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At least 163 records · Page 9

Peripherally hydrogenated neutral polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as carriers of the 3 micron interstellar infrared emission complex: results from single-photon infrared emission spectroscopy

Infrared emission spectra of five gas-phase UV laser-excited polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) containing aliphatic hydrogens are compared with the main 3.3 microns and associated interstellar unidentified infrared emission bands (UIRs). We show that neutral PAHs can account for the majority of the 3 microns emission complex while making little contribution to the other UIR bands; peripherally hydrogenated PAHs produce a better match to astrophysical data than do those containing methyl side groups; 3.4 microns plateau emission is shown to be a general spectral feature of vibrationally excited PAHs containing aliphatic hydrogens, especially those containing methyl groups; and finally, hot-band and overtone emissions arising from aromatic C-H vibrations are not observed in laboratory emission spectra, and therefore, in contrast to current assignments, are not expected to be observed in the UIRs.

NASA Discipline Exobiology↗

Infrared Spectroscopic Analyses of Sulfate, Nitrate, and Carbonate-bearing Atacama Desert Soils: Analogs for the Interpretation of Infrared Spectra from the Martian Surface

The Atacama Desert of northern Chile is the driest desert on Earth, receiving only a few mm of rain per decade. The Mars climate may, in the past, have been punctuated by short-lived episodes of aqueous activity. The paleo-Martian environment may have had aqueous conditions similar to the current conditions that exist in the Atacama, and Mars soils may have formed with soil chemistry and mineralogy similar to those found in the Atacama. Remote and in-situ analysis of the Martian surface using infrared technology has a long heritage. Future investigations of the subsurface mineralogy are likely to build upon this heritage, and will benefit from real life lessons to be learned from terrestrial analog studies. To that end, preliminary results from a near- and mid-infrared spectroscopic study of Atacama soil profiled at a range of depths are presented.

Dalton, J. B.↗

Cosmic Infrared Background Fluctuations in Deep Spitzer Infrared Array Camera Images: Data Processing and Analysis

This paper provides a detailed description of the data reduction and analysis procedures that have been employed in our previous studies of spatial fluctuation of the cosmic infrared background (CIB) using deep Spitzer Infrared Array Camera observations. The self-calibration we apply removes a strong instrumental signal from the fluctuations that would otherwise corrupt the results. The procedures and results for masking bright sources and modeling faint sources down to levels set by the instrumental noise are presented. Various tests are performed to demonstrate that the resulting power spectra of these fields are not dominated by instrumental or procedural effects. These tests indicate that the large-scale ([greater, similar]30') fluctuations that remain in the deepest fields are not directly related to the galaxies that are bright enough to be individually detected. We provide the parameterization of these power spectra in terms of separate instrument noise, shot noise, and power-law components. We discuss the relationship between fluctuations measured at different wavelengths and depths, and the relations between constraints on the mean intensity of the CIB and its fluctuation spectrum. Consistent with growing evidence that the [approx]1-5 [mu]m mean intensity of the CIB may not be as far above the integrated emission of resolved galaxies as has been reported in some analyses of DIRBE and IRTS observations, our measurements of spatial fluctuations of the CIB intensity indicate the mean emission from the objects producing the fluctuations is quite low ([greater, similar]1 nW m-2 sr-1 at 3-5 [mu]m), and thus consistent with current [gamma]-ray absorption constraints. The source of the fluctuations may be high-z Population III objects, or a more local component of very low luminosity objects with clustering properties that differ from the resolved galaxies. Finally, we discuss the prospects of the upcoming space-based surveys to directly measure the epochs inhabited by the populations producing these source-subtracted CIB fluctuations, and to isolate the individual fluxes of these populations.

Arendt, Richard↗

Propynal, an Interstellar Molecule with an Exceptionally Strong C ≡ C Infrared Band – Laboratory Infrared Data and Applications

Isomers with the formula C3H2O have intrigued and puzzled astronomers and astrochemists for many years, with propynal and cyclopropenone, but not propadienone, known to be interstellar. However, there is a severe lack of laboratory spectra of the solid phases of these compounds with which to investigate their interstellar chemistry. Here we present the first infrared spectra of amorphous and crystalline forms of propynal, HCC—C(O)H, at multiple temperatures. Band positions are tabulated and band strengths are derived in terms of absorption coefficients and integrated intensities. Optical constants are calculated for amorphous propynal, refractive indices are measured, and densities are estimated. Three laboratory astrochemistry applications are described, including a new spectral identification in an earlier paper. It is shown that propynal's C≡C infrared absorbance is about 30 000 per cent stronger than the corresponding feature in acetylene. This band's intensity and spectral position make it an attractive candidate for astronomical searches involving interstellar ices.

astrochemistry – ISM: molecules↗

Propynal, an Interstellar Molecule with an Exceptionally Strong C≡C Infrared Band - Laboratory Infrared Data and Applications

