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At least 1,423 records · Page 79

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NASA NTRS1988

The violet and ultraviolet opacity problem for carbon stars

The paper considers the longstanding problem of the 'violet opacity' in cool carbon stars by testing, through synthetic spectra, many new and previously suggested opacity sources, based on currently available model atmospheres for carbon stars and M giant stars. While several bound-free edges of neutral metals are important opacity sources, those of Na I at at 2413 A, Mg I at 2514 A, and particularly Ca I at 2940 A are especially significant. Collectively, thousands of atomic lines are important, and the enormous line of Mg I at 2852 A influences the spectrum well into the visible. The pseudocontinuum of C3 and the photoionization continuum of CH both play noticeable but secondary roles. Synthetic spectra form the carbon star models with and without polyatomic molecules fit nicely the collected observations of the well-observed carbon star TX Psc.

Johnson, Hollis R.↗

DOE OSTI2014

Synthesis and luminescence properties of Eu{sup 3+} doped BaGd{sub 2}Ti{sub 4}O{sub 13} phosphors

Highlights: • Novel BaGd{sub 2}Ti{sub 4}O{sub 13} (BGT):Eu{sup 3+} phosphors were synthesized by a sol–gel method. • PL and CL spectra showed the dominant emissions due to {sup 5}D{sub 0} → {sup 7}F{sub 1}, {sup 7}F{sub 2} transitions. • These spectra showed the same CIE values which fall in the reddish-orange region. - Abstract: We synthesized the trivalent europium ions (Eu{sup 3+}) doped BaGd{sub 2}Ti{sub 4}O{sub 13} (BGT) phosphors by a sol–gel method and investigated their luminescence properties by varying the dopant concentration. The BGT host material showed the pure orthorhombic phase after annealing at 1350 °C for 40 h. The photoluminescence (PL) emission of BGT:Eu{sup 3+} phosphors exhibited {sup 5}D{sub 0} → {sup 7}F{sub J} {sub =} {sub 1,2,3,4} transitions, resulting in the reddish-orange color under 395 nm of excitation wavelength. From the PL results, an optimized doping concentration of Eu{sup 3+} ions was found to be at 8 mol%. The obtained cathodoluminescence spectra were similar to the PL spectra. The BGT:Eu{sup 3+} phosphors can help to emit a natural white light for near-ultraviolet and visible excitation wavelengths based white light-emitting diodes.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2016

Studies on optical properties of Si220 nanoclusters via time-dependent density functional theory calculations

The optical properties of bare and hydrogen passivated Si220 nanoclusters(NCs) in four typical motifs(i.e., bulk-like, onion-like, bucky-diamond and icosahedral motifs) were studied via time-dependent density functional theory(TD-DFT) calculations. The calculation results show that there is a significant blue shift in the optical absorption spectra when the Si NCs are passivated with hydrogen. A strong absorption peak in the visible light region appears for the hydrogenated bulk-like, onion-like and bucky-diamond Si NCs.

Yang, Wenhua↗

DOE OSTI2024

Electronic, direct optical, and phonon-assisted optical properties of 4H Si from first principles

The cubic polytype of silicon (Si) is the most commercialized semiconductor material and finds applications in numerous electronic and optoelectronic devices, such as solar cells. However, recent reports on the synthesis of the hexagonal 4H Si polytype have attracted the attention of the scientific community to understand its functional properties. Here, we report the electronic, vibrational, and optical properties of the 4H Si polytype obtained with predictive first-principles calculations, with an emphasis of phonon-assisted absorption in the indirect regime. Compared to the cubic polytype, 4H Si shows a slightly narrower indirect gap by ∼0.05 eV. The calculated phonon-assisted optical spectra show that 4H Si exhibits a stronger absorption coefficient than cubic Si across the visible and IR spectral regions. We further evaluate the short-circuit current density of textured thin-films. We demonstrate that 4H Si can achieve the same short-circuit current density for a five times thinner film compared to the cubic polytype, which mainly resulted from absorption in the indirect gap regime. Our work demonstrates the advantages of 4H Si for thin-film silicon-based solar-cell applications.

