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At least 829 records · Page 46

Two-Diffraction-Order, Beam-Splitting, Imaging Spectrometer

Two-octave imaging spectrometer utilizes light of two harmonically related wavelengths diffracted to harmonically related orders at same angles, followed by separation via dichroic beam splitter before final imaging. Conceptual design of spectrometer calls for minimum number of optical elements to achieve coverage of required visible and near-infrared wavelengths in instrument of reduced size, weight, and cost.

Labaw, Clayton C.↗

Metrology and Alignment of Light Weight Grazing Incidence X-Ray Mirrors

Metrology and alignment of light weight X-ray optics have been a challenge for two reasons: (1) that the intrinsic mirror quality and distortions caused by handling can not be easily separated, and (2) the diffraction limits of the visible light become a severe problem at the order of one arc-minute. Traditional methods of using a normal incident pencil or small parallel beam which monitors a tiny fraction of the mirror in question at a given time can not adequately monitor those distortions. We are developing a normal incidence setup that monitors a large fraction, if not the whole, of the mirror at any given time. It will allow us to align thin X-ray mirrors to-an accuracy of a few arc seconds or to a limit dominated by the mirror intrinsic quality.

Zhang, William↗

SUB 1-Millimeter Size Fresnel Micro Spectrometer

An ultra-small micro spectrometer with less than 1mm diameter was constructed using Fresnel diffraction. The fabricated spectrometer has a diameter of 750 nmicrometers and a focal length of 2.4 mm at 533nm wavelength. The micro spectrometer was built with a simple negative zone plate that has an opaque center with an ecliptic shadow to remove the zero-order direct beam to the aperture slit. Unlike conventional approaches, the detailed optical calculation indicates that the ideal spectral resolution and resolving power do not depend on the miniaturized size but only on the total number of rings. We calculated 2D and 3D photon distribution around the aperture slit and confirmed that improved micro-spectrometers below 1mm size can be built with Fresnel diffraction. The comparison between mathematical simulation and measured data demonstrates the theoretical resolution, measured performance, misalignment effect, and improvement for the sub-1mm Fresnel micro-spectrometer. We suggest the utilization of an array of micro spectrometers for tunable multi-spectral imaging in the ultra violet range.

Park, Yeonjoon↗

Performance analysis of a noncoherently combined large aperture optical heterodyne receiver

The performance of a noncoherently combined (NC) multiple-mirror heterodyne receiver is analyzed. With no atmospheric turbulence (AT), the performance of the NC receiver is shown to the inferior to that of a monolithic diffraction-limited receiver with equivalent aperture area. When AT is taken into consideration, however, the efficiency of a monolithic receiver is limited by the phase coherence length of the atmosphere, and generally does not improve with increasing aperture size. In contrast, the performance of an NC system improves with an increasing number of receivers. Consequently, given a fixed collecting area, the NC system can offer superior performance. The performance of the NC heterodyne receiver is studied by analyzing the combining loss of the receiver SNR. It is shown that, given a constant collecting area, the performance of the NC receiver is optimized when the diameter of each of the individual receivers is on the order of the phase coherence length of the AT.

Chen, Chien-Chung↗

Characterizing Detailed Grain Shape and Size Distribution Properties of Lunar Regolith