Isomers with the formula C3H2O have intrigued and puzzled astronomers and astrochemists for many years, with propynal and cyclopropenone, but not propadienone, known to be interstellar. However, there is a severe lack of laboratory spectra of the solid phases of these compounds with which to investigate their interstellar chemistry. Here we present the first infrared spectra of amorphous and crystalline forms of propynal, HCC-C(O)H, at multiple temperatures. Band positions are tabulated and band strengths are derived in terms of absorption coefficients and integrated intensities. Optical constants are calculated for amorphous propynal, refractive indices are measured, and densities are estimated. Three laboratory astrochemistry applications are described, including a new spectral identification in an earlier paper. It is shown that propynal's C≡C infrared absorbance is about 30,000% stronger than the corresponding feature in acetylene. This band's intensity and spectral position make it an attractive candidate for astronomical searches involving interstellar ices.

astrochemistry – ISM: molecules↗

Propynal, an Interstellar Molecule with an Exceptionally Strong C≡C Infrared Band - Laboratory Infrared Data and Applications

Isomers with the formulaC3H2Ohave intrigued and puzzled astronomers and astrochemists for many years, with propynal and cyclopropenone, but not propadienone, known to be interstellar. However, there is a severe lack of laboratory spectra of the solid phases of these compounds with which to investigate their interstellar chemistry. Here we present the first infrared spectra of amorphous and crystalline forms of propynal, HCC C(O)H, at multiple temperatures. Band positions are tabulated and band strengths are derived in terms of absorption coefficients and integrated intensities. Optical constants are calculated for amorphous propynal, refractive indices aremeasured, and densities are estimated. Three laboratory astrochemistry applications are described, including a new spectral identification in an earlier paper. It is shown that propynal’s C C infrared absorbance is about 30 000 per cent stronger than the corresponding feature in acetylene. This band’s intensity and spectral position make it an attractive candidate for astronomical searches involving interstellar ices.

astrochemistry – ISM: molecules↗

Dynamically Disordered Lattice in a Layered Pb-I-SCN Perovskite Thin Film Probed by Two-Dimensional Infrared Spectroscopy

The dynamically flexible lattices in lead-halide perovskites may play important roles in extending carrier recombination lifetime in 3D perovskite solar-cell absorbers and in exciton self-trapping in 2D perovskite white-light phosphors. Here, two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectroscopy was applied to study a recently reported Pb-I-SCN layered perovskite. The Pb-ISCN perovskite was spin-coated on a SiO 2 surface as a thin film, with a thickness of ~100 nm, where the S 12 CN – anions were isotopically diluted with the ratio of S 12 CN:S 13 CN=5:95 or 1:99 to avoid vibrational coupling and excitation transfer between adjacent SCN – anions. The minor S 12 CN – component was the principal vibrational probe that reported on the structural evolution through 2D IR spectroscopy. Spectral diffusion was observed with a time constant of 4.1 ± 0.3 ps. Spectral diffusion arises from small structural changes that result in sampling of frequencies within the distribution of frequencies that comprise the inhomogeneously broadened absorption spectrum of the in the Pb-I-SCN layered perovskite. These transitions among discrete local structures are distinct from oscillatory phonon motions of the lattice. To accurately evaluate the structural dynamics through measurement of spectral diffusion, the vibrational coupling between adjacent SCN – anions had to be carefully treated. Although the inorganic layers of typical 2D perovskites are structurally isolated from each other, the 2D IR data demonstrated that the layers of the Pb-I-SCN perovskite are vibrationally coupled. When both S 12 CN – and S 13 CN – were pumped simultaneously, cross-peaks between S 12 CN and S 13 CN vibrations and an oscillating 2D band shape of the S 12 CN – vibration were observed. Both observables demonstrate vibrational coupling between the closest SCN – anions, which reside in different inorganic layers. The thin films and the isotopic dilution produced exceedingly small vibrational echo signal fields; measurements were made possible using the near-Brewster’s angle reflection pump-probe geometry.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Characterization of process-induced damage in Cu/low-k interconnect structure by microscopic infrared spectroscopy with polarized infrared light

Microscopic Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra are measured for a Cu/low-k interconnect structure using polarized IR light for different widths of low-k spaces and Cu lines, and for different heights of Cu lines, on Si substrates. Although the widths of the Cu line and the low-k space are 70 nm each, considerably smaller than the wavelength of the IR light, the FT-IR spectra of the low-k film were obtained for the Cu/low-k interconnect structure. A suitable method was established for measuring the process-induced damage in a low-k film that was not detected by the TEM-EELS (Transmission Electron Microscope-Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy) using microscopic IR polarized light. Based on the IR results, it was presumed that the FT-IR spectra mainly reflect the structural changes in the sidewalls of the low-k films for Cu/low-k interconnect structures, and the mechanism of generating process-induced damage involves the generation of Si-OH groups in the low-k film when the Si-CH{sub 3} bonds break during the fabrication processes. The Si-OH groups attract moisture and the OH peak intensity increases. It was concluded that the increase in the OH groups in the low-k film is a sensitive indicator of low-k damage. We achieved the characterization of the process-induced damage that was not detected by the TEM-EELS and speculated that the proposed method is applicable to interconnects with line and space widths of 70 nm/70 nm and on shorter scales of leading edge devices. The location of process-induced damage and its mechanism for the Cu/low-k interconnect structure were revealed via the measurement method.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