Materials Science↗

DOE OSTI2016

MOLECULAR GAS VELOCITY DISPERSIONS IN THE ANDROMEDA GALAXY

In order to characterize the distribution of molecular gas in spiral galaxies, we study the line profiles of CO (1 – 0) emission in Andromeda, our nearest massive spiral galaxy. We compare observations performed with the IRAM 30 m single-dish telescope and with the CARMA interferometer at a common resolution of 23 arcsec ≈ 85 pc × 350 pc and 2.5 km s{sup −1}. When fitting a single Gaussian component to individual spectra, the line profile of the single dish data is a factor of 1.5 ± 0.4 larger than the interferometric data one. This ratio in line widths is surprisingly similar to the ratios previously observed in two other nearby spirals, NGC 4736 and NGC 5055, but measured at ∼0.5–1 kpc spatial scale. In order to study the origin of the different line widths, we stack the individual spectra in five bins of increasing peak intensity and fit two Gaussian components to the stacked spectra. We find a unique narrow component of FWHM = 7.5 ± 0.4 km s{sup −1} visible in both the single dish and the interferometric data. In addition, a broad component with FWHM = 14.4 ± 1.5 km s{sup −1} is present in the single-dish data, but cannot be identified in the interferometric data. We interpret this additional broad line width component detected by the single dish as a low brightness molecular gas component that is extended on spatial scales >0.5 kpc, and thus filtered out by the interferometer. We search for evidence of line broadening by stellar feedback across a range of star formation rates but find no such evidence on ∼100 pc spatial scale when characterizing the line profile by a single Gaussian component.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2020

The Intrinsic Scatter of the Broad Lines–Narrow Line Correlation in Type I AGN

A correlation between the FWHM of the broad Balmer lines and the narrow [O iii]/H{sub β} line ratio was recently applied to the black hole (BH) mass estimation in type II active galactic nuclei (AGN), where only the narrow lines are visible to the observer. The correlation was initially quantified with type I AGN using stacked spectra, in groups automatically created using a machine-learning algorithm. Such an analysis does not provide information about the intrinsic scatter of the correlation. In addition, it does not necessarily reproduce the true underlying correlation, for example, due to the stacking of spectra with different properties. Testing these two issues requires measurements of individual objects. In this work, we perform such a test by fitting the broad and narrow lines for 8302 type I AGN from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Due to the difficulty in reliably measuring the narrow Balmer lines in such objects, which are, in many cases, a small contribution on top of the broad lines, we visually inspect all of the fits and identify 1561 objects with robust measurements. Using these measurements, we find that while a correlation does exist, it shows a large scatter and is not well described by a linear relation. This should be taken into account when using the broad H{sub β} FWHM versus narrow [O iii]/H{sub β} correlation for type II AGN BH mass estimation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS1971

Simple spectroscope used with solid state image amplifier over wide spectral range

Prism plus image amplifier panel provides visual image of many infrared spectral lines from carbon arc impregnated with metal compound. Different metal compounds generate various desired spectra. Panel also aligns and focuses simple spectroscopes for detecting spectral lines inside and outside visible region.

Brown, R. L., Sr.↗

NASA NTRS2007

GIFTS SM EDU Radiometric and Spectral Calibrations

Tian, J.↗

NASA NTRS2007

GIFTS SM EDU Data Processing and Algorithms

The Geosynchronous Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (GIFTS) Sensor Module (SM) Engineering Demonstration Unit (EDU) is a high resolution spectral imager designed to measure infrared (IR) radiances using a Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS). The GIFTS instrument employs three Focal Plane Arrays (FPAs), which gather measurements across the long-wave IR (LWIR), short/mid-wave IR (SMWIR), and visible spectral bands. The raw interferogram measurements are radiometrically and spectrally calibrated to produce radiance spectra, which are further processed to obtain atmospheric profiles via retrieval algorithms. This paper describes the processing algorithms involved in the calibration stage. The calibration procedures can be subdivided into three stages. In the pre-calibration stage, a phase correction algorithm is applied to the decimated and filtered complex interferogram. The resulting imaginary part of the spectrum contains only the noise component of the uncorrected spectrum. Additional random noise reduction can be accomplished by applying a spectral smoothing routine to the phase-corrected blackbody reference spectra. In the radiometric calibration stage, we first compute the spectral responsivity based on the previous results, from which, the calibrated ambient blackbody (ABB), hot blackbody (HBB), and scene spectra can be obtained. During the post-processing stage, we estimate the noise equivalent spectral radiance (NESR) from the calibrated ABB and HBB spectra. We then implement a correction scheme that compensates for the effect of fore-optics offsets. Finally, for off-axis pixels, the FPA off-axis effects correction is performed. To estimate the performance of the entire FPA, we developed an efficient method of generating pixel performance assessments. In addition, a random pixel selection scheme is designed based on the pixel performance evaluation.