Introduction: As the nation prepares to return to the Moon, there is an increasing need for testing tools, instruments, and equipment in simulated environments on Earth to ensure successful operations during lunar missions. Regolith will affect all aspects of future lunar missions, from plume interactions during landing to space suit and tool design [1]. Because of this, it is important to understand the grain shape and size properties of lunar regolith and how those influence regolith behavior in order to prepare for these missions. This knowledge is also vital to create more accurate lunar regolith simulants for testing equipment in a lunar environment. While particle size analyses have been performed on most Apollo soils using simple sieving, shape has only been crudely addressed [2]. This work analyzes 4 lunar regolith samples to provide a better understanding of these size and shape parameters and will provide a more accurate baseline of data to create high-fidelity lunar regolith simulants. Methods: New technologies exist today that are capable of measuring size and shape simultaneously for hundreds of thousands of particles in a single measurement. We conducted a rigorous analysis of the particle size distribution (PSD) as well as the size-dependent 2D and 3D shape parameters of lunar regolith samples of different compositions and maturity levels. This analysis was done using a Microtrac SYNC which provides a unique combination of tri-laser diffraction and Dynamic Image Analysis (DIA). Sample Selection. Four regolith samples were selected for analysis based on maturity level and lunar terrain type: • 10084 – Mature high-Ti mare regolith • 15601 – Immature low-Ti mare regolith • 64501 – Mature highland regolith • 67461 – Immature highland regolith Sample Analysis. After receiving the samples, each sample was imaged with an optical microscope (Figure 1). To obtain 2D and 3D particle size and shape, 0.1 g of each sample was then added to the SYNC for analysis, which outputs more than 30 size and shape parameters for each individual grain as well as the complete size distribution from 0.01-2000 μm by blending laser diffraction and DIA together. For the 0.1 g sample masses requested, ~100,000 grains per sample were captured by DIA. Results: From the PSD analysis, it can be seen that the average particle size of 10084 is ~24.5 µm which is much smaller than the average particle size of the Apollo sample collection (~72 µm) [3], while the average particle size of samples 15601, 64501, and 67461 are larger than the Apollo sample average at ~106 µm, ~103 µm, and ~118.5 µm respectively. The size and shape measurements for the samples output ~30 parameters, four of which were focused on for this study: sphericity, aspect ratio, roundness, and concavity (Figure 3). However, after analyzing the plots it was found that only sphericity and aspect ratio showed differences between the samples. These two parameters are measured on a scale from 0 to 1, with 1 being a perfect sphere with equal dimensions. The results show that the sphericity values are slightly high-er for the mature samples 10084 and 64501 (~0.96) than they are for samples 15601 and 67461 (~0.95) (Figure 4). The aspect ratio values are slightly lower for samples 64501 (~0.7) and 67461 (~0.74) than they are for samples 10084 (~0.76) and 15601 (~0.8) (Figure 5). Discussion: Mature regoliths are those that have been exposed to micrometeorite and solar wind bombardment for long periods of time, breaking up particles and causing them to become more rounded [4]. Therefore, the smaller particle sizes and higher sphericity values for samples 10084 and 64501 are expected due to their higher maturity level compared to 15601 and 67461. However, the aspect ratio values are not dependent on maturity and are instead dependent on terrain type. The lower aspect ratio values for the high-land samples is potentially due to the higher plagioclase content, which occurs in elongated particles and does not break down as easily as the pyroxenes or olivines that are present in the mare. Conclusion and Future Work: The results of this work provide a baseline of high-quality data that will contribute to the creation of high-fidelity lunar simulants and will greatly benefit NASA’s efforts of establishing a human presence on the Moon. Future work includes performing unsupervised image classification on the ~105 particle images per sample in order to identify different classes of grains. These grain classes can then be linked to detailed shape properties, and the relative abundance of each class in the samples can be compared. Acknowledgments: We would like to thank the Extraterrestrial Materials Analysis Group (ExMAG) and the Astromaterials Allocation Review Board (AARB) for allocating lunar regolith samples 10084,9010, 15601,365, 64501,249, and 67461,171 for this work. References: [1] Taylor, L. A. et al. (2005) AIAA #2510. [2] Katagiri et al. (2015) ASCE. [3] Carrier III, W. D. (2005) Lunar Geotech Institute Tech Report. [4] McKay, D. S. et al. (1991) The Lunar Sourcebook, Chapter 7.

