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At least 1,117 records · Page 62

Power-Law Template for Infrared Point-Source Clustering

We perform a combined fit to angular power spectra of unresolved infrared (IR) point sources from the Planck satellite (at 217, 353, 545, and 857 GHz, over angular scales 100 approx < l approx < 2200), the Balloon-borne Large-Aperture Submillimeter Telescope (BLAST; 250, 350, and 500 micron; 1000 approx < l approx < 9000), and from correlating BLAST and Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT; 148 and 218 GHz) maps. We find that the clustered power over the range of angular scales and frequencies considered is well fitted by a simple power law of the form C(sup clust)(sub l) varies as l (sub −n) with n = 1.25 +/- 0.06. While the IR sources are understood to lie at a range of redshifts, with a variety of dust properties, we find that the frequency dependence of the clustering power can be described by the square of a modified blackbody, ν(sup Beta)B(ν, T(sub eff) ), with a single emissivity index Beta = 2.20 +/- 0.07 and effective temperature T(sub eff) = 9.7 K. Our predictions for the clustering amplitude are consistent with existing ACT and South Pole Telescope results at around 150 and 220 GHz, as is our prediction for the effective dust spectral index, which we find to be alpha(sub 150-220) = 3.68 +/- 0.07 between 150 and 220 GHz. Our constraints on the clustering shape and frequency dependence can be used to model the IR clustering as a contaminant in cosmic microwave background anisotropy measurements. The combined Planck and BLAST data also rule out a linear bias clustering model.

cosmic background radiation↗

On-Orbit Cross Calibration Between the Osiris-Rex Orbiting Laser Altimeter and Navigation Camera

Accurate shape models of small bodies provide both science value and resources for precision relative navigation. One instrument commonly used for generating shape models is the laser altimeter. Laser altimeters require accurate intrinsic and extrinsic calibration knowledge to produce accurate shape models. Here, we describe a method used for updating the intrinsic and extrinsic calibration parameters of the laser altimeter onboard the Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security–Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft, OLA (OSIRISREx Laser Altimeter). We perform the calibration update by comparing the OLA scans with monocular camera images of the asteroid surface captured by the primary navigation camera.

Andrew J. Liounis↗

Evolving Particles in the 2022 Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai Volcano Eruption Plume

The Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) aboard NASA’s Terra satellite observed the Hunga Tonga—Hunga Ha’apai (HTHH) 15 January eruption plume on eight occasions between 15 and 23 January 2022. From the MISR multi-angle, multi-spectral imagery we retrieve aerosol plume height geometrically, along with plume-level motion vectors, and derive radiometrically constraints on particle effective size, shape, and light-absorption properties. Parts of two downwind aerosol layers were observed in different places and times, one concentrated in the upper troposphere (11-18 km ASL), and a mid-stratosphere layer~23 –30+ km ASL. After the initial day (1/15), the retrievals identified only spherical, non-light-absorbing particles, typical of volcanic sulfate/water particles. The near-tropopause plume particles show constant, medium-small (several tenths of a micron) effective size over four days. The mid-stratosphere particles were consistently smaller, but retrieved effective particle size increased between 1/17 and 1/23, though they might have decreased slightly on 1/22. As a vast amount of water was also injected into the stratosphere by this eruption, models predicted relatively rapid sulfate particle growth from the modest amounts of SO2 gas injected by the eruption to high altitudes along with the water (Zhu et al, 2022). MISR observations up to ten days after the eruption are consistent with these model predictions. The possible decrease in stratospheric particle size after initial growth was likely caused by evaporation, as the plume mixed with drier, ambient air. Particles in the lower-elevation plume observed on 1/15 were larger than all the downwind aerosols and contained significant non-spherical (likely ash) particles.

aerosol plume height↗

Joint M3 and Diviner Analysis of the Mineralogy, Glass Composition, and Country Rock Content of Pyroclastic Deposits in Oppenheimer Crater

