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At least 271 records · Page 15

EUV emission from Titan's upper atmosphere - Voyager 1 encounter

Most of the observed emission short of Lyman-alpha is shown to be accounted for by electron impact on N2 above 3600 km, in an analysis of Titan's EUV emission spectra obtained at the Voyager 1 encounter. It is determined that N2 is the major component of Titan's upper atmosphere, with 3900-km upper limit mixing ratios of NeI, ArI, CO, H2, and HI of 0.01, 0.06, 0.05, 0.06 and 0.1, respectively. Magnetospheric electron precipitation produces an average dayside electron density of about 3000/cu cm between 3600 and 4000 km, which is the region of bright limb emission, and magnetospheric electron impact dissociation of N2 generates an N atom escape rate of 3 x 10 to the 26th/sec from Titan's exosphere when Titan is within Saturn's magnetosphere.

Strobel, D. F.↗

Dust temperature distributions in star-forming condensations

The FIR spectra of the central IR condensations in the dense cores of molecular clouds AFGL 2591. B335, L1551, Mon R2, and Sgr B2 are reanalyzed here in terms of the distribution of dust mass as a function of temperature. FIR spectra of these objects can be characterized reasonably well by a given functional form. The general shapes of the dust temperature distributions of these objects are similar and closely resemble the theoretical computations of de Muizon and Rouan (1985) for a sample of 'hot centered' clouds with active star formation. Specifically, the model yields a 'cutoff' temperature below which essentially no dust is needed to interpret the dust emission spectra, and most of the dust mass is distributed in a broad temperature range of a few tens of degrees above the cutoff temperature. Mass, luminosity, average temperature, and column density are obtained, and it is found that the physical quantities differ considerably from source to source in a meaningful way.

Xie, Taoling↗

NEAs: Phase Angle Dependence of Asteroid Class and Diameter from Observational Studies

We will discuss the results of a planned observation campaign of Near Earth Asteroids (NEAs), 1999 CU3, 2002 GM2, 2002 FG7, and 3691 Bede with instruments on the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) from 15-Mar-2015 to 28-April 2015 UT. We will study the phase-angle dependence of the reflectance and thermal emission spectra. Recent publications reveal that the assignment of the asteroid class from visible and near-IR spectroscopy can change with phase angle for NEAs with silicate-bearing minerals on their surfaces (S-class asteroids) (Thomas et al. 2014, Icarus 228, 217; Sanchez et al. 2012 Icarus 220, 36). Only three of the larger NEAs have been measured at a dozen phase angles and the trends are not all the same, so there is not yet enough information to create a phase-angle correction. Also, the phase angle effect is not characterized well for the thermal emission including determination of the albedo and the thermal emission. The few NEAs were selected for our study amongst many possible targets based on being able to observe them through a wide range of phase angles, ranging from less than about 10 degrees to greater than 45 degrees over the constrained date range. The orbits of NEAs often generate short observing windows at phase angles higher than 45 deg (i.e., whizzing by Earth and/or close to dawn or dusk). Ultimately, lowering the uncertainty of the translation of asteroid class to meteorite analog and of albedo and size determinations are amongst our science goals. On a few specific nights, we plan to observe the 0.75-2.5 micron spectra with IRTF+SpeX for comparison with UKIRT data including 5-20 micron with UKIRT+UIST/Michelle to determine as best as possible the albedos. To ensure correct phasing of spectroscopic data, we augment with TRAPPIST-telescope light curves and R-band guider image data. Our observations will contribute to understanding single epoch mid-IR and near-IR measurements to obtain albedo, size and IR beaming parameters (the outcomes of thermal models) and asteroid spectral class.

phase-angle↗

Nonthermal accretion disk models around neutron stars

We consider the structure and emission spectra of nonthermal accretion disks around both strongly and weakly magnetized neutron stars. Such disks may be dissipating their gravitational binding energy and transferring their angular momentum via semicontinuous magnetic reconnections. We consider specifically the structure of the disk-stellar magnetospheric boundary where magnetic pressure balances the disk pressure. We consider energy dissipation via reconnection of the stellar field and small-scale disk turbulent fields of opposite polarity. Constraints on the disk emission spectrum are discussed.