S R Deitrick↗

Instrument Performance of GISMO, a 2 Millimeter TES Bolometer Camera used at the IRAM 30 m Telescope

In November of 2007 we demonstrated a monolithic Backshort-Under-Grid (BUG) 8x16 array in the field using our 2 mm wavelength imager GISMO (Goddard IRAM Superconducting 2 Millimeter Observer) at the IRAM 30 m telescope in Spain for astronomical observations. The 2 mm spectral range provides a unique terrestrial window enabling ground-based observations of the earliest active dusty galaxies in the universe and thereby allowing a better constraint on the star formation rate in these objects. The optical design incorporates a 100 mm diameter silicon lens cooled to 4 K, which provides the required fast beam yielding 0.9 lambda/D pixels. With this spatial sampling, GISMO will be very efficient at detecting sources serendipitously in large sky surveys, while the capability for diffraction limited imaging is preserved. The camera provides significantly greater detection sensitivity and mapping speed at this wavelength than has previously been possible. The instrument will fill in the spectral energy distribution of high redshift galaxies at the Rayleigh-Jeans part of the dust emission spectrum, even at the highest redshifts. Here1 will we present early results from our observing run with the first fielded BUG bolometer array. We have developed key technologies to enable highly versatile, kilopixel, infrared through millimeter wavelength bolometer arrays. The Backshort-Under-Grid (BUG) array consists of three components: 1) a transition-edge-sensor (TES) based bolometer array with background-limited sensitivity and high filling factor, 2) a quarter-wave reflective backshort grid providing high optical efficiency, and 3) a superconducting bump-bonded large format Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) multiplexer readout. The array is described in more detail elsewhere (Allen et al., this conference). In November of 2007 we demonstrated a monolithic 8x 16 array with 2 mm-pitch detectors in the field using our 2 mm wavelength imager GISMO (Goddard IRAM Superconducting 2 Millimeter Observer) at the IRAM 30 m telescope in Spain for astronomical observations. The 2 mm spectral range provides a unique terrestrial window enabling ground-based observations of the earliest active dusty galaxies in the universe and thereby allowing a better constraint on the star formation rate in these objects. The optical design incorporates a 100 mm diameter silicon lens cooled to 4 K, which provides the required fast beam yielding 0.9 lambda1D pixels. With this spatial sampling, GISMO will be very efficient at detecting sources serendipitously in large sky surveys, while the capability for diffraction limited imaging is preserved. The camera provides significantly greater detection sensitivity and mapping speed at this wavelength than has previously been possible. The instrument will fill in the spectral energy distribution of high redshift galaxies at the Rayleigh-Jeans part of the dust emission spectrum, even at the highest redshifts. Here I will we present early results from our observing run with the first fielded BUG bolometer array.

Staguhn, Johannes↗

A New Optical Aerosol Spectrometer

An optical particle spectrometer capable of measuring aerosol particle size distributions from 0.02 to 100 micrometers has been developed. This instrument combines several optical methods in one, in-situ configuration; it can provide continuous data collection to encompass the wide dynamic size ranges and concentrations found in studies of modeled planetary atmospheres as well as terrestrial air quality research. Currently, the system is incorporated into an eight liter capacity spherical pressure vessel that is appropriate both for flowthrough and for in-situ particle generation. The optical sizing methods include polarization ratio, The scattering, and forward scattering detectors, with illumination from a fiber-coupled, Argon-ion laser. As particle sizes increase above 0.1 micrometer, a customized electronics and software system automatically shifts from polarization to diffraction-based measurements as the angular scattering detectors attain acceptable signal-to-noise ratios. The number concentration detection limits are estimated to be in the part-per-trillion (ppT by volume) range, or roughly 1000 submicron particles per cubic centimeter. Results from static experiments using HFC134A (approved light scattering gas standard), flow-through experiments using sodium chloride (NaCl) and carbon particles, and dynamic 'Tholin' (photochemical produced particles from ultraviolet (UV)-irradiated acetylene and nitrogen) experiments have been obtained. The optical spectrometer data obtained with particles have compared well with particle sizes determined by electron microscopy. The 'Tholin' tests provided real-time size and concentration data as the particles grew from about 30 nanometers to about 0.8 micrometers, with concentrations ranging from ppT to ppB, by volume. Tests are still underway, to better define sizing accuracy and concentration limits, these results will be reported.

