Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Laboratory Astrophysics”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2002

Laboratory Astrophysics White Paper: Summary of Laboratory Astrophysics Needs

The NASA Laboratory Astrophysics Workshop (NASA LAW) met at NASA Ames Research Center from 1-3 May 2002 to assess the role that laboratory astrophysics plays in the optimization of NASA missions, both at the science conception level and at the science return level. Space missions provide understanding of fundamental questions regarding the origin and evolution of galaxies, stars, and planetary systems. In all of these areas the interpretation of results from NASA's space missions relies crucially upon data obtained from the laboratory. We stress that Laboratory Astrophysics is important not only in the interpretation of data, but also in the design and planning of future missions. We recognize a symbiosis between missions to explore the universe and the underlying basic data needed to interpret the data from those missions. In the following we provide a summary of the consensus results from our Workshop, starting with general programmatic findings and followed by a list of more specific scientific areas that need attention. We stress that this is a 'living document' and that these lists are subject to change as new missions or new areas of research rise to the fore.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2006

Laboratory Astrophysics White Paper

Laboratory astrophysics and complementary theoretical calculations are the foundations of astronomical and planetary research and will remain so for many generations to come. From the level of scientific conception to that of the scientific return, it is our understanding of the underlying processes that allows us to address fundamental questions regarding the origins and evolution of galaxies, stars, planetary systems, and life in the cosmos. In this regard, laboratory astrophysics is much like detector and instrument development at NASA and NSF; these efforts are necessary for the astronomical research being funded by the agencies. The NASA Laboratory Astrophysics Workshop met at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) from 14-16 February, 2006 to identify the current laboratory data needed to support existing and future NASA missions and programs in the Astrophysics Division of the Science Mission Directorate (SMD). Here we refer to both laboratory and theoretical work as laboratory astrophysics unless a distinction is necessary. The format for the Workshop involved invited talks by users of laboratory data, shorter contributed talks and poster presentations by both users and providers that highlighted exciting developments in laboratory astrophysics, and breakout sessions where users and providers discussed each others' needs and limitations. We also note that the members of the Scientific Organizing Committee are users as well as providers of laboratory data. As in previous workshops, the focus was on atomic, molecular, and solid state physics.

Brickhouse, Nancy↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Laboratory Astrophysics in the United States

Laboratory astrophysics is a strong and vibrant field in the US with its primary national representation as a full Division of the American Astronomical Society (AAS). Laboratory Astrophysics is also represented in other major scientific societies such as the Astrochemistry subdivision of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the High Energy Density Laboratory Astrophysics (HEDLA) and the Division of Astrophysics (DAP) of the American Physical Society (APS) to cite a few. Laboratory Astrophysics and Astrochemistry is also well represented in federal agencies such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) where research programs are fully dedicated to the support of laboratory astrophysics research. Laboratory Astrophysics is also well represented in the Academic arena where Physics, Astronomy and/or Chemistry Departments in many universities host a laboratory Astrophysics or Astrochemistry curriculum. The increasing recognition of the field of laboratory astrophysics has been recently reinforced by its inclusion into the recommendations of the two most recent Decadal Surveys of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). I will discuss and present the many aspects and representations of Laboratory Astrophysics in the US and summarize the current efforts in the field.