Here we present our analysis of the near- and mid-infrared spectral properties of pyroclastic deposits within the floor fractured Oppenheimer Crater that are hypothesized to be Vulcanian in origin. These are the first results of our global study of lunar pyroclastic deposits aimed at constraining the range of eruption processes on the Moon. In the near-infrared, we have employed a new method of spectral analysis developed in Horgan et al. (2013) of the 1 m iron absorption band in Chandrayaan-1 Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) spectra. By analyzing both the position and shape of the 1 m band we can detect and map the distribution of minerals, glasses, and mixtures of these phases in pyroclastic deposits. We are also using mid-infrared spectra from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment to develop ~200 m/pixel Christiansen Feature (CF) maps, which correlate with silica abundance. One of the benefits of using CF maps for analysis of pyroclastic deposits is that they can be used to detect silicic country rock that may have been emplaced by Vulcanian-style eruptions, and are sensitive to iron abundance in glasses, neither of which is possible in the near-infrared. M3 analysis reveals that the primary spectral endmembers are low-calcium pyroxene and iron-bearing glass, with only minor high-calcium pyroxene, and no detectable olivine. The large deposit in the south shows higher and more extensive glass concentrations than the surrounding deposits. We interpret the M3 spectra of the pyroclastic deposits as indicating a mixture of low-calcium pyroxene country rock and juvenile glass, and no significant olivine. Analysis of Diviner CF maps of the Oppenheimer crater floor indicates an average CF value of 8.16, consistent with a mixture of primarily plagioclase and some pyroxene. The average CF values of the pyroclastic deposits range from 8.31 in the SW to 8.24 in the SE. Since CF values within the deposits are as high as 8.49, the lower average CF values of the deposits suggest that each deposit is a mixture of crater floor material and highly mafic juvenile material consistent with either olivine or Fe-bearing pyroclastic glass. Synthesizing our M3 and Diviner results indicates that the crater floor consists of plagioclase with some pyroxene, and the pyroclastic deposits are a mix of this substrate and a glass-rich juvenile material. While we cannot determine the iron content of the glass from M3 spectra alone, the high Diviner CF values suggest that the glass is relatively iron-rich. Indeed, FeO abundances inferred from CF values using the method of Allen et al. (2012) imply that the large southern deposit exhibits a significant enhancement in iron content. This supports our hypothesis that the glass in this deposit is relatively iron-rich.

Bennett, Kristen A.↗

Reflection spectra and magnetochemistry of iron oxides and natural surfaces

The magnetic properties and spectral characteristics of iron oxides are distinctive. Diagnostic features in reflectance spectra (0.5 to 2.4 micron) for alpha Fe2O3, gamma Fe2O3, and FeOOH include location of Fe3(+) absorption features, intensity ratios at various wavelengths, and the curve shape between 1.2 micron and 2.4 micron. The reflection spectrum of natural rock surfaces are seldom those of the bulk rock because of weathering effects. Coatings are found to be dominated by iron oxides and clay. A simple macroscopic model of rock spectra (based on concepts of stains and coatings) is considered adequate for interpretation of LANDSAT data. The magnetic properties of materials associated with specific spectral types and systematic changes in both spectra and magnetic properties are considered.

Wasilewski, P.↗

The Rise and Fall of Star Formation Histories of Blue Galaxies at Redshifts 0.2 < z < 1.4

Popular cosmological scenarios predict that galaxies form hierarchically from the merger of many progenitor, each with their own unique star formation history (SFH). We use the approach recently developed by Pacifici et al. to constrain the SFHs of 4517 blue (presumably star-forming) galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts in the range O.2 < z < 1:4 from the All-Wavelength Extended Groth Strip International Survey (AEGIS). This consists in the Bayesian analysis of the observed galaxy spectral ' energy distributions with a comprehensive library of synthetic spectra assembled using state-of-the-art models of star formation and chemical enrichment histories, stellar population synthesis, nebular emission and attenuation by dust. We constrain the SFH of each galaxy in our sample by comparing the observed fluxes in the B, R,l and K(sub s) bands and rest-frame optical emission-line luminosities with those of one million model spectral energy distributions. We explore the dependence of the resulting SFH on galaxy stellar mass and redshift. We find that the average SFHs of high-mass galaxies rise and fall in a roughly symmetric bell-shaped manner, while those of low-mass galaxies rise progressively in time, consistent with the typically stronger activity of star formation in low-mass compared to high-mass galaxies. For galaxies of all masses, the star formation activity rises more rapidly at high than at low redshift. These findings imply that the standard approximation of exponentially declining SFHs wIdely used to interpret observed galaxy spectral energy distributions is not appropriate to constrain the physical parameters of star-forming galaxies at intermediate redshifts.

