densities for the atoms in the ablation plume, allowing repeated measurements under different conditions, thereby improving confidence in the results. The high spectral bandwidth and resolution capabilities of DCS make it well-suited to measuring the dense optical spectrum of Gd, and the technique is applicable to other elements, especially lanthanides and actinides.

(280.4788) Optical Sensing, (280.5395) Plasma Diag↗

Radio observations of molecules in the interstellar gas

Since 1968, radio astronomy has made it possible to identify nearly 50 molecules in the dense concentrations of the interstellar gas now generally termed molecular clouds. Most interstellar molecules are familiar stable compounds. However, one-fifth of the discovered species are ions, radicals, and acetylenic carbon chains so reactive in the laboratory that before being detected in space they had rarely been observed or were entirely unknown. The heavy atom backbone of the known interstellar molecules is a linear chain of C, N, O, or S. Si is found in two diatomic molecules. Rings and branched chains are missing. The most readily observed spectral lines of most interstellar molecules correspond to rotational transitions at millimeter wavelengths. These are generally excited by H2 collisions. A number of rare isotopic species are observed in interstellar molecules. Isotopic ratios differing from those on Earth exist, and can in almost all cases be attributed to stellar nucleosynthesis since the formation of the solar system.

Thaddeus, P.↗

Radiometric calibrations of portable sources in the vacuum ultraviolet

The primary UV radiometric calibration standards of the Atomic and Plasma Radiation Division of the NBS are the hydrogen arc and the blackbody line arc. The secondary standards are the argon mini- and maxiarcs, and the deuterium arc lamp. Calibration methods involving both spectral radiance and irradiance, as well as the evaluation of their uncertainties, are discussed. Attention is given to the establishment of an irradiance scale, and the absolute spectral irradiance, measured as a function of wavelength, at a 50-cm distance from the field aperture for five different continuum sources.

Klose, Jules Z.↗

Photoluminescence, photophysics, and photochemistry of the V B - defect in hexagonal boron nitride

Extensive photochemical and spectroscopic properties of the V B - defect in hexagonal boron nitride are calculated, concluding that the observed photoemission associated with recently observed optically detected magnetic resonance is most likely of (1) 3 E'' → (1) 3 A' 2 origin. Rapid intersystem crossing from the defect's triplet to singlet manifolds explains the observed short excited-state lifetime and very low quantum yield. New experimental results reveal smaller intrinsic spectral bandwidths than previously recognized, interpreted in terms of spectral narrowing and zero-phonon-line shifting induced by the Jahn-Teller effect. Different types of computational methods are applied to map out the complex triplet and singlet defect manifolds, including the doubly ionized formulation of the equation-of-motion coupled-cluster theory that is designed to deal with the open-shell nature of defect states, and mixed quantum-mechanics/molecular-mechanics schemes enabling 5763-atom simulations. Finally, two other energetically feasible spectral assignments from among the singlet and triplet manifolds are considered, but ruled out based on inappropriate photochemical properties.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