Fonda, Mark↗

Design and Optimization of the SPOT Primary Mirror Segment

The 3m Spherical Primary Optical Telescope (SPOT) will utilize a single ring of 0.86111 point-to-point hexagonal mirror segments. The f2.85 spherical mirror blanks will be fabricated by the same replication process used for mass-produced commercial telescope mirrors. Diffraction-limited phasing will require segment-to-segment radius of curvature (ROC) variation of approx.1 micron. Low-cost, replicated segment ROC variations are estimated to be almost 1 mm, necessitating a method for segment ROC adjustment & matching. A mechanical architecture has been designed that allows segment ROC to be adjusted up to 400 microns while introducing a minimum figure error, allowing segment-to-segment ROC matching. A key feature of the architecture is the unique back profile of the mirror segments. The back profile of the mirror was developed with shape optimization in MSC.Nastran(TradeMark) using optical performance response equations written with SigFit. A candidate back profile was generated which minimized ROC-adjustment-induced surface error while meeting the constraints imposed by the fabrication method. Keywords: optimization, radius of curvature, Pyrex spherical mirror, Sigfit

Budinoff, Jason G.↗

High-pressure phase diagram and equation of state of solid helium from single-crystal X-ray diffraction to 23.3 GPa

Single-crystal X-ray diffraction measurements have been performed on solid He-4 from 15.6 to 23.3 GPa at 300 K with synchrotron radiation. The diffraction patterns demonstrate that the structure of the solid is hexagonal close packed over this pressure-temperature range, contrary to both the interpretation of high-pressure optical studies and to theoretical predictions. The solid is more compressible than is indicated by equations of state calculated with recently determined helium pair potentials. The results suggest that a significant revision of current views of the phase diagram and energetics of dense solid helium is in order.

Mao, H. K.↗

Robust Quantitative Measurement of Flows and Transparent or Highly Reflective Objects

The liquid crystal point diffraction interferometer (LCPDI) is a new instrument that has been developed for the measurement of phase objects. The LCPDI uses the compact, robust design of Linnik's point diffraction interferometer and adds to it phase stepping capability for quantitative interferogram analysis. The result is a compact, simple to align, environmentally insensitive interferometer capable of accurately measuring optical wave-fronts. A solid state camera provides very high data density and automated data reduction. The instrument can measure either transparent objects like fluids and lenses, or highly reflective opaque objects like mirrors. In the former case, the refractive index distribution is measured and then related to various properties like temperature, density, chemical composition, or thickness. In the latter case, the measured phase distribution is related to the object shape. The objects measured must be stationary or quasisteady state because the measurement requires the acquisition of several frames of image data during which time the object's properties must not have changed. The data acquisition time depends on the speed of the frame grabber and the required number of data frames. Typically, three to five frames taking 1 to 2 seconds are required. The potential for faster data acquisition exists.

Mercer, Carolyn R.↗

GISMO

The 2 mm (1 50 GHz) atmospheric window enables unparalleled ground-based observations of the earliest active dusty galaxies in the universe. We have undertaken the development of a bolometer camera, GISMO (the Goddard-IRAM Superconducting 2-Millimeter Observer), which will obtain large and sensitive sky maps at this wavelength. The instrument will be used at the IRAM 30 m telescope, where we hope to have a trial observing run in Spring of 2007. The innovative element in this camera is its 8x1 6 fully sampled planar array of multiplexed superconducting transition edge sensor bolometers. This array is based on our recently demonstrated Backshort Under Grid architecture, designed to be scaled to kilopixel arrays with high sensitivity (of around 4 * 10 (exp -17)/ W* square root of Hz at T(sub c) approximates 450mK). A compact cryogenic optical system provides a wide field of view, (almost 2'x4') enabling GISMO to be very efficient at detecting sources serendipitously in large sky surveys, while retaining diffraction-limited imaging performance. GISMO will provide significantly greater imaging sensitivity and mapping speed at this wavelength than has previously been possible. The major scientific driver for the instrument is to detect dust emission from high-z Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies (ULIRGs) and quasars. The instrument provides an important portion of the spectrum of high redshift galaxies at the Rayleigh-Jeans part of the dust emission spectrum, even at the highest redshifts. Models of galaxy evolution predict that GISMO will serendipitously detect one galaxy in every four hours of observing blank sky, and that one quarter of these galaxies will be at a redshift of z > 6.5.

