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At least 1,099 records · Page 61

Interpreting Solar Wind Turbulent Spectra beyond Taylor’s Hypothesis

In this Letter we apply a methodology, recently proposed by Bourouaine & Perez (BP19), to interpret solar wind turbulent power spectra beyond the Taylor approximation (TA). The turbulent power spectra were measured using Helios spacecraft data near 0.6 au. We use the model proposed in BP19 to reproduce the field-perpendicular power spectrum E(k(sub ⊥)) of antisunward Alfvénic fluctuations in the plasma frame (where k(sub ⊥) is the field-perpendicular wavenumber) from the corresponding measured frequency power spectrum P(sub sc)(ω,θ(sub b)) along the sampling angle ,θ(sub b), which is the angle between the local magnetic field and the sampling direction. Here ω = 2πf and f is the frequency of the time signal. Interestingly enough, we found that for all corresponding measured frequency power spectrum P(sub sc)(ω,θ(sub b)) the reproduced field-perpendicular power spectrum E(k(sub ⊥)) is the same and independent of the considered sampling angle θ(sub b). This finding is consistent with the fact that the analyzed turbulence is strong and highly anisotropic with k(sub ∥) ≪ k(sub ⊥) (where k(sub ∥) is the field-parallel wavenumber). Furthermore, for this specific time signal we found that the commonly used TA is still approximately valid with the important difference that a broadening in k(sub ⊥) for each angular frequency ω is present. This broadening can be described in the context of the methodology proposed in BP19.

Solar magnetic fields↗

Dependence of Energetic Storm Particle Heavy Ion Peak Intensities and Spectra on Source CME Longitude and Speed

We examine variations in energetic storm particle (ESP) heavy ion peak intensities and energy spectra at CME-driven interplanetary shocks. We focus on their dependence with heliolongitude relative to the source region of their associated CMEs, and with CME speed, for events observed in Solar Cycle 24 at the STEREO-A, STEREO-B, and/or ACE spacecraft. We find that observations of ESP events at 1 au are organized by longitude relative to their CME solar source. The ESP event longitude distribution also showed organization with CME speed. The near-Sun CME speeds (V i ) for these events ranged from ∼560 to 2650 km s −1 while the average CME transit speeds to 1 au were significantly slower. The angular width of the events had a clear threshold at V i of ∼1300 km s −1 , above which events showed significantly larger angular extension compared to events with speeds below. High-speed events also showed larger heavy ion peak intensities near the nose of the shock compared to the flanks while their spectral index was smaller near the nose and larger near the flanks. This organization for events with V i < 1300 km s −1 was not as clear. These ESP events were observed over a narrower range of longitudes though the heavy ion peak intensities still appeared largest near the nose of the shock. Their heavy ion spectra showed no clear organization with longitude. These observations highlight the impact of spacecraft position relative to the CME source longitude and Vi on the properties of ESP events at 1 au.

Solar energetic particles↗

Interpretation of Flat Energy Spectra Upstream of Fast Interplanetary Shocks

Interplanetary shocks are large-scale heliospheric structures often caused by eruptive phenomena at the Sun, and represent one of the main sources of energetic particles. Several interplanetary shock crossings by spacecraft at 1 AU have revealed enhanced energetic-ion fluxes that extend far upstream of the shock. Surprisingly, in some shock events, ion fluxes with energies between 100 keV and about 2 MeV acquire similar values (which we refer to as "overlapped'' fluxes), corresponding to flat energy spectra in that range. In contrast, closer to the shock, the fluxes are observed to depend on energy. In this work, we analyze three interplanetary shock-related energetic particle events observed by the Advanced Composition Explorer spacecraft where flat ion energy spectra were observed upstream of the shock. We interpret these observations via a velocity filter mechanism for particles in a given energy range. This reveals that low energy particles tend to be confined to the shock front and cannot easily propagate upstream, while high energy particles can. The velocity filter mechanism has been corroborated from observations of particle flux anisotropy by the Solid-State Telescope of Wind/3DP.

Shock waves↗

Soft X-ray Energy Spectra in the Wide-Field Galactic Disk Area Revealed with HaloSat

We analyzed data from HaloSat observations for five fields in the Galactic disk located far away from the Galactic center (135° < l < 254°) to understand the nature of soft X-ray energy emission in the Galactic disk. The fields have 14° diameter and were selected to contain no significant high-flux X-ray sources. All five HaloSat soft X-ray energy spectra (0.4–7 keV with energy resolution of < 100 eV below 1 keV) show a possibility of the presence of unresolved high-temperature plasma in the Galactic disk (UHTPGD) with a temperature of 0.8–1.0 keV and an emission measure of (8–11) × 10 −4 cm −6 pc in addition to the soft X-ray diffuse background components mainly studied at higher Galactic latitudes (solar wind charge exchange emission, Local Hot Bubble, Milky Way halo emission, and the cosmic X-ray background). This suggests that the UHTPGD is present across the whole Galactic disk. We also observed UHTPGD emission in a region with no bright sources in an XMM-Newton field contained within one of the HaloSat fields. The temperature and emission measure are consistent with those measured with HaloSat. Moreover, the stacked spectra of the X-ray pointlike sources and near-infrared-identified point sources such as stars in the XMM-Newton field also show a spectral feature similar to the UHTPGD emission. This suggests that the UHTPGD may partly originate from pointlike sources such as stars.