Laboratory Astrophysics↗
NASA NTRS2006

NASA Laboratory Astrophysics Workshop 2006 Introductory Remarks

NASA Laboratory Astrophysics Workshop 2006, is the fourth in a series of workshops held at four year intervals, to assess the laboratory needs of NASA's astrophysics missions - past, current and future. Investigators who need laboratory data to interpret their observations from space missions, theorists and modelers, experimentalists who produce the data, and scientists who compile databases have an opportunity to exchange ideas and understand each other's needs and limitations. The multi-wavelength character of these workshops allows cross-fertilization of ideas, raises awareness in the scientific community of the rapid advances in other fields, and the challenges it faces in prioritizing its laboratory needs in a tight budget environment. Currently, we are in the golden age of Space Astronomy, with three of NASA s Great Observatories, Hubble Space Telescope (HST), Chandra X-Ray Observatory (CXO), and Spitzer Space Telescope (SST), in operation and providing astronomers and opportunity to perform synergistic observations. In addition, the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE), XMM-Newton, HETE-2, Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX), INTEGRAL and Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP), are operating in an extended phase, while Swift and Suzaku are in their prime phase of operations. The wealth of data from these missions is stretching the Laboratory Astrophysics program to its limits. Missions in the future, which also need such data include the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), Space Interferometry Mission (SIM), Constellation-X (Con-X), Herschel, and Planck. The interpretation of spectroscopic data from these missions requires knowledge of atomic and molecular parameters such as transition probabilities, f-values, oscillator strengths, excitation cross sections, collision strengths, which have either to be measured in the laboratory by simulating space plasma and interactions therein, or by theoretical calculations and modeling. Once the laboratory data are obtained, a key step to making them available to the observer is the creation and maintenance of critically compiled databases. Other areas of study, that are important for understanding planet formation, and for detection of molecules that are indicators of life, are also supported by the Laboratory Astrophysics program. Some examples are: studies of ices and dust grains in a space environment; nature and evolution of interstellar carbon-rich dust; and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In addition, the program provides an opportunity for the investigation of novel ideas, such as simulating radiative shock instabilities in plasmas, in order to understand jets observed in space. A snapshot of the currently funded program, mission needs, and relevance of laboratory data to interpreting observations, will be obtained at this workshop through invited and contributed talks and poster papers. These will form the basis for discussions in splinter groups. The Science Organization Committee will integrate the results of the discussions into a coherent White Paper, which will provide guidance to NASA in structuring the Laboratory Astrophysics program in subsequent years, and also to the scientific community in submitting research proposals to NASA for funding.

Hasan, Hashima↗
NASA NTRS2020

The Future of Laboratory Astrophysics

A Round Table discussion on the future of Laboratory Astrophysics and the role of IAU Commission B5 was held on the fourth day of the conference to discuss how the IAU Laboratory Astrophysics Commission (B5) can best support the astronomy community and help promote laboratory astrophysics.

Panel Discussion↗
NASA NTRS2006

Proceedings of the NASA Laboratory Astrophysics Workshop

This report is a collection of papers presented at the 2006 NASA Workshop on Laboratory Astrophysics held in the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) from February 14 to 16, 2006. This workshop brings together producers and users of laboratory astrophysics data so that they can understand each other's needs and limitations in the context of the needs for NASA's missions. The last NASA-sponsored workshop was held in 2002 at Ames Research Center. Recent related meetings include the Topical Session at the AAS meeting and the European workshop at Pillnitz, Germany, both of which were held in June 2005. The former showcased the importance of laboratory astrophysics to the community at large, while the European workshop highlighted a multi-laboratory approach to providing the needed data. The 2006 NASA Workshop on Laboratory Astrophysics, sponsored by the NASA Astrophysics Division, focused on the current status of the field and its relevance to NASA. This workshop attracted 105 participants and 82 papers of which 19 were invited. A White Paper identifying the key issues in laboratory astrophysics during the break-out sessions was prepared by the Scientific Organizing Committee, and has been forwarded to the Universe Working Group (UWG) at NASA Headquarters. This White Paper, which represented the collective inputs and opinions from experts and stakeholders in the field of astrophysics, should serve as the working document for the future development of NASA's R&A program in laboratory astrophysics.

Weck, Phillippe F.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

From the Interstellar Medium to Ocean Worlds: new challenges for Laboratory Astrophysics

From the Interstellar Medium to Ocean Worlds: new challenges for Laboratory Astrophysics For the past 35+ years, laboratory experiments in Astrophysics have been focusing on identifying and understanding the molecular species and chemistry occurring in interstellar environments, such as the diffuse interstellar medium (ISM) and dense molecular clouds. A significant portion of these laboratory efforts concerns investigations of carbon-based molecules ranging in size from a single carbon atom (e.g., CO, CO2, H2CO) to large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules potentially consisting of more than one hundred carbon atoms as well as their reactions with H2O and other interstellar species. The laboratory facilities built to conduct these investigations are capable of monitoring the chemistry and measuring the spectra under a wide range of interstellar conditions (e.g., low temperatures and pressures). The past 15 years of space exploration revealed the presence of at least nine other Ocean Worlds, besides Earth, in our Solar System. These worlds include moons and dwarf planets, ice-covered surfaces, subsurface oceans, as well as geysers venting H2O and other compounds, including organics in at least one environment, into space. Although these worlds represent environments that are significantly different from those traditionally considered the realm of Laboratory Astrophysics, their facilities are well situated to provide insight into the chemistry occurring in and around these worlds as well as experimental data for the interpretation of observations from missions visiting these Ocean World. This presentation will discuss the areas where Laboratory Astrophysics can provide experimental data to help understand the chemistry, and mission data of Ocean Worlds, and the challenges research into Ocean Worlds presents to our current facilities and how they can be overcome. Lastly, this presentation will introduce the new ICEE (In-situ Carbon Evolution Experiments) facility at NASA Ames Research Center as an example of how a lab dedicated to Laboratory Astrophysics can adapt itself to also meet the needs for Ocean Worlds research.