Benford, Dominic↗

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↗

NASA Work Experience

I have had the opportunity to support the analytical laboratories in chemical analysis of unknown samples, using Optical Microscopy (OM), Polarizing Light Microscopy (PLM), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEMEDS), and X-ray Powder Diffraction (XPD). I have assisted in characterizing fibers pulled from a spacecraft, a white fibrous residue discovered in a jet refueler truck, brown residue from a plant habitat slated for delivery to the ISS (International Space Station), corrosion on a pipe from a sprinkler, and air filtration material brought back from the ISS. I also conducted my own fiber study in order to practice techniques and further my understanding of background concepts. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to participate in diverse work assignments, where I was assigned to work with other branches of the engineering department for 1-2 days each. The first was in the Materials Science branch where I participated in the construction of the plant habitat intended for use in research aboard the ISS. The second was in the Testing Design branch where I assisted with tensile and hardness testing of over 40 samples. In addition, I have had the privilege to attend multiple tours of the NASA KSC campus, including to the Astronaut Crew Quarters, the VAB (the main area, the Columbia room, and the catwalk), the Visitor Center housing the shuttle Atlantis, the Saturn-V exhibit, the Prototype laboratory, SWAMP WORKS, the Shuttle Landing Facility, the Crawler, and the Booster Fabrication Facility (BFF). Lastly, much of my coursework prepared me for this experience, including numerous laboratory courses with topics diverse as chemistry, physics, and biology.

Florida Tech↗

Habitable Exoplanet Observatory (HabEx) Telescope: Systems Engineering and STOP Modeling

The Habitable Exoplanet Observatory Mission (HabEx) is one of four missions studied for the 2020 Astrophysics Decadal Survey. Its goal is to directly image and spectroscopically characterize planetary systems in the habitable zone around nearby sun-like stars. Additionally, HabEx will perform a broad range of general astrophysics science enabled by 115 to 1700 nm spectral range and 3 x 3 arc-minute FOV. Critical to achieving its science goals is a large, ultra-stable UV/Optical/Near-IR (UVOIR) telescope. The baseline HabEx telescope is a 4-meter off-axis unobscured three-mirror-anastigmatic, diffraction limited at 400 nm with wavefront stability on the order of a few 10s of picometers. This paper summarizes the opto-mechanical design of the baseline optical telescope assembly, including a discussion of how we applied science driven systems engineering to derive the telescope’s engineering specifications from the mission’s science requirements, and presents analysis that the baseline telescope structure meets its specified tolerances.

Stahl, H. Philip↗

A model predicting the evolution of ice particle size spectra and radiative properties of cirrus clouds. Part 2: Dependence of absorption and extinction on ice crystal morphology

This study builds upon the microphysical modeling described in Part 1 by deriving formulations for the extinction and absorption coefficients in terms of the size distribution parameters predicted from the micro-physical model. The optical depth and single scatter albedo of a cirrus cloud can then be determined, which, along with the asymmetry parameter, are the input parameters needed by cloud radiation models. Through the use of anomalous diffraction theory, analytical expressions were developed describing the absorption and extinction coefficients and the single scatter albedo as functions of size distribution parameters, ice crystal shapes (or habits), wavelength, and refractive index. The extinction coefficient was formulated in terms of the projected area of the size distribution, while the absorption coefficient was formulated in terms of both the projected area and mass of the size distribution. These properties were formulated as explicit functions of ice crystal geometry and were not based on an 'effective radius.' Based on simulations of the second cirrus case study described in Part 1, absorption coefficients predicted in the near infrared for hexagonal columns and rosettes were up to 47% and 71% lower, respectively, than absorption coefficients predicted by using equivalent area spheres. This resulted in single scatter albedos in the near-infrared that were considerably greater than those predicted by the equivalent area sphere method. Reflectances in this region should therefore be underestimated using the equivalent area sphere approach. Cloud optical depth was found to depend on ice crystal habit. When the simulated cirrus cloud contained only bullet rosettes, the optical depth was 142% greater than when the cloud contained only hexagonal columns. This increase produced a doubling in cloud albedo. In the near-infrared (IR), the single scatter albedo also exhibited a significant dependence on ice crystal habit. More research is needed on the geometrical properties of ice crystals before the influence of ice crystal shape on cirrus radiative properties can be adequately understood. This study provides a way of coupling the radiative properties of absorption, extinction, and single scatter albedo to the microphysical properties of cirrus clouds. The dependence of extinction and absorption on ice crystal shape was not just due to geometrical differences between crystal types, but was also due to the effect these differences had on the evolution of ice particle size spectra. The ice particle growth model in Part 1 and the radiative properties treated here are based on analytical formulations, and thus represent a computationally efficient means of modeling the microphysical and radiative properties of cirrus clouds.