Tavani, M.↗

Transmission measurements (4000-400 cm(exp -1), 2.5-25 microns) of crystalline ferric oxides and ferric oxyhydroxides: Implications for Mars

Transmission spectra of three ferric oxides (two alpha-Fe2O3 samples and one gamma-Fe2O3 sample) and two ferric oxyhydroxides (alpha-FeOOH and gamma-FeOOH) were measured. This preliminary study has demonstrated that crystalline ferric oxides and ferric oxyhydroxides exhibit complex spectral features at thermal wavelengths. Some of these features suggest that thermal infrared observations of Mars can provide significant insight into the ferric mineralogy of that planet. The results of this study suggest that emissivity spectra of crystalline ferric oxides and ferric oxyhydroxides may prove quite important for the interpretation of thermal infrared spectral observations of Mars.

Roush, Ted L.↗

Simulating Exoplanet Transit and Eclipse Observations with JWST

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will be a nearly ideal machine for acquiring the transmission and emission spectra of transiting exoplanets over its large wavelength range 0.7 - 28 microns. The NIRSpec, NIRCam, nTFI, and MIRI instruments will have spectroscopic capabilities that span spectral resolutions from 20 - 3000 and can cover up to 2 - 3 octaves in wavelength simultaneously. This will allow observing multiple molecular features at once, facilitating the separation of atmospheric temperature and abundance effects on spectra. Many transiting planets will also be able to be observed with both transmission and eclipse spectroscopy, providing further insights and constraints on planetary thermal structures and energy transport. Simulated JWST spectra of planets ranging from mini-Neptunes to gas giants will be presented. These simulations include planets ranging from mini-Neptunes to gas giants will be presented. These simulations include current best estimates of actual instrument throughput, resolution, spectral range, systematic noise, and random noise terms. They show that JWST will be able to determine the atmospheric parameters of a wide variety of planets, often when observing only one or a few transit or eclipse event sequences. The thermal emissions of rocky super-Earths will also be quickly detectable via mid-IR eclipse observations if such planets are found around nearby M star hosts beforehand.

Greene, Tom↗

Fine Structure in the Secondary Electron Emission Peak for Diamond Crystal with (100) Negative Electron Affinity Surface

A fine structure was discovered in the low-energy peak of the secondary electron emission spectra of the diamond surface with negative electron affinity. We studied this structure for the (100) surface of the natural type-IIb diamond crystal. We have found that the low-energy peak consists of a total of four maxima. The relative energy positions of three of them could be related to the electron energy minima near the bottom of the conduction band. The fourth peak, having the lowest energy, was attributed to the breakup of the bulk exciton at the surface during the process of secondary electron emission.

Asnin, V. M.↗

Photoluminescence spectroscopy and the effective mass theory of strained (In,Ga)As/GaAs heterostructures grown on (112)B GaAs substrates

The photoluminescence characteristics of pseudomorphic In(0.19)Ga(0.81)As/GaAs quantum well structures grown on both the conventional (001) and the unconventional (112)B GaAs substrate are investigated. It is found that the emission spectra of the structures grown on the (112)B surface exhibit some spectral characteristics not observed on similar structures grown on the (001) surface. A spectral blue shift of the e yields hh1 transition with increasing optical pump intensity is observed for the quantum wells on the (112) surface. This shift is interpreted to be evidence of a strain-induced piezoelectric field. A second spectral feature located within the band gap of the In(0.19)Ga(0.81)As layer is also observed for the (112) structure; this feature is thought to be an impurity-related emission. The expected transition energies of the quantum well structures are calculated using the effective mass theory based on the 4 x 4 Luttinger valence band Hamiltonian, and related strain Hamiltonian.

Henderson, R. H.↗

Analysis of Physical Properties of Dust Suspended in the Mars Atmosphere

Methods for iteratively determining the infrared optical constants for dust suspended in the Mars atmosphere are described. High quality spectra for wavenumbers from 200 to 2000 1/cm were obtained over a wide range of view angles by the Mariner 9 spacecraft, when it observed a global Martian dust storm in 1971-2. In this research, theoretical spectra of the emergent intensity from Martian dust clouds are generated using a 2-stream source-function radiative transfer code. The code computes the radiation field in a plane-parallel, vertically homogeneous, multiply scattering atmosphere. Calculated intensity spectra are compared with the actual spacecraft data to iteratively retrieve the optical properties and opacity of the dust, as well as the surface temperature of Mars at the time and location of each measurement. Many different particle size distributions a-re investigated to determine the best fit to the data. The particles are assumed spherical and the temperature profile was obtained from the CO2 band shape. Given a reasonable initial guess for the indices of refraction, the searches converge in a well-behaved fashion, producing a fit with error of less than 1.2 K (rms) to the observed brightness spectra. The particle size distribution corresponding to the best fit was a lognormal distribution with a mean particle radius, r(sub m) 0.66 pm, and variance, omega(sup 2) = 0.412 (r(sub eff) = 1.85 microns, v(sub eff) =.51), in close agreement with the size distribution found to be the best fit in the visible wavelengths in recent studies. The optical properties and the associated single scattering properties are shown to be a significant improvement over those used in existing models by demonstrating the effects of the new properties both on heating rates of the Mars atmosphere and in example spectral retrieval of surface characteristics from emission spectra.