Andrew Lige Mattioda↗
NASA NTRS2012

Laboratory Astrophysics Division of the AAS (LAD)

The purpose of the Laboratory Astrophysics Division (LAD) is to advance our understanding of the Universe through the promotion of fundamental theoretical and experimental research into the underlying processes that drive the Cosmos. LAD represents all areas of astrophysics and planetary sciences. The first new AAS Division in more than 30 years, the LAD traces its history back to the recommendation from the scientific community via the White Paper from the 2006 NASA-sponsored Laboratory Astrophysics Workshop. This recommendation was endorsed by the Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee (AAAC), which advises the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on selected issues within the fields of astronomy and astrophysics that are of mutual interest and concern to the agencies. In January 2007, at the 209th AAS meeting, the AAS Council set up a Steering Committee to formulate Bylaws for a Working Group on Laboratory Astrophysics (WGLA). The AAS Council formally established the WGLA with a five-year mandate in May 2007, at the 210th AAS meeting. From 2008 through 2012, the WGLA annually sponsored Meetings in-a-Meeting at the AAS Summer Meetings. In May 2011, at the 218th AAS meeting, the AAS Council voted to convert the WGLA, at the end of its mandate, into a Division of the AAS and requested draft Bylaws from the Steering Committee. In January 2012, at the 219th AAS Meeting, the AAS Council formally approved the Bylaws and the creation of the LAD. The inaugural gathering and the first business meeting of the LAD were held at the 220th AAS meeting in Anchorage in June 2012. You can learn more about LAD by visiting its website at http://lad.aas.org/ and by subscribing to its mailing list.

Salama, Farid↗
NASA NTRS2002

Proceedings of the NASA Laboratory Astrophysics Workshop

This document is the proceedings of the NASA Laboratory Astrophysics Workshop, convened May 1-3, 2002 at NASA's Ames Research Center. Sponsored by the NASA Office of Space Science (OSS), this programmatic workshop is held periodically by NASA to discuss the current state of knowledge in the interdisciplinary field of laboratory astrophysics and to identify the science priorities (needs) in support of NASA's space missions. An important goal of the Workshop is to provide input to OSS in the form of a white paper for incorporation in its strategic planning. This report comprises a record of the complete proceedings of the Workshop and the Laboratory Astrophysics White Paper drafted at the Workshop.

Salama, Farid↗
NASA NTRS1991

Theory and laboratory astrophysics

Science opportunities in the 1990's are discussed. Topics covered include the large scale structure of the universe, galaxies, stars, star formation and the interstellar medium, high energy astrophysics, and the solar system. Laboratory astrophysics in the 1990's is briefly surveyed, covering such topics as molecular, atomic, optical, nuclear and optical physics. Funding recommendations are given for the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the Department of Energy. Recommendations for laboratory astrophysics research are given.