Pacifici, Camilla↗

Spectral Line Parameters Including Temperature Dependences of Self- and Air-Broadening in the 2 (left arrow) 0 Band of CO at 2.3 micrometers

Temperature dependences of pressure-broadened half-width and pressure-induced shift coefficients along with accurate positions and intensities have been determined for transitions in the 2<--0 band of C-12 O-16 from analyzing high-resolution and high signal-to-noise spectra recorded with two different Fourier transform spectrometers. A total of 28 spectra, 16 self-broadened and 12 air-broadened, recorded using high- purity (greater than or equal to 99.5% C-12-enriched) CO samples and CO diluted with dry air(research grade) at different temperatures and pressures, were analyzed simultaneously to maximize the accuracy of the retrieved parameters. The sample temperatures ranged from 150 to 298K and the total pressures varied between 5 and 700 Torr. A multispectrum nonlinear least squares spectrum fitting technique was used to adjust the rovibrational constants (G, B, D, etc.) and intensity parameters (including Herman-Wallis coefficients), rather than determining individual line positions and intensities. Self-and air-broadened Lorentz half-width coefficients, their temperature dependence exponents, self- and air-pressure-induced shift coefficients, their temperature dependences, self- and air-line mixing coefficients, their temperature dependences and speed dependence have been retrieved from the analysis. Speed-dependent line shapes with line mixing employing off-diagonal relaxation matrix element formalism were needed to minimize the fit residuals. This study presents a precise and complete set of spectral line parameters that consistently reproduce the spectrum of carbon monoxide over terrestrial atmospheric conditions.

Devi, V. Malathy↗

Machine learning of superconducting critical temperature from Eliashberg theory

Abstract The Eliashberg theory of superconductivity accounts for the fundamental physics of conventional superconductors, including the retardation of the interaction and the Coulomb pseudopotential, to predict the critical temperature T c . McMillan, Allen, and Dynes derived approximate closed-form expressions for the critical temperature within this theory, which depends on the electron–phonon spectral function α 2 F ( ω ). Here we show that modern machine-learning techniques can substantially improve these formulae, accounting for more general shapes of the α 2 F function. Using symbolic regression and the SISSO framework, together with a database of artificially generated α 2 F functions and numerical solutions of the Eliashberg equations, we derive a formula for T c that performs as well as Allen–Dynes for low- T c superconductors and substantially better for higher- T c ones. This corrects the systematic underestimation of T c while reproducing the physical constraints originally outlined by Allen and Dynes. This equation should replace the Allen–Dynes formula for the prediction of higher-temperature superconductors.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Nanomechanical vibrational response from electrical mixing measurements

Driven nanomechanical resonators based on low-dimensional materials are routinely and efficiently detected with electrical mixing measurements. However, the measured signal is a non-trivial combination of the mechanical eigenmode displacement and an electrical contribution, which makes the extraction of the driven mechanical response challenging. Here, we report a simple yet reliable method to extract solely the driven mechanical vibrations by eliminating the contribution of pure electrical origin. This enables us to measure the spectral mechanical response as well as the driven quadratures of motion. This method is crucial for nanomechanical vibrations in the nonlinear regime, since the shape of the mechanical response depends on the physics at work. We further show how to calibrate the measured signal into units of displacement. Our method marks a key step forward in the study of nanoelectromechanical resonators based on low-dimensional materials in the nonlinear regime.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Turbulence measurements in the compressor exit flow of a General Electric CF6-50 engine

Ruggedized cooled film probes were used to measure CF6-50 compressor exit turbulence properties at three different engine idle condition test points. The turbulence probe was coupled to a constant temperature anemometer and signal conditioning system. An on-line readout system connected to the anemometer was used to check the data as it was acquired. At engine idle conditions, the turbulence intensity ranged from 4.8 percent to 5.6 percent and the length scale ranged from 5.64 cm to 6.95 cm. The length scale values are somewhat larger than the passage height at the measurement plane (5.54 cm), which indicates that the shape of the turbulent eddies are elongated in the axial direction. The microscale values range from about 0.73 cm to about 0.98 cm. Power spectral density distributions show that a large proportion of the turbulent energy at the measurement plane is concentrated at frequencies below one kilohertz.

Taylor, J. R.↗

Measurement and analysis of the far infrared absorption spectrum of the gaseous mixture H2-CH4

The collision-induced absorption of H2-CH4 mixtures was measured from 20 to 900/cm at 195 and 297 K. By subtracting the absorption due to H2-H2 and CH4-CH4 collisions from that of the mixture, the absorption due to H2-CH4 collisions was obtained. This spectrum was analyzed using the BC model line shape to provide a way of estimating the far-IR spectrum of H2-CH4 for various concentrations of H2 and CH4. Theoretical spectral moments were computed with different potential functions and compared with experimental values.