Snook, Kelly↗

Ultraviolet emission of the Vela supernova remnant and the Cygnus Loop

Ultraviolet emission spectra of several filaments in the Vela supernova remnant and the Cygnus Loop are compared with theoretical models of radiative shocks. Shock velocities range from 85 to 130 km/s. Little or no grain depletion is apparent. Several of the observed filaments deviate from the steady-flow models in the sense that much of the photoionization-recombination zone is absent. It is shown that resonance line scattering within the emitting region can account for the weakness of the C II 1335 and C IV 1550 lines. Evaporation fronts, which are basic to the McKee and Ostriker picture of supernova remnant evolution, do not contribute significantly to the observed emission. Some discrepancies in UV emission predicted by different sets of shock models are traced to differing atomic rates used in the calculations. A fluorescent emission line of H2 may be observable in some supernova remnants.

Raymond, J. C.↗

On the Discovery of CO Nighttime Emissions on Titan by Cassini/VIMS: Derived Stratospheric Abundances and Geological Implications

We present a quantitative analysis of CO thermal emissions discovered on the nightside of Titan by Baines et al. [2005. The atmospheres of Saturn and Titan in the near-infrared: First results of Cassini/VIMS. Earth, Moon, and Planets, 96, 119-147] in Cassini/VIMS spectral imagery. We identify these emission features as the P and R branches of the 1-0 vibrational band of carbon monoxide (CO) near 4.65 microns. For CH3D, the prominent Q branch of the nu(2) fundamental band of CH3D near 4.55 microns is apparent. CO2 emissions from the strong nu(3) vibrational band are virtually absent, indicating a CO2 abundance several orders of magnitude less than CO, in agreement with previous investigations. Analysis of CO emission spectra obtained over a variety of altitudes on Titan's nightside limb indicates that the stratospheric abundance of CO is 32 +/- 15 ppm, and together with other recent determinations, suggests a vertical distribution of CO nearly constant at this value from the surface throughout the troposphere to at least the stratopause near 300 km altitude. The corresponding total atmospheric content of CO in Titan is similar to 2.9 +/- 1.5 x 10(exp 14) kg. Given the long lifetime of CO in the oxygen-poor Titan atmosphere (similar to 0.5-1.0 Gyr), we find a mean CO atmospheric production rate of 6 +/- 3 x 10(exp 5) kg yr(exp -1). Given the lack of primordial heavy noble gases observed by Huygens [Niemann et al., 2005. The abundances of constituents of Titan's atmosphere from the GCMS on the Huygens probe. Nature, 438, 779-784], the primary source of atmospheric CO is likely surface emissions. The implied CO/CH4 mixing ratio of near-surface material is 1.8 +/- 0.9 x 10(exp -4), based on an average methane surface emission rate over the past 0.5 Gyr of 1.3 x 10(exp -13) gm cm(exp -2) s(exp -1) as required to balance hydrocarbon haze production via methane photolysis [Wilson and Atreya, 2004. Current state of modeling the photochemistry of Titan's mutually dependent atmosphere and ionosphere. J. Geophys. Res. 109, E06002 Doi: 10.1029/2003JE002181]. This low CO/CH4 ratio is much lower than expected for the sub-nebular formation region of Titan and supports the hypothesis [e.g., Atreya et al., 2005. Methane on Titan: photochemical-meteorological-hydrogeochemical cycle. Bull. Am. Astron. Soc. 37, 735] that the conversion of primordial CO and other carbon-bearing materials into CH4-enriched clathrate-hydrates occurs within the deep interior of Titan via the release of hydrogen through the serpentinization process followed by Fischer-Tropsch catalysis. The time-averaged predicted emission rate of methane-rich surface materials is approximately 0.02 km(exp 3) yr (exp -1), a value significantly lower than the rate of silicate lava production for the Earth and Venus, but nonetheless indicative of significant geological processes reshaping the surface of Titan.

