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At least 181 records · Page 10

Instabilities in line-driven stellar winds. IV - Linear perturbations in three dimensions

Nonradial wave propagation in line-driven stellar winds is analyzed including both finite disk effects and the line-drag effect of scattered line radiation. Within the local (WKB) analysis the results apply to wavelengths both longer and shorter than the Sobolev length. The finite disk causes short-wavelength waves with lateral velocity polarization to be unstable in the idealized case of pure absorption; however, the growth rates are smaller than for radially polarized waves, and the instability is damped by a relatively small amount of scattering. Hence, in realistic stellar winds, where the driving is primarily by scattering lines, perturbations with an arbitrary mixture of lateral and radial polarizations at the wind base should quickly become nearly radially polarized farther out in the wind. The implications of these results are discussed, both for interpretation of observational signatures of wind structure and for theoretical calculations aimed at modeling the nonlinear evolution of wind instabilities.

Rybicki, G. B.↗

Evidence for chemical processing of precometary icy grains in circumstellar environments of pre-main-sequence stars

We report the detection of a broad absorption feature near 2166/cm in the spectrum of the Taurus cloud cource Elias 18. This pre-main-sequence source is the second in Taurus, the third in our survey, and the fifth known in the sky to show the broad 2166/cm absorption feature. Of equal importance, this feature is not seen toward several other embedded sources in our survey, nor is it seen toward the source Elias 16, located behind the Taurus cloud. Laboratory experiments with interstellar ice analogs show that such a feature is associated with a complex C triple bonded to N containing compound (called X(C triple bonded to N)) that results from high-energy processing (ultraviolet irradiation or ion bombardment) of simple ice components into more complex, organic components. We find a nonlinear anticorrelation between the abundance of X(C triple bonded to N) and frozen CO components in nonpolar lattices. We find no correlation between the abundance of X(C triple bonded to N) and frozen CO in polar lattices. Because the abundances of frozen CO and H2O are strongly correlated with each other and with visual extinction toward sources embedded in and located behind the Taurus molecular cloud, these ice components usually are associated with intracloud material. Our results indicate that X(C triple bonded to N) molecules result from chemical processing of dust grains dominated by nonpolar icy mantles in the local environments of pre-main-sequence stars. Such processing of icy grains in the early solar system may be an important source of organic compounds observed in minor solar system bodies. The delivery of these organic compounds to the surface of the primitive Earth through comet impacts may have provided the raw materials for prebiotic chemistry.

Tegler, Stephen C.↗

Analytical studies of ultrashort optical pulse propagation in a resonant absorbing medium

Resonant absorption in a laser pulse can be reduced to zero if the trailing part induces stimulated emission and returns the absorbed energy back to the pulse. This kind of effect is called Self-Induced Transparency (SIT). Analytic descriptions of short pulse propagation in a resonant medium, based on Slowly Varying Envelope Approximation (SVEA) and in linear media, have been extended in studies of SIT along two principal directions: First, to improve the SVEA by introducing Short Pulse Approximation (SPA); and second, to consider the effect of nonlinear refractive index.

Lee, C. T.↗

The millimeter-wave spectrum of the MgH and MgD radicals

The pure rotational spectrum of MgH radical (X 2 Sigma (+)) in its ground state v = 0 and v = 1 vibrational modes has been observed in the laboratory using millimeter/submillimeter direct absorption spectroscopy. The rotational spectra of two isotopically substituted species, MgD and (Mg-26)H, have been detected as well. All six hyperfine components of the N = 0 -1 transition of MgH in its v = 0 and v = 1 states have been directly measured to an accuracy of +/-50 kHz, and the five components have been observed for (Mg-26)H. The N = 0 +/-1 and N = 1 -2 transitions of MgD have also been detected. Rotational, fine structure, and hyperfine constants were determined for all species from a nonlinear least-squared fit to the data using a 2 Sigma Hamiltonian.