Mitchell, David L.↗

Performance analysis of a noncoherently combined large aperture optical heterodyne receiver

The performance of a noncoherently combined, multiple-mirror heterodyne receiver is analyzed. It is shown that in the absence of atmospheric turbulence, the performance of the noncoherently combined receiver is inferior to that of a monolithic, diffraction-limited receiver with equivalent aperture area. However, when atmospheric turbulence is taken into consideration, the efficiency of a monolithic aperture heterodyne receiver is limited by the phase coherence length of the atmosphere and generally does not improve with increasing aperture size. In constrast, the performance of a noncoherently combined system improves with an increasing number of receivers. Consequently, given a fixed collecting area, the noncoherently combined system can offer superior performance. The performance of the noncoherently combined heterodyne receiver is studied by analyzing the combining loss of the receiver SNR. It is shown that, given the collecting area, the performance of the combined receiver is optimized when the diameter of each of the individual receivers is on the order of the phase coherence length gamma sub 0 of the atmospheric turbulence.

Chen, C.-C.↗

HabEx Space Telescope Optical System Overview: General Astrophysics Instruments

The HabEx (Habitable Exoplanet) concept study is defining a future space telescope with the primary mission of detecting and characterizing planetary systems around nearby stars. The telescope baseline design includes a high-contrast coronagraph and a starshade to enable the direct optical detection of exoplanets as close as 70 mas to their star. In addition to the study of exoplanets, HabEx carries two dedicated instruments for general astrophysics. The first instrument is a camera enabling imaging on a 3 arc minute field of view in two bands stretching from the UV at 150 nm to the near infrared at 1800 nm. The same instrument can also be operated as a multi-object spectrograph, with resolution of 2000. The second instrument is a high-resolution UV spectrograph operating from 300 nm down to 115 nm with up to 60,0000 resolution. HabEx would provide the highest resolution UV/optical images ever obtained. Diffraction limited at 0.4 µm, it would outperform all current and approved facilities, including the 30 m class ground-based extremely large telescopes (ELTs), which will achieve ~0.01 arcsecond resolution at near-infrared (IR) wavelengths with adaptive optics, but will be seeing-limited at optical wavelengths. HabEx would observe wavelengths inaccessible from the ground, including the UV and in optical/near-IR atmospheric absorption bands. Operating at L2, far above the Earth’s atmosphere and free from the large thermal swings inherent to HST’s low-Earth orbit, HabEx would provide an ultra-stable platform that will enable science ranging from precision astrometry to the most sensitive weak lensing maps ever obtained. Here we discuss the design concepts of the general astrophysics optical instruments for the proposed observatory.

Nissen, Joel↗

Experiments with phase transitions at very high pressure

Diamond cells were constructed for use to 1 Mbar. A refrigerator for cooling diamond cells was adapted for studies between 15 and 300 K. A cryostat for superconductivity studies between 1.5 to 300 K was constructed. Optical equipment was constructed for fluorescence, transmission, and reflectance studies. X-ray equipment was adapted for use with diamond cells. Experimental techniques were developed for X-ray diffraction studies using synchrotron radiation. AC susceptibility techniques were developed for detecting superconducting transitions. The following materials were studied: compressed solidified gases (Xe, Ar), semiconductors (Ge, Si, GaAs), superconductors (Nb3Ge, Nb3Si, Nb3As, CuCl), molecular crystals (I).

Spain, I. L.↗