The early infrared temporal development of Nova Delphini 2013 (V339 Del) observed with the stratospheric observatory for infrared astronomy (SOFIA) and from the ground

We present ground-based infrared photometry, JHK spectroscopy, and 5–28 μm SOFIA FORCAST spectroscopy documenting the early temporal development of Nova Delphini 2013 (V339 Del). We derive a distance of ∼4.5 kpc using data available from the early expansion of the fireball. This distance gives an outburst luminosity of ∼8.3 × 10{sup 5} L{sub ⊙} making V339 Del the most luminous CO nova on record. Our data provide new constraints on the ejected gas mass and the dust yield in fast CO novae. The ejected gas mass as estimated by the cutoff wavelength during the free–free emission phase is ∼7.5 × 10{sup −5} M{sub ⊙}. There is evidence for the formation of ∼1.2(±0.4) × 10{sup −7} M{sub ⊙} of dust about 102 days after outburst. The gas to dust ratio of ∼470/1–940/1 implies that dust production was much less efficient in V339 Del than is the case for most CO novae.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Star formation in ultraluminous infrared galaxies probed with AKARI near-infrared spectroscopy

We conducted systematic observations of the H i Brα line (4.05 μm) and the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) feature (3.3 μm) in 50 nearby (z<0.3) ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) with AKARI. The Brα line is predicted to be the brightest among the H i lines under conditions of high dust extinction (A{sub V}>15 mag). The Brα line traces ionizing photons from OB stars and so is used as an indicator of star formation on the assumption of the initial mass function. We detected the Brα line in 33 ULIRGs. The luminosity of the line (L{sub Brα}) correlates well with that of the 3.3 μm PAH emission (L{sub 3.3}). Thus we utilize L{sub 3.3} as an indicator of star formation in fainter objects where the Brα line is undetected. The mean L{sub Brα}/L{sub IR} ratio in LINERs/Seyferts is significantly lower than that in H ii galaxies. This difference is reconfirmed with the L{sub 3.3}/L{sub IR} ratio in the larger sample (46 galaxies). Using the ratios, we estimate that the contribution of starburst in LINERs/Seyferts is ∼67%, and active galactic nuclei contribute the remaining ∼33%. However, comparing the number of ionizing photons, Q{sub Brα}, derived from L{sub Brα} with that, Q {sub IR}, expected from the star formation rate required to explain L{sub IR}, we find that the mean Q{sub Brα}/Q{sub IR} ratio is only (55.5 ± 7.5)% even in H ii galaxies, which are thought to be energized by pure starburst. This deficit of ionizing photons traced by the Brα line is significant even taking heavy dust extinction into consideration. We propose that dust within H ii regions absorbs a significant fraction of ionizing photons.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The Electromagnetic Counterpart of the Binary Neutron Star Merger LIGO/Virgo GW170817. II. UV, Optical, and Near-infrared Light Curves and Comparison to Kilonova Models

We present UV, optical, and near-infrared (NIR) photometry of the first electromagnetic counterpart to a gravitational wave source from Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO)/Virgo, the binary neutron star merger GW170817. Our data set extends from the discovery of the optical counterpart at 0.47–18.5 days post-merger, and includes observations with the Dark Energy Camera (DECam), Gemini-South/FLAMINGOS-2 (GS/F2), and the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The spectral energy distribution (SED) inferred from this photometry at 0.6 days is well described by a blackbody model with T≈8300 K, a radius of R≈4.5×10{sup 14} cm (corresponding to an expansion velocity of v≈0.3c), and a bolometric luminosity of L{sub bol}≈5×10{sup 41} erg s{sup −1}. At 1.5 days we find a multi-component SED across the optical and NIR, and subsequently we observe rapid fading in the UV and blue optical bands and significant reddening of the optical/NIR colors. Modeling the entire data set, we find that models with heating from radioactive decay of {sup 56}Ni, or those with only a single component of opacity from r-process elements, fail to capture the rapid optical decline and red optical/NIR colors. Instead, models with two components consistent with lanthanide-poor and lanthanide-rich ejecta provide a good fit to the data; the resulting “blue” component has M{sub ej}{sup blue}≈0.01 M{sub ⊙} and v{sub ej}{sup blue}≈0.3 c, and the “red” component has M{sub ej}{sup red}≈0.04 M{sub ⊙} and v{sub ej}{sup red}≈0.1 c. These ejecta masses are broadly consistent with the estimated r-process production rate required to explain the Milky Way r-process abundances, providing the first evidence that binary neutron star (BNS) mergers can be a dominant site of r-process enrichment.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