Ziurys, L. M.↗

The millimeter-wave spectrum of AlOH

The pure rotational spectrum of the AlOH and AlOD molecules in their X 1Sigma(+) (v = 0) ground electric states has been measured in the laboratory using direct absorption millimeter/submillimeter spectroscopy. The species were produced by the reaction of aluminum vapor, created in a Broida-type oven, with hydrogen peroxide or D2O2. Eight rotational transitions of AlOH and five transitions for AlOD were measured in the frequency range of 157-378 GHz to an accuracy better than +/- 75 kHz. Electric quadrupole interactions, arising from the aluminum nuclear spin of 5/2, were observed in the J = 4 - 5 and the J = 5 - 6 transitions of AlOH. The rotational constants of these molecules have been determined from a nonlinear least-squares fit to the data. The electric quadrupole coupling constant, eqQ, has been measured as well, and was found to have a value of -42.4 +/- 4.3 MHz. The spectra are consistent with quasi-linear ground states for AlOH and AlOD, as predicted by theory. AlOH is of astrophysical interest because of the relatively high cosmic abundance of aluminum.

Apponi, A. J.↗

Ultraviolet extinction to 10.8 inverse microns

UV extinction curves that represent observed variations i diffuse clouds (Zeta Oph, Xi Per, and Sigma Sco) have been derived by combining IUE and Voyager data and have been modeled by a multicomponent size distribution of silicate and carbonaceous giants. We have used theoretical model atmospheres as our reddening-free standards, and, in the case of Zeta Oph, also compare with the use of a stellar standard. An attempt was made to classify the UV spectra via theoretical spectral indices, but still missing line opacity appears to limit the use of this method at the present. The modeling includes five possible grain ingrediants, largge (0.015-0.25 micrometers) and small (0.005 micrometers) silicate grains, similarly large and small carbonaceous grains, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The observed extinction curves are fitted by the model via nonlinear Chi-square-minimization, varying the fractional amount of cosmic Si and C that are locked up in each igredient. The observed variation from 'steep' to 'flat' UV extinction curves is found to correspond to a modest model variation in the lower limit of the power-law size distribution of the large grains. Graphite is found to be necessary grain ingredient that cannot be replaced by the laboratory amorphous carbon materials. Carbonaceous mantles on the larger silicate grains provide no good fits to the observed curves. Using absorption properties of neutral laboratory PAHs limits PAHs to a few percent of the cosmic C abundance for acceptable fits that also give values for R(sub V) close to the observed values.

Aannestad, Per A.↗

The millimeter-wave spectrum of CaH (X 2Sigma(+))

The millimeter-wave spectrum of the CaH and CaD radicals (X 2Sigma(+)) has been observed in the laboratory via direct absorption spectroscopy. The species were generated by the reaction of calcium vapor, produced in a Broida-type oven, with hydrogen atoms created in a microwave discharge. The six hyperfine components of the N = 0 yields 1 rotational transition of CaH near 254 GHz were resolved and their frequencies determined to an accuracy of +/- 100 kHz. The main hyperfine lines originating in the N = 0 yields 1, 1 yields 2, and 2 yields 3 rotational transitions of CaD were also detected. Spectroscopic constants were determined for both radicals from a nonlinear least squares fit to the data, using a 2Sigma Hamiltonian. These measurements constitute the first laboratory observation of CaH at high spectral resolution, and are essential to the detection of this radical in interstellar space.

Barclay, W. L., Jr.↗

Self- and Air-Broadened Line Shapes in the 2v3 P and R Branches of 12CH4

In this paper we report line shape parameters of 12CH4 for several hundred 2V(sub 3) transitions in the spectral regions 5891-5996 cm( exp -1) (P branch) and 6015-6115 cm(exp -1) (R branch). Air- and self-broadening coefficients were measured as a function of temperature; line mixing via off-diagonal relaxation matrix element coefficients was also obtained for 47 transition pairs. In total, nearly 1517 positions and intensities were retrieved, but many transitions were too weak for the line shape study. For this analysis, we used 25 high-resolution (0.0056 and 0.0067 cm(ex[ -1) and high signal-to-noise (S/N) spectra of high-purity 12CH4 and the same high-purity 12CH4 broadened by dry air recorded at different sample temperatures between 130 K and 295 K with the Bruker IFS 125HR Fourier transform spectrometer at JPL. Three different absorption cells were used (1) a White cell set to a path length of 13.09 m for room temperature data, (2) a single-pass 0.2038 m long coolable cell (for self-broadening) and (3) a multipass cell with 20.941 m total path coolable Herriott cell (for air-broadening). In total there were 13 spectra with pure 12CH4 (0.27-599 Torr) and 12 air-broadened spectra with total sample pressures of 80-805 Torr and volume mixing ratios (VMR) of methane between 0.18 and 1.0. An interactive multispectrum nonlinear least-squares technique was employed to fit the individual P10-P1 and R0-R10 manifolds in all the spectra simultaneously. Results obtained from the present analysis are compared to other recent measurements.