carbon compounds↗

Quantitative Spectral Radiance Measurements in the HYMETS Arc Jet

Calibrated spectral radiance measurements of gaseous emission spectra have been obtained from the HYMETS (Hypersonic Materials Environmental Test System) 400 kW arc-heated wind tunnel at NASA Langley Research Center. A fiber-optic coupled spectrometer collected natural luminosity from the flow. Spectral radiance measurements are reported between 340 and 1000 nm. Both Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator (PICA) samples were placed in the flow. Test gases studied included a mostly-N2 atmosphere (95% nitrogen, 5% argon), a simulated Earth Air atmosphere (75% nitrogen, 20% oxygen, 5% argon) and a simulated Martian atmosphere (71% carbon dioxide, 24% nitrogen, 5% argon). The bulk enthalpy of the flow was varied as was the location of the measurement. For the intermediate flow enthalpy tested (20 MJ/kg), emission from the Mars simulant gas was about 10 times higher than the Air flow and 15 times higher than the mostly-N2 atmosphere. Shock standoff distances were estimated from the spectral radiance measurements. Within-run, run-to-run and day-to-day repeatability of the emission were studied, with significant variations (15-100%) noted.

Danehy, Paul M.↗

Arylethynyl Substituted 9,lO-Anthraquinones: Tunable Stokes Shifts by Substitution and Solvent Polarity

2-Arylethynyl- and 2,6- and 2,7-diarylethynyl-substituted 9,lO-anthraquinones were synthesized via Sonogashira coupling reactions of 2-bromo-, 2,6-dibromo-, and 2,7-dibromo-9,10- anthraquinone with para-substituted phenylacetylenes. While the redox properties of those compounds are almost insensitive to substitution, their absorption maxima are linearly related to the Hammett constants with different slopes for electron donors and electron acceptors. ABI compounds are photoluminescent both in solution (quantum yields of emission <= 6 %), and as solids. The emission spectra have the characteristics of charge-transfer bands with large Stokes shifts (100-250 nm). The charge-transfer character of the emitting state is supported by large dipole moment differences between the ground and the excited state as concluded on the basis of molecular modeling and Lippert-Mataga correlations of the Stokes shifts with solvent polarity. Maximum Stokes shifts are attained by both electron-donating and -withdrawing groups. This is explained by a destabilization of the HOMO by electron donors and a stabilization of the LUMO by electron acceptors. X-ray crystallographic analysis of, for example, 2,7-bisphenylethynfl- 9,lO-anthraquinone reveals a monoclinic P21In space group and no indication for pi-overlap that would promote quenching, thus explaining emission from the solid state. Representative reduced forms of the title compounds were isolated as stable acetates of the corresponding dihydrs-9,10- anthraquinones. The emission of these compounds is blue-shifted relative to the parent oxidized forms and is attributed to internal transitions in the dihydro-9,lO-anthraquinone core.

Yang, Jinhua↗

Forward and Inverse Models for Satellite Remote Sensors using Principal Component Analysis

Satellite remote sensors such as AIRS on Aqua, CrIS on S-NPP, NOAA20 and JPSS-2, IASI on Metop A, B, and C make millions of observations each day with thousands of spectral channels for each observation; this poses challenges for efficiently inversion of the inherently large dataset as needed to retrieve atmospheric and surface properties. This presentation will illustrate the use of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to speed up radiative transfer forward model calculations and to stabilize the inversion algorithms. A Principal Component-based radiative transfer model (PCRTM) developed at NASA Langley Research Center can simulate top of atmosphere (TOA) radiance or reflectance spectra from 50 cm-1 to 50000 cm-1 (200 m to 0.20 m quickly and accurately. PCRTM demonstrated very high accuracy relative to reference line-by-line radiative transfer models and it saves orders of magnitude computational time. Examples of the PCRTM model developed for hyperspectral sensors such as AIRS, CrIS, IASI, NAST-I, SHIS, CPF, TEMPO, SBG, OMI, and SCIAMACHY will be presented. In addition to using the PCRTM as forward model, the NASA Langley developed inversion algorithm also uses PCA to compress the state vector into a compressed dimension to speed up and stabilize the inversion process. Examples of retrieved atmospheric temperature, water vapor, CO2, CO, CH4, N2O, and O3 profiles, cloud properties (optical depth, size, phase, and height), and surface properties (surface emissivity spectra and skin temperatures) will be presented. This algorithm is being transitioned to the NASA Sounder SIPS and NASA's Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC).

forward model↗

Infrared emission spectrophotometric study of the changes produced by TiN coating of metal surfaces in an operating EHD contact