Tian, Jialin↗

NASA NTRS2007

GIFTS SM EDU Level 1B Algorithms

The Geosynchronous Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (GIFTS) SensorModule (SM) Engineering Demonstration Unit (EDU) is a high resolution spectral imager designed to measure infrared (IR) radiances using a Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS). The GIFTS instrument employs three focal plane arrays (FPAs), which gather measurements across the long-wave IR (LWIR), short/mid-wave IR (SMWIR), and visible spectral bands. The raw interferogram measurements are radiometrically and spectrally calibrated to produce radiance spectra, which are further processed to obtain atmospheric profiles via retrieval algorithms. This paper describes the GIFTS SM EDU Level 1B algorithms involved in the calibration. The GIFTS Level 1B calibration procedures can be subdivided into four blocks. In the first block, the measured raw interferograms are first corrected for the detector nonlinearity distortion, followed by the complex filtering and decimation procedure. In the second block, a phase correction algorithm is applied to the filtered and decimated complex interferograms. The resulting imaginary part of the spectrum contains only the noise component of the uncorrected spectrum. Additional random noise reduction can be accomplished by applying a spectral smoothing routine to the phase-corrected spectrum. The phase correction and spectral smoothing operations are performed on a set of interferogram scans for both ambient and hot blackbody references. To continue with the calibration, we compute the spectral responsivity based on the previous results, from which, the calibrated ambient blackbody (ABB), hot blackbody (HBB), and scene spectra can be obtained. We now can estimate the noise equivalent spectral radiance (NESR) from the calibrated ABB and HBB spectra. The correction schemes that compensate for the fore-optics offsets and off-axis effects are also implemented. In the third block, we developed an efficient method of generating pixel performance assessments. In addition, a random pixel selection scheme is designed based on the pixel performance evaluation. Finally, in the fourth block, the single pixel algorithms are applied to the entire FPA.

Tian, Jialin↗

NASA NTRS2007

Digital Signal Processing Techniques for the GIFTS SM EDU

The Geosynchronous Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (GIFTS) Sensor Module (SM) Engineering Demonstration Unit (EDU) is a high resolution spectral imager designed to measure infrared (IR) radiance using a Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS). The GIFTS instrument employs three Focal Plane Arrays (FPAs), which gather measurements across the long-wave IR (LWIR), short/mid-wave IR (SMWIR), and visible spectral bands. The raw interferogram measurements are radiometrically and spectrally calibrated to produce radiance spectra, which are further processed to obtain atmospheric profiles via retrieval algorithms. This paper describes several digital signal processing (DSP) techniques involved in the development of the calibration model. In the first stage, the measured raw interferograms must undergo a series of processing steps that include filtering, decimation, and detector nonlinearity correction. The digital filtering is achieved by employing a linear-phase even-length FIR complex filter that is designed based on the optimum equiripple criteria. Next, the detector nonlinearity effect is compensated for using a set of pre-determined detector response characteristics. In the next stage, a phase correction algorithm is applied to the decimated interferograms. This is accomplished by first estimating the phase function from the spectral phase response of the windowed interferogram, and then correcting the entire interferogram based on the estimated phase function. In the calibration stage, we first compute the spectral responsivity based on the previous results and the ideal Planck blackbody spectra at the given temperatures, from which, the calibrated ambient blackbody (ABB), hot blackbody (HBB), and scene spectra can be obtained. In the post-calibration stage, we estimate the Noise Equivalent Spectral Radiance (NESR) from the calibrated ABB and HBB spectra. The NESR is generally considered as a measure of the instrument noise performance, and can be estimated as the standard deviation of calibrated radiance spectra from multiple scans. To obtain an estimate of the FPA performance, we developed an efficient method of generating pixel performance assessments. In addition, a random pixel selection scheme is developed based on the pixel performance evaluation. This would allow us to perform the calibration procedures on a random pixel population that is a good statistical representation of the entire FPA. The design and implementation of each individual component will be discussed in details.