Devi, V. Malathy↗

Synthesis of Two-Photon Materials and Two-Photon Liquid Crystals

The duration of the grant was interrupted by two major accidents that the PI met with-- an auto accident in Pasadena, CA during her second summer at JPL which took almost eight months for recovery and a second accident during Fall 2000 that left her in crutches for the entire semester. Further, the time released agreed by the University was not given in a timely fashion. The candidate has been given post-grant expire time off. In spite of all these problems, the PI synthesized a number of new two-photon materials and studied the structure-activity correlation to arrive at the best-optimized structure. The PI's design proved to be one of the best in the sense that these materials has a hitherto unreported two-photon absorption cross section. Many materials based on PI's design was later made by the NASA colleague. This is Phase 1. Phase II of this grant is to orate liquid crystalline nature into this potentially useful materials and is currently in progress. Recent observations of nano- and pico-second response time of homeotropically aligned liquid crystals suggest their inherent potentials to act as laser hardening materials, i.e., as protective devices against short laser pulses. The objective of the current project is to exploit this potential by the synthesis of liquid crystals with high optical nonlinearity and optimizing their performance. The PI is trying structural variations to bring in liquid crystalline nature without losing the high two-photon cross section. Both Phase I and Phase II led to many invited presentations and publications in reputed journals like 'Science' and 'Molecular Crystals'. The list of presentations and reprints are enclosed. Another important and satisfying outcome of this grant is the opportunity that this grant offered to the budding undergraduate scientists to get involved in a visible research of international importance. All the students had a chance to learn a lot during research, had the opportunity to present their work at the National level conferences. They continue to retain their interest in their research and went on to accomplish further laurels.

Subramaniam, Girija↗

A User''s Guide to the Zwikker-Kosten Transmission Line Code (ZKTL)

This user's guide documents updates to the Zwikker-Kosten Transmission Line Code (ZKTL). This code was developed for analyzing new liner concepts developed to provide increased sound absorption. Contiguous arrays of multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) liner elements serve as the model for these liner configurations, and Zwikker and Kosten's theory of sound propagation in channels is used to predict the surface impedance. Transmission matrices for the various liner elements incorporate both analytical and semi-empirical methods. This allows standard matrix techniques to be employed in the code to systematically calculate the composite impedance due to the individual liner elements. The ZKTL code consists of four independent subroutines: 1. Single channel impedance calculation - linear version (SCIC) 2. Single channel impedance calculation - nonlinear version (SCICNL) 3. Multi-channel, multi-segment, multi-layer impedance calculation - linear version (MCMSML) 4. Multi-channel, multi-segment, multi-layer impedance calculation - nonlinear version (MCMSMLNL) Detailed examples, comments, and explanations for each liner impedance computation module are included. Also contained in the guide are depictions of the interactive execution, input files and output files.

Kelly, J. J.↗

Radiative amplification of sound waves in the winds of O and B stars

The velocity perturbation associated with an outwardly propagating sound wave in a radiation-driven stellar wind gives rise to a periodic Doppler shifting of absorption lines formed in the flow. A linearized theory applicable to optically thin waves is used to show that the resulting fluctuation in the absorption-line force can cause the wave amplitude to grow. Detailed calculations of the acceleration due to a large number of lines indicate that significant amplification can occur throughout the high-velocity portion of winds in which the dominant force-producing lines have appreciable optical depths. In the particular case of the wind of Zeta Pup (O4f), it is found that the e-folding distance for wave growth is considerably shorter than the scale lengths over which the physical properties of the flow vary. A qualitative estimate of the rate at which mechanical energy due to nonlinear waves can be dissipated suggests that this mechanism may be important in heating the supersonic portion of winds of early-type stars.