Birnbaum, George↗

Characterization of Ring Wave Spectra for Natural Rain: Measurements and Model for Remote Sensing Applications

Ring waves generated by natural rains from 1 to 100 mm/hr were measured in a small tank located in a field. Time series were obtained: (a) from a wire capacitance probe that measured surface elevation, (b) from an optical gauge that measured rain rates R, (c) from an anemometer that measured wind speeds and (d) from a 13.5 GHz scatterometer (w polarization, and 30 degree incidence angle). Ring wave frequency spectra are computed from the surface elevation data for each minute of rain. All the spectra have a similar shape, with a maximum near 5 Hz, and with a more rapid decay towards higher frequencies than towards lower frequencies. A log-Gaussian spectral model provides a useful representation of these data and analysis of the model coefficients shows that the peak frequency and bandwidth are approximately constant, but the magnitude increases as R increases, Additionally, the normalized radar cross section from the scatterometer varies approximately linearly with the spectral line corresponding to the Bragg-wavelength, so together the log-Gaussian ring wave model and the Bragg scattering theory should be useful for a broad range of applications. These findings can be used to help interpret remote sensing data during rain events and to guide model development for radar scattering from rain roughened seas.

Bliven, L.↗

Dynamical Correlations and Order in Magic-Angle Twisted Bilayer Graphene

The interplay of dynamical correlations and electronic ordering is pivotal in shaping phase diagrams of correlated quantum materials. In magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene, transport, thermodynamic, and spectroscopic experiments pinpoint a competition between distinct low-energy states with and without electronic order, as well as between localized and delocalized charge carriers. In this study, we utilize dynamical mean-field theory on the topological heavy fermion model of twisted bilayer graphene to investigate the emergence of electronic correlations and long-range order in the absence of strain. We contrast moment formation, Kondo screening, and ordering on a temperature basis and explain the nature of emergent correlated states based on three central phenomena: (i) the formation of local spin and valley isospin moments around 100 K, (ii) the ordering of the local isospin moments around 10 K preempting Kondo screening, and (iii) a cascadic redistribution of charge between localized and delocalized electronic states upon doping. At integer fillings, we find that low-energy spectral weight is depleted in the symmetric phase, while we find insulating states with gaps enhanced by exchange coupling in the zero-strain ordered phases. Doping away from integer filling results in distinct metallic states: a “bad metal” above the ordering temperature, where scattering off the disordered local moments suppresses electronic coherence, and a “good metal” in the ordered states with coherence of quasiparticles facilitated by isospin order. This finding reveals coherence from order as the microscopic mechanism behind the Pomeranchuk effect observed experimentally by Rozen [] and by Saito []. Upon doping, there is a periodic charge reshuffling between localized and delocalized electronic orbitals leading to cascades of doping-induced Lifshitz transitions, local spectral weight redistributions, and periodic variations of the electronic compressibility ranging from nearly incompressible to negative. Our findings highlight the essential role of charge transfer, hybridization, and ordering in shaping the electronic excitations and thermodynamic properties in twisted bilayer graphene and provide a unified understanding of the most puzzling aspects of scanning tunneling spectroscopy, transport, and compressibility experiments. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Physics↗

Grain size dependencies of intergranular solute segregation in nanocrystalline materials

Grain boundary segregation is of increasing importance for stabilizing nanocrystalline alloys, and while segregation is typically modeled as a scale-independent phenomenon, at the finest nanocrystalline grain sizes there are several sources of grain size dependence. Here we provide quantitative detail on two grain size dependencies not previously elaborated, both of which arise from the spectrality of intergranular segregation sites. The first of these arises because a change in grain size affects which portions of the segregation spectrum are occupied by the solutes, with no change in the shape or nature of the spectrum itself. The second of these arises from the presence of higher-order grain junctions, which have unique segregation behaviors and an increasing relative presence at finer grain sizes. This paper uses molecular statics to quantify these size dependencies in detail for the case of an Al(Mg) binary alloy. Together, these two effects combined have a significant effect on the effective McLean segregation energy of more than 6 kJ/mol (from approximately -18.5 kJ/mol at 5 nm to -12.5 kJ/mol at more than 40 nm), with the majority of grain size dependence arising from the spectrality of segregation sites.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Quantum control of exciton wave functions in 2D semiconductors