Tian, Jialin↗

NASA NTRS2014

Spectroscopy of Pluto, 380-930 Nm at Six Longitudes

We have obtained spectra of the Pluto-Charon pair (unresolved) in the wavelength range 380-930 nm with resolution approx..450 at six roughly equally spaced longitudes. The data were taken in May and June, 2014, with the 4.2-m Isaac Newton Telescope at Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory in the Canary Islands, using the ACAM (auxiliary-port camera) in spectrometer mode, and using two solar analog stars. The new spectra clearly show absorption bands of solid CH4 at 620, 728, and 850-910 nm, which were known from earlier work. The 620-nm CH4 band is intrinsically very weak, and its appearance indicates a long optical path-length through the ice. This is especially true if it arises from CH4 dissolved in N2 ice. Earlier work (Owen et al. Science 261, 745, 1993) on the near-infrared spectrum of Pluto (1-2.5 microns) has shown that the CH4 bands are shifted to shorter wavelengths because the CH4 occurs as a solute in beta-phase crystalline N2. The optical path-length through the N2 crystals must be on the order of several cm to produce the N2 band observed at 2.15 microns. The new spectra exhibit a pronounced red slope across the entire wavelength range; the slope is variable with longitude, and differs in a small but significant way from that measured at comparable longitudes by Grundy & Fink (Icarus 124, 329, 1996) in their 15-year study of Pluto's spectrum (500-1000 nm). The new spectra will provide an independent means for calibrating the color filter bands on the Multispectral Visible Imaging Camera (MVIC) (Reuter et al. Space Sci. Rev. 140, 129, 2008) on the New Horizons spacecraft, which will encounter the Pluto-Charon system in mid-2015. They will also form the basis of modeling the spectrum of Pluto at different longitudes to help establish the nature of the non-ice component(s) of Pluto's surface. It is presumed that the non-ice component is the source of the yellow-red coloration of Pluto, which is known to be variable across the surface.

Spectroscopy↗

NASA NTRS2017

Single Object & Time Series Spectroscopy with JWST NIRCam

JWST will enable high signal-to-noise spectroscopic observations of the atmospheres of transiting planets with high sensitivity at wavelengths that are inaccessible with HST or other existing facilities. We plan to exploit this by measuring abundances, chemical compositions, cloud properties, and temperature-pressure parameters of a set of mostly warm (T 600 - 1200 K) and low mass (14 -200 Earth mass) planets in our guaranteed time program. These planets are expected to have significant molecular absorptions of H2O, CH4, CO2, CO, and other molecules that are key for determining these parameters and illuminating how and where the planets formed. We describe how we will use the NIRCam grisms to observe slitless transmission and emission spectra of these planets over 2.4 - 5.0 microns wavelength and how well these observations can measure our desired parameters. This will include how we set integration times, exposure parameters, and obtain simultaneous shorter wavelength images to track telescope pointing and stellar variability. We will illustrate this with specific examples showing model spectra, simulated observations, expected information retrieval results, completed Astronomer's Proposal Tools observing templates, target visibility, and other considerations.

NIRCam↗

NASA NTRS2012

Near-Infrared (NIR) Raman Spectroscopy of Precambrian Carbonate Stromatolites with Post-Depositional Organic Inclusions

Raman spectroscopy has promising potential for future Mars missions as a non-contact detection technique for characterizing organic material and mineralogy. Such a capability will be useful for selecting samples for detailed analysis on a rover and for selecting samples for return to Earth. Stromatolites are important evidence for the earliest life on Earth and are promising targets for Mars investigations. Although constructed by microorganisms, stromatolites are organo-sedimentary structures that can be large enough to be discovered and investigated by a Mars rover. In this paper, we report the Raman spectroscopic investigations of the carbonate mineralogy and organic layering in a Precambrian (;1.5 Gyr old) stromatolite from the Crystal Spring Formation of Southern California. Ultraviolet (UV: 266 nm), visible (514 nm, 633 nm), and near-infrared (NIR: 785 nm, 1064 nm) Raman spectra are presented. We conclude that 1064 nm excitation is the optimal excitation wavelength for avoiding intrinsic fluorescence and detecting organic carbon within the carbonate matrix. Our results confirm that NIR Raman spectroscopy has important applications for future Mars missions.

Tanaka, Zuki↗

NASA NTRS1990

High-Resolution Imaging Spectrometer

Earth resources observed in greater detail. High-Resolution Imaging Spectrometer, undergoing development for use in NASA's Earth Observing System, measures reflectance of Earth's surface in visible and near-infrared wavelengths. From an orbit around Earth, instrument scans surface of Earth in 200 wavelength bands simultaneously. Produces images enabling identification of minerals in rocks and soils, important algal pigments in oceans and inland waters, changes in spectra associated with biochemistry of plant canopies, compositions of atmospheric aerosols, sizes of grains in snow, and contamination of snow by impurities that absorb visible light.

