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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 1,279 records · Page 71
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2014

Clouds on the hot Jupiter HD189733b: Constraints from the reflection spectrum

The hot Jupiter HD 189733b is probably the best studied of the known extrasolar planets, with published transit and eclipse spectra covering the near UV to mid-IR range. Recent work on the transmission spectrum has shown clear evidence for the presence of clouds in its atmosphere, which significantly increases the model atmosphere parameter space that must be explored in order to fully characterize this planet. In this work, we apply the NEMESIS atmospheric retrieval code to the recently published HST/STIS reflection spectrum, and also to the dayside thermal emission spectrum in light of new Spitzer/IRAC measurements, as well as our own re-analysis of the HST/NICMOS data. We first use the STIS data to place some constraints on the nature of clouds on HD 189733b and explore solution degeneracy between different cloud properties and the abundance of Na in the atmosphere; as already noted in previous work, absorption due to Na plays a significant role in determining the shape of the reflection spectrum. We then perform a new retrieval of the temperature profile and abundances of H{sub 2}O, CO{sub 2}, CO, and CH{sub 4} from the dayside thermal emission spectrum. Finally, we investigate the effect of including cloud in the model on this retrieval process. We find that the current quality of data does not warrant the extra complexity introduced by including cloud in the model; however, future data are likely to be of sufficient resolution and signal-to-noise that a more complete model, including scattering particles, will be required.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

X-ray reflection spectroscopy of the black hole GX 339–4: Exploring the hard state with unprecedented sensitivity

We analyze simultaneously six composite RXTE spectra of GX 339–4 in the hard state comprising 77 million counts collected over 196 ks. The source spectra are ordered by luminosity and span the range 1.6%–17% of the Eddington luminosity. Crucially, using our new tool pcacorr, we re-calibrate the data to a precision of 0.1%, an order of magnitude improvement over all earlier work. Using our advanced reflection model relxill, we target the strong features in the component of emission reflected from the disk, namely, the relativistically broadened Fe K emission line, the Fe K edge, and the Compton hump. We report results for two joint fits to the six spectra: For the first fit, we fix the spin parameter to its maximal value (a{sub *} = 0.998) and allow the inner disk radius R{sub in} to vary. Results include (i) precise measurements of R{sub in}, with evidence that the disk becomes slightly truncated at a few percent of Eddington and (ii) an order-of-magnitude swing with luminosity in the high energy cutoff, which reaches >890 keV at our lowest luminosity. For the second fit, we make the standard assumption in estimating spin that the inner edge of the accretion disk is located at the innermost stable circular orbit (R{sub in} = R{sub ISCO}) and find a{sub ∗}=0.95{sub −0.05}{sup +0.03} (90% confidence, statistical). For both fits, and at the same level of statistical confidence, we estimate that the disk inclination is i = 48° ± 1° and that the Fe abundance is super-solar, A{sub Fe} = 5 ± 1.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

NuSTAR REVEALS RELATIVISTIC REFLECTION BUT NO ULTRA-FAST OUTFLOW IN THE QUASAR PG 1211+143

We report on four epochs of observations of the quasar PG 1211+143 using NuSTAR. The net exposure time is 300 ks. Prior work on this source found suggestive evidence of an ultra-fast outflow (UFO) in the Fe K band with a velocity of approximately 0.1c. The putative flow would carry away a high-mass flux and kinetic power, with broad implications for feedback and black hole--galaxy co-evolution. NuSTAR detects PG 1211+143 out to 30 keV, meaning that the continuum is well-defined both through and above the Fe K band. A characteristic relativistic disk reflection spectrum is clearly revealed via a broad Fe K emission line and Compton back-scattering curvature. The data offer only weak constraints on the spin of the black hole. A careful search for UFOs shows no significant absorption feature above 90% confidence. The limits are particularly tight when relativistic reflection is included. We discuss the statistics and the implications of these results in terms of connections between accretion onto quasars, Seyferts, and stellar-mass black holes, and feedback into their host environments.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Detection of the Metabolic Response to Drought Stress Using Hyperspectral Reflectance