Macgregor, K. B.↗

EEG and chaos: Description of underlying dynamics and its relation to dissociative states

The goal of this work is the identification of states especially as related to the process of error production and lapses of awareness as might be experienced during aviation. Given the need for further articulation of the characteristics of 'error prone state' or 'hazardous state of awareness,' this NASA grant focused on basic ground work for the study of the psychophysiology of these states. In specific, the purpose of this grant was to establish the necessary methodology for addressing three broad questions. The first is how the error prone state should be conceptualized, and whether it is similar to a dissociative state, a hypnotic state, or absent mindedness. Over 1200 subjects completed a variety of psychometric measures reflecting internal states and proneness to mental lapses and absent mindedness; the study suggests that there exists a consistency of patterns displayed by individuals who self-report dissociative experiences such that those individuals who score high on measures of dissociation also score high on measures of absent mindedness, errors, and absorption, but not on scales of hypnotizability. The second broad question is whether some individuals are more prone to enter these states than others. A study of 14 young adults who scored either high or low on the dissociation experiences scale performed a series of six tasks. This study suggests that high and low dissociative individuals arrive at the experiment in similar electrocortical states and perform cognitive tasks (e.g., mental math) in a similar manner; it is in the processing of internal emotional states that differences begin to emerge. The third question to be answered is whether recent research in nonlinear dynamics, i.e., chaos, offer an addition and/or alternative to traditional signal processing methods, i.e., fast Fourier transforms, and whether chaos procedures can be modified to offer additional information useful in identifying brain states. A preliminary review suggests that current nonlinear dynamical techniques such as dimensional analysis can be successfully applied to electrocortical activity. Using the data set developed in the study of the young adults, chaos analyses using the Farmer algorithm were performed; it is concluded that dimensionality measures reflect information not contained in traditional EEG Fourier analysis.

Ray, William J.↗

Theory of a generalized Helmholtz resonator.

Based on the jet-flow model which is manifested in the nonlinearity of the orifice flow upon the passage of a high intensity wave, the theory of a generalized Helmholtz resonator has been developed. The results for some special devices, such as the conventional Helmholtz resonator and the quarter-wave tube, can be obtained through this general approach. The performance of the acoustic damper is characterized by a quantity known as the real part of the admittance coefficient. It is known that the conventional Helmholtz resonator has the lowest peak performance but the response is quite flat over a certain frequency range. On the other hand, a quarter-wave tube offers the largest peak in energy absorption with rather poor off-resonance behavior. Once the orifice length goes beyond the quarter-wave tube configuration, the performance of the so-called long damping device is even less attractive away from resonance.

Tang, P. K.↗

Slow Light in Coupled Resonator Optical Waveguides

Recently, we discovered that a splitting of the whispering gallery modes (WGMs) occurs in coupled resonator optical waveguides (CROWs), and that these split modes are of a higher Q than the single-resonator modes, leading to enormous circulating intensity magnification factors that dramatically reduce thresholds for nonlinear optical (NLO) processes. As a result of the enhancements in Q, pulses propagating at a split resonance can propagate much slower (faster) for over (under)-coupled structures, due to the modified dispersion near the split resonance. Moreover, when loss is considered, the mode-splitting may be thought of as analogous to the Autler-Townes splitting that occurs in atomic three-level lambda systems, i.e., it gives rise to induced transparency as a result of destructive interference. In under- or over-coupled CROWs, this coupled resonator induced transparency (CRIT) allows slow light to be achieved at the single-ring resonance with no absorption, while maintaining intensities such that NLO effects are maximized. The intensity magnification of the circulating fields and phase transfer characteristics are examined in detail.

Chang, Hongrok↗

Air- and Self-Broadened Half Widths, Pressure-Induced Shifts, and Line Mixing in the Nu(sub 2) Band of (12)CH4

Lorentz self- and air-broadened half width and pressure-induced shift coefficients and their dependences on temperature have been measured from laboratory absorption spectra for nearly 130 transitions in the nu(sub 2) band of (12)CH4. In addition line mixing coefficients (using the relaxation matrix element formalism) for both self- and airbroadening were experimentally determined for the first time for a small number of transitions in this band. Accurate line positions and absolute line intensities were also determined. These parameters were obtained by analyzing high-resolution (approx. 0.003 to 0.01 per cm) laboratory spectra of high-purity natural CH4 and air-broadened CH4 recorded at temperatures between 226 and 297 K using the McMath-Pierce Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) located at the National Solar Observatory on Kitt Peak, Arizona. A multispectrum nonlinear least squares technique was used to fit short (5-15 per cm) spectral intervals in 24-29 spectra simultaneously. Parameters were determined for nu(sub 2) transitions up to J" = 16. The variations of the measured broadening and shift parameters with the rotational quantum number index and tetrahedral symmetry species are examined. The present results are also compared with previous measurements available in the literature.

