Engineering topics

Danchi, William

Publications and source records attributed to Danchi, William.

12 records

NASA NTRS2019

The Case for Probe-Class NASA Astrophysics Missions

Astrophysics spans an enormous range of questions on scales from individual planets to the entire cosmos. To address the richness of 21st century astrophysics requires a corresponding richness of telescopes spanning all bands and all messengers. Much scientific benefit comes from having the multi-wavelength capability available at the same time. Most of these bands, or measurement sensitivities, require space-based missions. Historically, NASA has addressed this need for breadth with a small number of flagship-class missions and a larger number of Explorer missions. While the Explorer program continues to flourish, there is a large gap between Explorers and strategic missions.

Elvis, Martin↗

NASA NTRS2018

UV Capabilities of the CETUS Multi-Object Spectrometer (MOS) and NUV/FUV Camera

The Cosmic Evolution Through UV Spectroscopy (CETUS) concept enables parallel observations by the UV multiobject spectrometer (MOS) and near-UV/far-UV camera which operate simultaneously but independently with their separate field of views. The near-UV MOS can target up to 100 objects at a time without confusion with nearby sources or background zodiacal light. This multiplexing will allow over 100,000 galaxies to be observed over a typical mission lifetime. The MOS includes a next-generation micro-shutter array (NGMSA), an efficient aspheric Offner-like spectrometer design with a convex grating, and nanotube light traps for suppressing unwanted wavelengths. The NUV/FUV Camera has the capability to image in a range of sub-bands from 115-400 nm at the same time the MOS is operating at 180-350 nm. The UV camera has a similar Offner-like relay, selectable filters, and two separate detectors to optimize observing in either the far-UV (115-175 nm) or the near-UV (180-400 nm) utilizing a CsI Micro-Channel Plate detector (MCP) and a CCD respectively.

The Cosmic Evolution Through UV Spectroscopy (CETU↗

NASA NTRS2018

Variability of Disk Emission in Pre-Main-Sequence and Related Stars. IV. Investigating the Structural Changes in the Inner Disk Region of MWC 480

We present five epochs of near-IR observations of the protoplanetary disk around MWC 480 (HD 31648) obtained with the SpeX spectrograph on NASA’s Infrared Telescope Facility between 2007 and 2013, inclusive. Using the measured line fluxes in the Pa β and Br γ lines, we found the mass accretion rates to be (1.26–2.30) x 10(exp −7) Solar Mass/yr and (1.4–2.01) x 10(exp −7) Solar Mass/yr, respectively, but which varied by more than 50% from epoch to epoch. The spectral energy distribution reveals a variability of about 30% between 1.5 and 10 μm during this same period of time. We investigated the variability using of the continuum emission of the disk in using the Monte- Carlo Radiative Transfer Code HOCHUNK3D. We find that varying the height of the inner rim successfully produces a change in the NIR flux but lowers the far-IR emission to levels below all measured fluxes. Because the star exhibits bipolar flows, we utilized a structure that simulates an inner disk wind to model the variability in the near-IR, without producing flux levels in the far-IR that are inconsistent with existing data. For this object, variable near-IR emission due to such an outflow is more consistent with the data than changing the scale height of the inner rim of the disk.

Fernandes, Rachel B.↗

NASA NTRS2017

Atmospheric Beacons of Life from Exoplanets Around G and K Stars

The current explosion in detection and characterization of thousands of extrasolar planets from the Kepler mission, the Hubble Space Telescope, and large ground-based telescopes opens a new era in searches for Earth-analog exoplanets with conditions suitable for sustaining life. As more Earth-sized exoplanets are detected in the near future, we will soon have an opportunity to identify habitale worlds. Which atmospheric biosignature gases from habitable planets can be detected with our current capabilities? The detection of the common biosignatures from nitrogen-oxygen rich terrestrial-type exoplanets including molecular oxygen (O2), ozone (O3), water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane (CH4) requires days of integration time with largest space telescopes, and thus are very challenging for current instruments. In this paper we propose to use the powerful emission from rotational-vibrational bands of nitric oxide, hydroxyl and molecular oxygen as signatures of nitrogen, oxygen, and water rich atmospheres of terrestrial type exoplanets "highlighted" by the magnetic activity from young G and K main-sequence stars. The signals from these fundamental chemical prerequisites of life we call atmospheric "beacons of life" create a unique opportunity to perform direct imaging observations of Earth-sized exoplanets with high signal-to-noise and low spectral resolution with the upcoming NASA missions.