X-rays: diffuse background↗

JWST Photometry and Spectra Reveal Dust and Ice in Super Star Cluster Located in N79

Super star clusters (SSCs) are the most extreme mode of star formation; however they are rare in the local universe. With the serendipitous discovery of SSC candidate H72.97-69.39 in the N79 Region of the Large Magellanic Cloud, we have a unique opportunity to study the early phases of an SSC formation. H72.97-69.39 has an uncertain luminosity with a lower limit of 1,500,000 L⊙, based on spectral energy distribution fit, with a potential to reach the luminosity of the R136 SSC in 30 Doradus (10,000,000 L⊙). We will present James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) near- and mid-infrared (NIRCam and MIRI) observations of H72.97-69.39, including mid-infrared spectra of six young stellar objects taken with the MIRI instrument. The emission and absorption lines seen in the high-resolution spectra include fine-structure, molecular hydrogen, polyaromatic hydrocarbon, and ice features. Hydrogen recombination lines indicate these protostars have accretion rates as high as 0.02 M⊙ per year. Photometry is accomplished using the software package StarbugII, which was developed for JWST imaging of crowded fields and complex backgrounds. Near- and mid-infrared photometry from JWST reveal over 100 young stellar objects within a 30-pc x 40 pc (120” x 160”) region with spectral energy distribution fits indicating the masses of these objects areas low as 0.5 M⊙ and as high as 40 M⊙. We use color magnitude diagrams to separate the young stellar objects from the red giant branch and asymptotic giant branch stellar populations. We compare our JWST observations to ALMA, HST, and Chandra observations to present a clearer picture of how star formation takes place within an SSC.

Isha Nayak↗

New Insights into the X-Ray Spectra of Heliumlike and Neonlike Ions

Recent measurements of the K-shell and L-shell x-ray spectra of highly charged helium- like and neonlike ions are presented that were performed on the Livermore electron beam ion traps and the Princeton tokamaks. These measurements provide new insights into collisional and indirect line formation processes, identifications of forbidden lines, and a new plasma line diagnostic of magnetic field strength.

IONS↗

The mid-infrared spectra of normal galaxies

The mid-infrared spectra (2.5-5 and 5.7-11.6 mu m) obtained by ISOPHOT reveal the interstellar medium emission from galaxies powered by star formation to be strongly dominated by the aromatic features at 6.2, 7.7, 8.6, and 11.3 mu m. Additional emission appears in between the features, and an underlying continuum is clearly evident at 3-5 mu m. This continuum would contribute about a third of the luminosity in the 3-13 mu m range. The features together carry 5%-30% of the 40-120 mu m. range.FIR) luminosity.

Mid-infrared spectra spectrophotometry↗

Detection of climate forcing using emission spectra

We discuss the use of thermal emission spectra recorded by satellites to construct climate indices that can detect the evolution of a specific climate forcing in a time series. The two important issues are selectivity against climate forcings other than one that is sought, and sensitivity to the required forcing. We show that indices with selectivity can be found, and that their sensitivity can be high.

Thermal Emission Spectra↗

A Data Exploration Tool for Large Sets of Spectra

We present an exploration tool for very large spectrum data sets such as the SDSS (Sloan Digital Sky Survey), LAMOST (Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope), and 4MOST (4-meter Multi-Object Spectroscopic Telescope) data sets. The tool works in two stages: the first uses batch processing and the second runs interactively. The latter employs the NASA hyperwall, a configuration of 128 workstation displays (8 by 16 array) controlled by a parallelized software suite running on NASA's Pleiades supercomputer. The stellar subset of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, DR10, was chosen to show how the our tool may be used. In stage one, SDSS files for 569,740 stars are processed through our data pipeline. The pipeline fits each spectrum using an iterative continuum algorithm, distinguishing emission from absorption and handling molecular absorption bands correctly. It then measures 1659 discrete atomic and molecular spectral features that were carefully preselected based on their likelihood of being visible at some spectral type. The depths relative to the local continuum at each feature wavelength are determined for each spectrum: these depths, the local S/N (signal to noise ratio) level, and DR10-supplied variables such as magnitudes, colors, positions, and radial velocities are the basic measured quantities used on the hyperwall. In stage two, each hyperwall panel is used to display a 2-D scatter plot showing the depth of feature A vs the depth of feature B for all of the stars. A and B change from panel to panel. The relationships between the various (A,B) strengths and any distinctive clustering are immediately apparent when examining and inter-comparing the different panels on the hyperwall. The interactive software allows the user to select the stars in any interesting region of any 2-D plot on the hyperwall, immediately rendering the same stars on all the other 2-D plots in a unique color. The process may be repeated multiple times, each selection displaying a distinctive color on all the plots. At any time, the spectra of the selected stars may be examined in detail on a connected workstation display. We illustrate how our approach allows us to quickly isolate and examine such interesting stellar subsets as EMP (Extremely Metal‐Poor) stars, CV (Cataclymic Variable) stars and C (Carbon)-rich stars.

Data Exploration↗

Rotational Spectra of the X states of CaH and CaD

The molecular constants including the rotaional constant, centrifugal distortion constants, spin-rotation constants, and magnetic hyperfine interaction constants have been extrcted from the spectra.

Rotation↗

Monte Carlo Calculations of Neutron Number Spectra and Buildup Factors in Infinite Conical Configurations

A Monte Carlo code simulating neutron transport in infinite cones of water and water-equivalent hydrogen was prepared for an IBM 704 computer. The code was essentially a modification of the point-source, infinite-medium code used in NASA TN D-850. Studies were made of differential neutron number spectra and associated buildup factors for infinite cones having apex half-angles of 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, and 60 degrees. The buildup factors obtained were compared with those for the appropriate infinite medium, which allowed an examination of the effect of solid angle subtended by material on the transport of 6-Mev source neutrons emanating from the cone apex. The variation of number buildup factor with distance for the various cones shows that neutron scattering out of the cones is predominant in the first 30 t o 40 centimeters of material, and that transport beyond this distance is of a similar nature in all the cones.

CONE↗