Excitons—bound electron-hole pairs—play a central role in light-matter interaction phenomena and are crucial for wide-ranging applications from light harvesting and generation to quantum information processing. A long-standing challenge in solid-state optics has been to achieve precise and scalable control over excitonic motion. We present a technique using nanostructured gate electrodes to create tailored potential landscapes for excitons in 2D semiconductors, enabling in situ wave function shaping at the nanoscale. Our approach forms electrostatic traps for excitons in various geometries, such as quantum dots, rings, and arrays thereof. We show independent spectral tuning of spatially separated quantum dots, achieving degeneracy despite material disorder. Owing to the strong light-matter coupling of excitons in 2D semiconductors, we observe unambiguous signatures of confined exciton wave functions in optical reflection and photoluminescence measurements. This work unlocks possibilities for engineering exciton dynamics and interactions at the nanometer scale, with implications for optoelectronic devices, topological photonics, and quantum nonlinear optics.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Efficient Low-Order Refined Preconditioners for High-Order Matrix-Free Continuous and Discontinuous Galerkin Methods

In this paper, we design preconditioners for the matrix-free solution of high-order continuous and discontinuous Galerkin discretizations of elliptic problems based on finite element method--spectral element method (FEM-SEM) equivalence and additive Schwarz methods. The high-order operators are applied without forming the system matrix, making use of sum factorization for efficient evaluation. The system is preconditioned using a spectrally equivalent low-order (p = 1) finite element operator discretization on a refined mesh. The low-order refined mesh is anisotropic and not shape regular in the polynomial degree of the high-order operator, requiring specialized solvers to treat the anisotropy. We make use of an element-structured, geometric multigrid V-cycle with ordered ILU(0) smoothing. The preconditioner is parallelized through an overlapping additive Schwarz method that is robust in h and p. The method is extended to interior penalty and Bassi and Rebay (BR2) discontinuous Galerkin discretizations, for which it is also robust in the size of the penalty parameter. Finally, numerical results are presented on a variety of examples, verifying the uniformity of the preconditioner.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

GRB 110213A: A Study of Afterglow Electromagnetic Cascade Radiation

We obtained well-sampled optical photometry of GRB 110213A, including Swift/UVOT and XRT. Combining our data from those of other ground-based telescopes, we present 15 optical multicolor light curves showing similar shapes with two peaks. In contrast, in the X-ray band, only a single peak is observed between the two optical peaks. Temporal and spectral analysis of GRB 110213A shows that the X-rays differ from the optical for Phases I–III (before the second peak of the optical band at ~5.6 ks). Moreover, they have the same spectral behavior at late times (Phases IV–VI). These data indicate that the optical and X-ray emission are dominated by different components. The synchrotron-supported pair cascade emission is included in the standard external forward-shock model, which is dominated by synchrotron radiation and synchrotron self-Compton (SSC). We find that the optical bands of GRB 110213A are dominated by the cascade emission from synchrotron radiation + SSC at the early stage, while the primary synchrotron + SSC radiation dominates the X-ray band. At late stages, both the X-ray and optical bands are dominated by emission from primary synchrotron + SSC radiation. The cascade component can reasonably explain the first optical peak. In contrast, the primary synchrotron + SSC emission mainly contributes to the second peak.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The Third Fermi Large Area Telescope Catalog of Gamma-Ray Pulsars

We present 294 pulsars found in GeV data from the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. Another 33 millisecond pulsars (MSPs) discovered in deep radio searches of LAT sources will likely reveal pulsations once phase-connected rotation ephemerides are achieved. A further dozen optical and/or X-ray binary systems colocated with LAT sources also likely harbor gamma-ray MSPs. This catalog thus reports roughly 340 gamma-ray pulsars and candidates, 10% of all known pulsars, compared to ≤11 known before Fermi. Half of the gamma-ray pulsars are young. Of these, the half that are undetected in radio have a broader Galactic latitude distribution than the young radio-loud pulsars. The others are MSPs, with six undetected in radio. Overall, ≥236 are bright enough above 50 MeV to fit the pulse profile, the energy spectrum, or both. For the common two-peaked profiles, the gamma-ray peak closest to the magnetic pole crossing generally has a softer spectrum. The spectral energy distributions tend to narrow as the spindown power $\dot{E}$ decreases to its observed minimum near 10 33 erg s -1 , approaching the shape for synchrotron radiation from monoenergetic electrons. We calculate gamma-ray luminosities when distances are available. Our all-sky gamma-ray sensitivity map is useful for population syntheses. The electronic catalog version provides gamma-ray pulsar ephemerides, properties, and fit results to guide and be compared with modeling results.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