exoplanets↗

NASA NTRS2016

Making High Accuracy Null Depth Measurements for the LBTI ExoZodi Survey

The characterization of exozodiacal light emission is both important for the understanding of planetary systems evolution and for the preparation of future space missions aiming to characterize low mass planets in the habitable zone of nearby main sequence stars. The Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer (LBTI) exozodi survey aims at providing a ten-fold improvement over current state of the art, measuring dust emission levels down to a typical accuracy of approximately 12 zodis per star, for a representative ensemble of approximately 30+ high priority targets. Such measurements promise to yield a final accuracy of about 2 zodis on the median exozodi level of the targets sample. Reaching a 1 sigma measurement uncertainty of 12 zodis per star corresponds to measuring interferometric cancellation (null) levels, i.e visibilities at the few 100 ppm uncertainty level. We discuss here the challenges posed by making such high accuracy mid-infrared visibility measurements from the ground and present the methodology we developed for achieving current best levels of 500 ppm or so. We also discuss current limitations and plans for enhanced exozodi observations over the next few years at LBTI.

exozodiacal light emission↗

NASA NTRS2016

Making high accuracy null depth measurements for the LBTI Exozodi survey

The characterization of exozodiacal light emission is both important for the understanding of planetary systems evolution and for the preparation of future space missions aiming to characterize low mass planets in the habitable zone of nearby main sequence stars. The Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer (LBTI) exozodi survey aims at providing a ten-fold improvement over current state of the art, measuring dust emission levels down to a typical accuracy of ~12 zodis per star, for a representative ensemble of ~30+ high priority targets. Such measurements promise to yield a final accuracy of about 2 zodis on the median exozodi level of the targets sample. Reaching a 1σ measurement uncertainty of 12 zodis per star corresponds to measuring interferometric cancellation (“null”) levels, i.e visibilities at the few 100 ppm uncertainty level. We discuss here the challenges posed by making such high accuracy mid-infrared visibility measurements from the ground and present the methodology we developed for achieving current best levels of 500 ppm or so. We also discuss current limitations and plans for enhanced exozodi observations over the next few years at LBTI.

Mennesson, Bertrand↗

NASA NTRS2010

High Angular Resolution Observations of Episodic Dust Emission from Long Period Variable Stars Twenty Years of Observations with the Berkeley Infrared Spatial Interferometer

Over the past twenty years the U. C. Berkeley Infrared Spatial Interferometer has observed a number of Long Period Variable stars in the mid-infrared, obtaining information on the spatial distribution of dust around these stars with resolutions of the order of a few tens of milliarcseconds. The ISI is a heterodyne interferometer operating mostly at 11.15 microns, initially with two telescopes. In the last decade, it has been taking data regularly with three telescopes, thus obtaining visibility data on three baselines and also a closure phase. Over the course of the years, the ISI has been able to measure the physical properties of the dust shells surrounding these stars, in particular the inner radii of the dust shells, as well as the temperature and density distribution. For some stars, the ISI has also made precision measurements of their diameters in the mid-infrared. Closure phase measurements have revealed asymmetries in the dust distributions around many stars. Most surprisingly the ISI data has shown evidence for substantial changes in the amount of dust on time scales of 5-10 years, rather than being directly correlated with the stellar pulsation periods, which are of the order of one year. We discuss past results and new results from the ISI that highlight the dynamic environment around these stars.

Danchi, William↗

NASA NTRS2010

Infrared Imaging and Characterization of Exoplanets: Can we Detect Earth-Twins on a Budget?

During the past decade considerable progress has been made developing techniques that can be used to detect and characterize Earth twins in the mid- infrared (7-20 microns). The principal technique is called nulling interferometry, and it was invented by Bracewell in the late 1970's. The nulling technique is an interferometric equivalent of an optical coronagraph. At the present time most of the technological hurdles have been overcome for a space mission to be able to begin Phase A early in the next decade, and it is possible to detect and characterize Earth-twins on a mid- sized strategic mission budget ($600-800 million). I will review progress on this exciting method of planet detection in the context of recent work on the Exoplanet Community Forum and the US Decadal Survey (Astro2010), including biomarkers, technological progress, mission concepts, the theory of these instruments, and a.comparison of the discovery space of this technique with others also under consideration.