Dozier, Jeff↗

DOE OSTI2013

THE SECOND ULTRALUMINOUS X-RAY SOURCE TRANSIENT IN M31: CHANDRA, HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE, AND XMM OBSERVATIONS, AND EVIDENCE FOR AN EXTENDED CORONA

XMMU J004243.6+412519 is a transient X-ray source in M31, first discovered 2012 January 15. Different approaches to fitting the brightest follow-up observation gave luminosities 1.3-2.5 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 39} erg s{sup -1}, making it the second ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) in M31, with a probable black hole accretor. These different models represent different scenarios for the corona: optically thick and compact, or optically thin and extended. We obtained Chandra ACIS and Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys observations of this object as part of our transient monitoring program, and also observed it serendipitously in a 120 ks XMM-Newton observation. We identify an optical counterpart at J2000 position 00:42:43.70 +41:25:18.54; its F435W ({approx}B band) magnitude was 25.97 {+-} 0.03 in the 2012 March 7 observation, and >28.4 at the 4{sigma} level during the 2012 September 7 observation, indicating a low-mass donor. We created two alternative light curves, using the different corona scenarios, finding linear decay for the compact corona and exponential decay for the extended corona; linear decay implies a disk that is >5 mag brighter than we observed. We therefore favor the extended corona scenario, but caution that there is no statistical preference for this model in the X-ray spectra alone. Using two empirical relations between the X-ray to optical ratio and the orbital period, we estimate a period of {approx}9-30 hr; this period is consistent with that of the first ULX in M31 (18{sup +5}{sub -6} hr)

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2019

Influence of bath temperatures on physical and electrical properties of potentiostatically deposited Cu{sub 2}O thin films for heterojunction solar cell applications

In the present work, the influence of bath temperatures on structural, morphological, vibrational, optical, electrical and photo response properties of the electrochemically deposited cuprous oxide (Cu{sub 2}O) thin films on fluorine doped tin oxide substrate is extensively investigated with the help of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Micro Raman spectroscopy, photo luminescence (PL) spectroscopy, UV–visible spectroscopy, LCR measurement, Keithley 4200 semiconductor characterization system respectively. XRD patterns reveal that the deposited Cu{sub 2}O films have cubic structure grown along the preferential (111) orientation and the film deposited at 40 °C shows better crystalline nature when compared at 55 and 70 °C. The micro structural properties of films such as crystallite size (D), dislocation density (δ), micro strain (ε) and stacking fault probability (α) were calculated and discussed in detail. SEM displays a well-defined three side pyramid shaped morphology for the film deposited at 40 °C. Micro Raman and PL spectra reveal the film deposited at 40 °C by being better crystalline at a higher acceptor concentration. UV–Visible study shows that the optical energy band gap increases from 2.05 to 2.17 eV with an increase in bath temperature from 40 to 70 °C. The frequency-temperature dependence of impedance analysis shows a higher electrical conductivity for a film deposited at 40 °C compared to other bath temperatures. I-V measurement illustrates a good photoconductivity response for Cu{sub 2}O thin film deposited at 40 °C compared to films deposited at 55 and 70 °C.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2014

Estimating stellar radial velocity variability from Kepler and GALEX: Implications for the radial velocity confirmation of exoplanets

We cross match the GALEX and Kepler surveys to create a unique dataset with both ultraviolet (UV) measurements and highly precise photometric variability measurements in the visible light spectrum. As stellar activity is driven by magnetic field modulations, we have used UV emission from the magnetically heated gas in the stellar atmosphere to serve as our proxy for the more well-known stellar activity indicator, R' {sub HK}. The R' {sub HK} approximations were in turn used to estimate the level of astrophysical noise expected in radial velocity (RV) measurements and these were then searched for correlations with photometric variability. We find significant scatter in our attempts to estimate RV noise for magnetically active stars, which we attribute to variations in the phase and strength of the stellar magnetic cycle that drives the activity of these targets. However, for stars we deem to be magnetically quiet, we do find a clear correlation between photometric variability and estimated levels of RV noise (with variability up to ∼10 m s{sup –1}). We conclude that for these quiet stars, we can use photometric measurements as a proxy to estimate the RV noise expected. As a result, the procedure outlined in this paper may help select targets best-suited for RV follow-up necessary for planet confirmation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