Drought is the most important limitation on crop yield. Understanding and detecting drought stress in crops is vital for improving water use efficiency through effective breeding and management. Leaf reflectance spectroscopy offers a rapid, non-destructive alternative to traditional techniques for measuring plant traits involved in a drought response. We measured drought stress in six glasshouse-grown agronomic species using physiological, biochemical and spectral data. In contrast to physiological traits, leaf metabolite concentrations revealed drought stress before it was visible to the naked eye. We used full-spectrum leaf reflectance data to predict metabolite concentrations using partial least-squares regression, with validation R2 values of 0.49 to 0.87. We show for the first time that spectroscopy may be used for the quantitative estimation of proline and abscisic acid, demonstrating the first use of hyperspectral data to detect a phytohormone. We used linear discriminant analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis to differentiate between droughted and watered plants based on measured traits (accuracy: 71%) and raw spectral data (66%). Finally, we validated our glasshouse-developed models in an independent field trial. We demonstrate that spectroscopy can detect drought stress via underlying biochemical changes, before visual differences occur, representing a powerful advance for measuring limitations on yield.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

Hyperspectral reflectance as a tool to measure biochemical and physiological traits in wheat

Improving photosynthesis to raise wheat yield potential has emerged as a major target for wheat physiologists. Photosynthesis-related traits, such as nitrogen per unit leaf area (N area ) and leaf dry mass per area (LMA), require laborious, destructive, laboratory-based methods, while physiological traits underpinning photosynthetic capacity, such as maximum Rubisco activity normalized to 25 °C (V cmax25 ) and electron transport rate (J), require time-consuming gas exchange measurements. The aim of this study was to assess whether hyperspectral reflectance (350–2500 nm) can be used to rapidly estimate these traits on intact wheat leaves. Predictive models were constructed using gas exchange and hyperspectral reflectance data from 76 genotypes grown in glasshouses with different nitrogen levels and/or in the field under yield potential conditions. Models were developed using half of the observed data with the remainder used for validation, yielding correlation coefficients (R 2 values) of 0.62 for V cmax25 , 0.7 for J, 0.81 for SPAD, 0.89 for LMA, and 0.93 for N area , with bias <0.7%. The models were tested on elite lines and landraces that had not been used to create the models. The bias varied between -2.3% and -5.5% while relative error of prediction was similar for SPAD but slightly greater for LMA and N area .

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Andreev Reflection and Klein Tunneling in High-Temperature Superconductor-Graphene Junctions

Scattering processes in quantum materials emerge as resonances in electronic transport, including confined modes, Andreev states, and Yu-Shiba-Rusinov states. However, in most instances, these resonances are driven by a single scattering mechanism. Here, in this paper, we show the appearance of resonances due to the combination of two simultaneous scattering mechanisms, one from superconductivity and the other from graphene p-n junctions. These resonances stem from Andreev reflection and Klein tunneling that occur at two different interfaces of a hole-doped region of graphene formed at the boundary with superconducting graphene due to proximity effects from Bi 2 Sr 2 Ca 1 Cu 2 O 8+δ . The resonances persist with gating from p + -p and p-n configurations. The suppression of the oscillation amplitude above the bias energy which is comparable to the induced superconducting gap indicates the contribution from Andreev reflection. Our experimental measurements are supported by quantum transport calculations in such interfaces, leading to analogous resonances. Our results put forward a hybrid scattering mechanism in graphene–high-temperature superconductor heterojunctions of potential impact for graphene-based Josephson junctions.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