Schramm, David N.↗
NASA NTRS2018

NASA Ames' COSmIC Laboratory Astrophysics Facility: Recent Results and Progress

The COSmIC facility was developed at NASA Ames to study interstellar, circumstellar and planetary analogs in the laboratory]. COSmIC stands for "Cosmic Simulation Chamber" and is dedicated to the study of neutral and ionized molecules and nanoparticles under the low temperature and high vacuum conditions that are required to simulate space environments. COSmIC integrates a variety of instruments that allow generating; processing and monitoring simulated space conditions in the laboratory. It is composed of a Pulsed Discharge Nozzle (PDN) expansion that generates a plasma in a free supersonic jet expansion coupled to high-sensitivity, complementary in situ diagnostic tools, used for the detection and characterization of the species present in the expansion: a Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy (CRDS) and fluorescence spectroscopy systems for photonic detection, and a Reflectron Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (ReTOF-MS) for mass detection. Recent advances achieved in laboratory astrophysics using COSmIC will be presented, in particular in the domain of the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) and the monitoring, in the laboratory, of the formation of dust grains and aerosols from their gasphase molecular precursors in environments as varied as circumstellar outflows and planetary atmospheres. Plans for future laboratory experiments on cosmic molecules and grains in the growing field of laboratory astrophysics (NIR-MIR CRDS, Laser Induced Fluorescence spectra of cosmic molecule analogs and the laser induced incandescence spectra of cosmic grain analogs) will also be addressed as well as the implications of the on-going studies for astronomy.

Laboratory Astrophysics↗
NASA NTRS2002

NASA's Laboratory Astrophysics Workshop: Opening Remarks

The Astronomy and Physics Division at NASA Headquarters has an active and vibrant program in Laboratory Astrophysics. The objective of the program is to provide the spectroscopic data required by observers to analyze data from NASA space astronomy missions. The program also supports theoretical investigations to provide those spectroscopic parameters that cannot be obtained in the laboratory; simulate space environment to understand formation of certain molecules, dust grains and ices; and production of critically compiled databases of spectroscopic parameters. NASA annually solicits proposals, and utilizes the peer review process to select meritorious investigations for funding. As the mission of NASA evolves, new missions are launched, and old ones are terminated, the Laboratory Astrophysics program needs to evolve accordingly. Consequently, it is advantageous for NASA and the astronomical community to periodically conduct a dialog to assess the status of the program. This Workshop provides a forum for producers and users of laboratory data to get together and understand each others needs and limitations. A multi-wavelength approach enables a cross fertilization of ideas across wavelength bands.

Hasan, Hashima↗
NASA NTRS2019

Laboratory Astrophysics Studies of the Evolution of Organic Matter with the COSmIC Facility.

Understanding the origin of organic matter in astrophysical environments ranging from circumstellar (CS) outflows to diffuse and dense interstellar (IS) clouds to protoplanetary disks and planetary bodies has become a central objective in astrophysics. Experimental facilities dedicated to the formation and characterization of laboratory analogs generated under conditions relevant to the targeted environments have been developed in the past recent years. Recent advances achieved in laboratory astrophysics using COSmIC’s laboratory data in synergy with observational data will be presented. These results include the use of laboratory spectra to search for IS organic molecules and ions in astronomical spectra, the formation of laboratory analogs of CS and IS dust grains and planetary atmospheres aerosols from molecular precursors.

Salama, Farid↗
NASA NTRS2006

Laboratory Astrophysics: Enabling Scientific Discovery and Understanding

NASA's Science Strategic Roadmap for Universe Exploration lays out a series of science objectives on a grand scale and discusses the various missions, over a wide range of wavelengths, which will enable discovery. Astronomical spectroscopy is arguably the most powerful tool we have for exploring the Universe. Experimental and theoretical studies in Laboratory Astrophysics convert "hard-won data into scientific understanding". However, the development of instruments with increasingly high spectroscopic resolution demands atomic and molecular data of unprecedented accuracy and completeness. How to meet these needs, in a time of severe budgetary constraints, poses a significant challenge both to NASA, the astronomical observers and model-builders, and the laboratory astrophysics community. I will discuss these issues, together with some recent examples of productive astronomy/lab astro collaborations.

Kirby, K.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Measurements of Cyclotron Features and Pulse Periods in the High-Mass X-Ray Binaries 4U 1538-522 and 4U 1907+09 with the International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory

We present a spectral and timing analysis of International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL) observations of two high-mass X-ray binaries, 4U 1538−522 and 4U 1907+09. Our timing measurements for 4U 1538−522 find the pulse period to have exhibited a spin-up trend until approximately 2009, after which there is evidence for a torque reversal, with the source beginning to spin down to the most recently measured period of 525.407 plus or minus 0.001 seconds. The most recent INTEGRAL observations of 4U 1907+09 are not found to yield statistically significant pulse periods due to the significantly lower flux from the source compared with 4U 1538−522. A spectral model consisting of a power-law continuum with an exponential cutoff and modified by two cyclotron resonance scattering features is found to fit both sources well, with the cyclotron scattering features detected at approximately 22 and approximately 49 kiloelectronvolts for 4U 1538−522 and at approximately 18 and approximately 36 kiloelectronvolts for 4U 1907+09. The spectral parameters of 4U 1538−522 are generally not found to vary significantly with flux and there is little to no variation across the torque reversal. Examining our results in conjunction with previous work, we find no evidence for a correlation between cyclotron line energy and luminosity for 4U 1538−522. 4U 1907+09 shows evidence for a positive correlation between cyclotron line energy and luminosity, which would make it the fourth, and lowest luminosity, cyclotron line source to exhibit this relationship.