Infrared emission spectra and related measurements were obtained from an operating ball/plate elastohydrodynamic (EHD) sliding contact under a variety of operating conditions. In order to be able to compare the effect of the ball surface, some of the balls were coated with a thin layer of titanium nitride (TiN) by vapor deposition. Polyphenyl ether (5P4E) was used as lubricant and 1 percent of 1,1,2-trichloroethane (TCE) as a surface-probing additive. TiN is chemically inert and its thermal conductivity is lower than that of steel. Therefore, the overall temperatures with TiN coated balls were higher. Nevertheless, no scuffing was observed with the coated balls under conditions giving rise to scuffing with the uncoated balls. Tractions were lower with the TiN coated balls and always when TCE was added to the 5P4E. These findings were found to be inversely related to the degree of polarization of the spectral emission bands. The intensity and the dichrosim of these bands were related to shear rates and inlet conditions of the EHD contact.

Keller, L. E.↗

Infrared emission spectrophotometric study of the changes produced by TiN coating of metal surfaces in an operating EHD contact

Infrared emission spectra and related measurements were obtained from an operating ball/plate EHD sliding contact under a variety of operating conditions. In order to be able to compare the effect of the ball surface, some of the steel balls were coated with a thin layer of titanium nitride (TiN) by vapor deposition. Polyphenyl ether (5P4E) was used as the lubricant and 1 percent of 1,1,2-trichloroethane TCE) as an additive with a high affinity for steel but a low affinity for TiN. TiN is chemically inert, but its thermal conductivity is lower than that of steel. Therefore, the overall temperatures with TiN-coated balls were higher. Nevertheless, no scuffng was observed with the coated balls under conditions giving rise to scuffing with the uncoated balls. Tractions were lower with the TiN-coated balls and with the steel balls when TCE was added to the 5P4E. These findings were found to be inversely related to the degree of polarization of the spectral emission bands. The intensity and the dichroism of these bands were related to shear rates and inlet conditions of the EHD contact.

Keller, L. E.↗

Optical Diagnostic Characterization of High-Power Hall Thruster Wear and Operation

Optical emission spectroscopy is employed to correlate BN insulator erosion with high-power Hall thruster operation. Specifically, actinometry leveraging excited xenon states is used to normalize the emission spectra of ground state boron as a function of thruster operating condition. Trends in the strength of the boron signal are correlated with thruster power, discharge voltage, and discharge current. In addition, the technique is demonstrated on metallic coupons embedded in the walls of the HiVHAc EM thruster. The OES technique captured the overall trend in the erosion of the coupons which boosts credibility in the method since there are no data to which to calibrate the erosion rates of high-power Hall thrusters. The boron signals are shown to trend linearly with discharge voltage for a fixed discharge current as expected. However, the boron signals of the higher-power NASA 300M and NASA 457Mv2 trend with discharge current and show an unexpectedly weak to inverse dependence on discharge voltage. Electron temperatures measured optically in the near-field plume of the thruster agree well with Langmuir probe data. However, the optical technique used to determine Te showed unacceptable sensitivity to the emission intensities. Near-field, single-frequency imaging of the xenon neutrals is also presented as a function of operating condition for the NASA 457 Mv2.

Williams, George J., Jr.↗

Hydrogen Sensor via Plasma Techniques Development

Currently, NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) uses liquid hydrogen (LH 2 ) as fuel for launches and ensures hydrogen is no longer in the fill lines by sampling gas into a controlled environment. Then they use a catalytic sensor that detects when hydrogen interacts with oxygen. However, this procedure requires repeatedly backfilling and flushing with helium, which can be wasteful during a global helium shortage and expensive for each sampling port. Therefore, the team at KSC set out to establish proof-of-concept of a plasma-based hydrogen sensor that is anaerobic – and can in fact detect in most environments and below atmospheric pressures – and with a small footprint and more sensitive than other hydrogen sensors currently on the market. The technology development was done by testing known concentrations of hydrogen in argon gas fed through a vacuum cube containing an electrode feedthrough at varying pressures. The resultant emission spectra were recorded with a fiber optic spectrometer and analyzed to determine the instrument's accuracy. Throughout testing, efforts were made to prove the off-the-shelf capabilities of the setup. The traditional high voltage AC-power source was switched to an affordable, handheld plasma lighter. Additionally, the spectrometer was supplemented with a double photodiode circuit to take targeted measurements of the Balmer-α and - β lines in the hydrogen spectrum. From this, we established a proof of concept sensor. SLS required it to detect as low as 100 ppm whereas we detected hydrogen in concentrations as low as 50 ppm and in an anaerobic environment. * Work supported by NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Science Mission Directorate Innovative Research and Development Fund.

Plasma↗