The effect of longer-range waviness on X-ray reflectivity measurements

A model for calculating the X-ray reflectivity (XRR) of surfaces to extract both roughness and waviness features is presented. Expressions of reflectivity intensity are derived as a function of root-mean-square (RMS) roughness σ, RMS waviness σ L , and the cut-off frequency between the features ω 0 . Experiments were conducted at the Advanced Light Source at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, beamline 8.3.2, on BK7 glass manufactured with a multi-step polishing process to validate the model, and were compared with atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fizeau interferometry and surface profilometry measurements. Here, the parameter results and their deviations for XRR measurements were σ = 2.9 ± 0.2 nm and σ L = 14.6 ± 0.5 nm with a wavelength cut-off of 1/(18 ± 2) µm –1 , while the results from the AFM, Fizeau and profilometry measurements were σ AFM = 3.4 ± 0.4 nm, σ L,Fizeau = 21.6 nm, σ prof = 4.0 ± 0.1 nm, and σ L,prof = 21.4 ± 0.1 nm with cut-offs for the profilometry and Fizeau measurements limited to frequencies of (1/16) µm –1 to (1/4) mm –1 .

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2018

Optical Evaluation of PERC Cell Reflectance for Thermal Management

We discuss optical modeling of aluminum back surface field (Al-BSF) and passivated emitter rear contact (PERC) solar cells extending into the infrared wavelength range. Total reflectance of pyramidical textured cells with and without encapsulation is simulated. This approach focusing on the encapsulated and bare cell reflectance serve as input for evaluating thermal management strategies for solar cells.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Low temperature hydrogen plasma-assisted atomic layer deposition of copper studied using in situ infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is an ideal technique to deposit ultrathin, conformal, and continuous metal thin films. However, compared to the ALD of binary materials such as metal oxides and metal nitrides, the surface reaction mechanisms during metal ALD are not well understood. In this study, the authors have designed and implemented an in situ reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy (IRAS) setup to study the surface reactions during the ALD of Cu on Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} using Cu hexafluoroacetylacetonate [Cu(hfac){sub 2}] and a remote H{sub 2} plasma. Our infrared data show that complete ligand-exchange reactions occur at a substrate temperature of 80 °C in the absence of surface hydroxyl groups. Based on infrared data and previous studies, the authors propose that Cu(hfac){sub 2} dissociatively chemisorbs on the Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} surface, where the Al-O-Al bridge acts as the surface reactive site, leading to surface O-Cu-hfac and O-Al-hfac species. Surface saturation during the Cu(hfac){sub 2} half-cycle occurs through blocking of the available chemisorption sites. In the next half-reaction cycle, H radicals from an H{sub 2} plasma completely remove these surface hfac ligands. Through this study, the authors have demonstrated the capability of in situ IRAS as a tool to study surface reactions during ALD of metals. While transmission and internal reflection infrared spectroscopy are limited to the first few ALD cycles, IRAS can be used to probe all stages of metal ALD starting from initial nucleation to the formation of a continuous film.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

High resolution depth profiling using near-total-reflection hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

By adjusting the incidence angle of incoming x rays near the critical angle of x-ray total reflection, photoelectron intensity is strongly modulated due to the variation of x-ray penetration depth. Photoelectron spectroscopy combined with near-total reflection exhibits tunable surface sensitivity, providing depth-resolved information. In this Review, we first describe the experimental setup and specific data analysis process. We then review three different examples that show the broad application of this method. Furthermore, the emphasis is on its applications correlated to oxide heterostructures, especially quantitative depth analyses of compositions and electronic states. In the last part, we discuss the limitations of this technique, mostly in terms of the range of samples that can be studied.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Development of a broadband reflective phase retarder to generate circularly polarized light for MTW-OPAL and multipetawatt lasers

Here, our research focuses on designing metallic coatings to create broadband all-reflective phase retarders that generate circularly polarized (CP) light for the MTW-OPAL Laser System while ensuring the desired polarization state on the target. This all-reflective phase retarder can function as a phase retarder when used in an out-of-plane configuration, whereas it acts as a normal mirror set in an in-plane configuration. If the polarization of the beam is not purely s- or p-polarized, however, mirrors will in general introduce retardance, and therefore compensators or polarization-independent mirror pairs are needed to ensure the desired polarization at the target plane.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2017

New regions of diffraction reflection in apodized one-dimensional photonic crystals with a large modulation depth