Smith, M. A. H.↗

A Compact Ti:Sapphire Laser With its Third Harmonic Generation (THG) for an Airborne Ozone Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) Transmitter

A compact and high-pulse-energy Ti:Sapphire laser with its Third Harmonic Generation (THG) has been developed for an airborne ozone differential absorption lidar (DIAL) to study the distributions and concentrations of the ozone throughout the troposphere. The Ti:Sapphire laser, pumped by a frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser and seeded by a single mode diode laser, is operated either at 867 nm or at 900 nm with a pulse repetition frequency of 20 Hz. High energy laser pulses (more than 110 mJ/pulse) at 867 nm or 900 nm with a desired beam quality have been achieved and utilized to generate its third harmonic at 289nm or 300nm, which are on-line and off-line wavelengths of an airborne ozone DIAL. After being experimentally compared with Beta-Barium Borate (beta - BaB2O4 or BBO) nonlinear crystals, two Lithium Triborate (LBO) crystals (5 x 5 x 20 cu mm) are selected for the Third Harmonic Generation (THG). In this paper, we report the Ti:Sapphire laser at 900 nm and its third harmonic at 300 nm. The desired high ultraviolet (UV) output pulse energy is more than 30 mJ at 300 nm and the energy conversion efficiency from 900 nm to 300 nm is 30%.

Chen, Songsheng↗

Statistical retrieval of precipitation cell-top altitude using passive 118-GHz observations

A nonlinear statistical-retrieval operator for precipitation cell-top altitude using high-spatial-resolution passive 118-GHz O2 brightness spectra is demonstrated. The retrieval operator consists of a Karhunen-Loeve transformation followed by a rank reduction, a linearization, and a linear minimum mean-square-error estimator. Information from the 118-GHz data on the ambient atmospheric-temperature profile and the precipitation cell size is also incorporated into the linear stage of the retrieval operator. The rms retrieval error is 1.5 km for cumulus-stage cells with tops ranging from 1.5 to 16 km. The sensitivity of nadiral 118-GHz spectra to the cell-top altitude is predominantly due to the scattering and absorption of radiation originating from low, warm atmospheric levels by colder liquid and frozen precipitation This effect causes cold perturbations in the brightness spectrum, which typically become stronger with increasing cell-top altitude.

Gasiewski, A. J.↗

High Resolution Spectroscopy to Support Atmospheric Measurements

Spectroscopic parameters (such as line position, intensity, broadening and shifting coefficients and their temperature dependences, line mixing coefficients etc.) for various molecular species of atmospheric interest are determined. In order to achieve these results, infrared spectra of several molecular bands are obtained using high-resolution recording instruments such as tunable diode laser spectrometer and Fourier transform spectrometers. Using sophisticated analysis routines (Multispectrum nonlinear least squares technique) these high-resolution infrared spectra are processed to determine the various spectral line parameters that are cited above. Spectra were taken using the McMath-Pierce Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) at the National Solar Observatory on Kitt Peak, Arizona as well as the Bruker FTS at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) at Richland, Washington. Most of the spectra are acquired not only at room temperature, but also at several different cold temperatures. This procedure is necessary to study the variation of the spectral line parameters as a function of temperature in order to simulate the Earth's and other planetary atmospheric environments. Depending upon the strength or weakness of the various bands recorded and analyzed, the length(s) of the absorption cells in which the gas samples under study are kept varied from a few centimeters up to several meters and the sample temperatures varied from approximately +30 C to -63 C. Research on several infrared bands of various molecular species and their isotopomers are undertaken. Those studies are briefly described.

Venkataraman, Malathy Devi↗