stars: magnetic field↗
NASA NTRS2019

Laboratory Astrophysics at NASA Ames: Recent Results and Advances

The Cosmic SImulation Chamber (COSmIC) facility was developed at NASA Ames to study, in the laboratory, neutral and ionized molecules and nanoparticles under the low temperature and high vacuum conditions representative of interstellar, circumstellar and planetary environments. COSmIC is composed of a Pulsed Discharge Nozzle expansion that generates a plasma in a free supersonic jet expansion coupled to highsensitivity, complementary in situ diagnostic tools, used for the detection and characterization of the species present in the expansion: a Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy systems operating in the UV-Visible range, and a Reflectron Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (ReTOF-MS). We will present recent advances that were achieved in laboratory astrophysics using COSmIC. These include advances in the domain of the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) and in the formation of dust grains and aerosols from their gas-phase molecular precursors in environments as varied as circumstellar outflows and planetary atmospheres. An extension of the spectral response of the facility into the infrared (IR) range is in progress with the addition of a high-resolution near-IR to mid-IR CRDS system that will allow to further investigate cosmic molecules and grains with COSmIC. Acquisition of laser induced fluorescence spectra of cosmic molecule analogs and the laser induced incandescence spectra of cosmic grain analogs are also planned. Preliminary results in these fronts will presented and the implications of the on-going studies for astronomy will be addressed.

Laboratory↗
NASA NTRS1998

Fifteen Years of Laboratory Astrophysics at Ames

Tremendous strides have been made in our understanding of interstellar material over the past fifteen years thanks to significant, parallel developments in two closely related areas: observational astronomy and laboratory astrophysics. Fifteen years ago the composition of interstellar dust was largely guessed at, the concept of ices in dense molecular clouds ignored, and the notion of large, abundant, gas phase, carbon-rich molecules widespread throughout the interstellar medium (ISM) considered impossible. Today the composition of dust in the diffuse ISM is reasonably well constrained to cold refractory materials comprised of amorphous and crystalline silicates mixed with an amorphous carbonaceous material containing aromatic structural units and short, branched aliphatic chains. In the dense ISM, these cold dust particles are coated with mixed-molecular ices whose compositions are very well known. Lastly, the signature of carbon-rich polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), shockingly large molecules by early interstellar chemistry standards, is widespread throughout the ISM. This great progress has only been made possible by the close collaboration of laboratory experimentalists with observers and theoreticians, all with the goal of applying their skills to astrophysical problems of direct interest to NASA programs. Such highly interdisciplinary collaborations ensure fundamental, in depth coverage of the wide-ranging challenges posed by astrophysics. These challenges include designing astrophysically focused experiments and data analysis, tightly coupled with astrophysical searches spanning 2 orders of magnitude in wavelength, and detailed theoretical modeling. The impact of our laboratory has been particularly effective as there is constant cross-talk and feedback between quantum theorists; theoretical astrophysicists and chemists; experimental physicists; organic, physical and petroleum chemists; and infrared and UV/Vis astronomers. In this paper, two examples of the Ames Program will be given. We have been involved in identifying 9 out of the 14 interstellar pre-cometary ice species known, determined their abundances and the physical nature of the ice structure. Details on our ice work are given in the paper by Sandford et al. Our group is among the pioneers of the PAH model. We built the theoretical framework, participated in the observations and developed the experimental techniques needed to test the model. We demonstrated that the ubiquitous infrared emission spectrum associated with many interstellar objects can be matched by laboratory spectra of neutral and positively charged PAHs and that PAHs were excellent candidates for the diffuse interstellar band (DIB) carriers. See Salama et al. and Hudgins et al.

Allamandola, L. J.↗