Particular features of the band structure of one-dimensional apodized photonic crystals based on metamaterials are studied in the case in which the medium is simultaneously inhomogeneous with respect to both the dielectric and the magnetic properties. It is shown that in the case of oblique incidence of light at large values of the modulation depth, a new region of diffraction reflection appears. This new region of diffraction reflection is also observed at magnetic permeability μ = const = 1. The particular features of the absorption and localization of light in these structures are examined.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2013

Decay of photoinduced oscillations of the optical reflection coefficient of bismuth

A model describing the decay of photoinduced oscillations of the optical reflection coefficient R of bismuth is constructed, taking the crystal lattice anharmonicity into account. The decay time of oscillations of R is calculated as a function of the energy density of a laser pulse. The results of calculations explain the experimental data on the anomalously strong decay of oscillations of the optical reflection coefficient of bismuth (the decay time decreases by more than an order of magnitude with an increase in the laser pulse energy density from 0 to 4 mJ/cm{sup 2})

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2014

Superfluid {sup 3}He, a two-fluid system, with the normal-fluid dynamics dominated by Andreev reflection

As a specific offering towards his festschrift, we present a review the various properties of the excitation gas in superfluid {sup 3}He, which depend on Andreev reflection. This phenomenon dominates many of the properties of the normal fluid, especially at the lowest temperatures. We outline the ideas behind this dominance and describe a sample of the many experiments in this system which the operation of Andreev reflection has made possible, from temperature measurement, particle detection, vortex imaging to cosmological analogues.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

Nonspecular reflection of light at an inhomogeneous interface between two media and in a nanostructured layer with a quasi-zero refractive index

We have derived formulas for the amplitudes of light reflection and refraction at an inhomogeneous interface between two media and in a nanostructured layer with a quasi-zero refractive index. These formulas are applied to explain the experimental spectra of nonspecular light reflection using a nanostructured (PMMA + Ag) layer with silver nanoparticles on a silicon surface as an example. We show that a surface wave is formed in the nanostructured layer at various angles of light incidence and the layer with a quasi-zero refractive index is an antireflection coating that provides uniform 5% silicon antireflection in the wavelength range from 450 to 1000 nm.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Collapse and revival of photoinduced oscillations in the optical reflectivity of bismuth

The average optical reflectivity of bismuth as a function of time t after irradiation by a short laser pulse has been calculated. The amplitude A of photoinduced oscillations in the average optical reflectivity is shown to have extrema under certain conditions. The time τ{sub j} (j is a natural number) at which the amplitude A reaches the jth extremum has been calculated. The calculated dependences of the times τ{sub 1} and τ{sub 2} at which, respectively, the first and second extrema (the first minimum and the first maximum) of the amplitude A are reached on the maximum laser pulse energy density Q are consistent with the experimental data from.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2013

Reflection of electromagnetic radiation from plasma with an anisotropic electron velocity distribution

The reflection of a test electromagnetic pulse from the plasma formed as a result of tunnel ionization of atoms in the field of a circularly polarized high-power radiation pulse is analyzed using the kinetic approach to describe electron motion. It is shown that the reflected pulse is significantly amplified due to the development of Weibel instability. The amplification efficiency is determined by the maximum value of the instability growth rate, which depends on the degree of anisotropy of the photoelectron distribution function.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Determination of the coefficient of reflection of metastable argon atoms from the discharge tube wall

Radial profiles of the density of metastable atoms Ar({sup 3}P{sub 2}) in the positive column of a dc glow discharge in argon were measured. Gas-discharge glass tubes with clean inner surfaces and surfaces covered with a carbonitride or carbon film were utilized. The parameters of the discharge plasma under experimental conditions were calculated in the framework of a one-dimensional (along the tube radius) discharge model. The coefficient K of reflection of Ar({sup 3}P{sub 2}) atoms from the tube wall was estimated by comparing the measured and calculated density profiles. It is found that, for a clean tube wall, the coefficient of reflection is K = 0.4 ± 0.2, whereas for a wall covered with a carbonitride or carbon film, it is K < 0.2.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