Danchi, William↗

NASA NTRS2008

High-Resolution N-Band Observations of the Nova Rs Ophiuchi: First Science with the Keck Interferometer Nuller

We report new observations of the nova RS Ophiuchi using the Keck Interferometer Nulling Instrument (KIN), approximately 3.8 days following the most recent outburst that occurred on 2006 February 12. These observations represent the first scientific results from the KIN, which operates in N-band from 8 to 12.5 microns. The nulling technique is the sparse aperture equivalent of the conventional coronagraphic technique used in filled aperture telescopes. By fitting the unique KIN inner and outer spatial regime data, we have obtained an angular size of the mid-infrared continuum of 6.2,4.0, or 5.4 mas for a disk profile, Gaussian profile, and shell profile respectively. The data show evidence of enhanced neutral atomic hydrogen emission and atomic metals including silicon located in the inner spatial regime near the white dwarf relative to the outer regime. There are also nebular emission lines and evidence of hot silicate dust in the outer spatial region, centered at approximately 2.5E14 cm from the WD, that are not found in the inner regime. The nova flash in the outer spatial regime evidently excited these features before the blast wave reached these regions. These identifications support the following interpretation. The dust appears to be present between outbursts and was not created during the outburst event. We further discuss the present results in terms of a unifying model of the system that includes an increase in density in the plane of the orbit of the two stars created by a spiral shock wave caused by the motion of the stars through the cool wind of the red giant star. These data show the power and potential of the nulling technique which has been developed for the detection of Earthlike planets around nearby stars for the Terrestrial Planet Finder Mission and Darwin missions.

Danchi, William↗

NASA NTRS2004

Requirements Formulation and Dynamic Jitter Analysis for Fourier-Kelvin Stellar Interferometer

The Fourier-Kelvin Stellar Interferometer (FKSI) has been proposed to detect and characterize extra solar giant planets. The baseline configuration for FKSI is a two- aperture, structurally connected nulling interferometer, capable of providing null depth less than lo4 in the infrared. The objective of this paper is to summarize the process for setting the top level requirements and the jitter analysis performed on FKSI to date. The first part of the paper discusses the derivation of dynamic stability requirements, necessary for meeting the FKSI nulling demands. An integrated model including structures, optics, and control systems has been developed to support dynamic jitter analysis and requirements verification. The second part of the paper describes how the integrated model is used to investigate the effects of reaction wheel disturbances on pointing and optical path difference stabilities.

Liu, Kuo-Chia↗

NASA NTRS2004

Design and Analysis of FKSI Nulling Interferometry Testbed

The Fourier Kelvin Stellar Interferometer is a space borne mission whose purpose is to validate the existence of previously detected Extra Solar Giant Planets (EGP's) and determine the age and primary atmospheric constituents of these EGP's. It consists of 2 collecting telescopes followed by a Mach Zehnder interferometer working in a wavelength range of 3-8 microns. To support this concept, a testbed is being built at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center to demonstrate feasibility of achieving the required nulling ratio (10e-4) across the waveband. This paper describes the design and performance analysis of the testbed. Considerations such as polarization, pupil overlap, and optical path length control are discussed.

Wilson, Mark↗

NASA NTRS2003

Mid-Infrared Imaging of Orion BN/KL With Keck I Telescope

We present new images of the Orion BN/KL infrared complex at 4.8, 8.0, 8.9, 9.9, 10.4, 11.7, 12.5, 17.6, 18.1, 20.0 and 22.0 microns obtained with the 10-meter Keck I telescope, with typically 0.3 arcsec resolution at 12.5 microns. The multi-wavelength observational image data is registered in a stack and a dust emission/extinction model is fitted to the resulting spectrum of each pixel to create a diffraction-limited "image" of the temperature, opacity and luminosity of the emitting dust, as well as the circumstellar and line-of-sight dust extinction. New source structure, temperature, opacity and luminosity detail is seen in the vicinity of IRc2-IRc7. The model results are used to develop a more complete picture of the structure and energetics of the BN/KL infrared complex.

Oegerle, William↗