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At least 253 records · Page 14

Formation of chromospheric resonance line profiles in supergiants

The formation of chromospheric resonance line profiles is examined for the case of the relatively low-density atmospheres appropriate to late-type supergiants. The effects of partial frequency redistribution control the emergent line profiles, to the extent that even an isothermal atmosphere can give rise to apparent emission features. Schematic model chromospheres are used to demonstrate the effects of different velocity fields and temperature-density structures on the line profiles, as a first step toward a clearer understanding of the chromospheric line profiles and why supergiants have broad emission lines (the Wilson-Bappu effect). Neither the Doppler nor the mass column density explanation alone can explain the Wilson-Bappu effect in supergiants, but both theories may play a role.

Basri, G. S.↗

Magnetic Compensation for Second-Order Doppler Shift in LITS

The uncertainty in the frequency of a linear-ion-trap frequency standard (LITS) can be reduced substantially by use of a very small magnetic inhomogeneity tailored to compensate for the residual second-order Doppler shift. An effect associated with the relativistic time dilatation, one cause of the second-order Doppler shift, is ion motion that is attributable to the trapping radio-frequency (RF)electromagnetic field used to trap ions. The second-order Doppler shift is reduced by using a multi-pole trap; however it is still the largest source of systematic frequency shift in the latest generation of LITSs, which are among the most stable clocks in the world. The present compensation scheme reduces the frequency instability of the affected LITS to about a tenth of its previous value. The basic principles of prior generation LITSs were discussed in several prior NASA Tech Briefs articles. Below are recapitulated only those items of basic information necessary to place the present development in context. A LITS includes a microwave local oscillator, the frequency of which is stabilized by comparison with the frequency of the ground state hyperfine transition of 199Hg+ ions. The comparison involves a combination of optical and microwave excitation and interrogation of the ions in a linear ion trap in the presence of a nominally uniform magnetic field. In the current version of the LITS, there are two connected traps (see figure): (1) a quadrupole trap wherein the optical excitation and measurement take place and (2) a 12-pole trap (denoted the resonance trap), wherein the microwave interrogation takes place. The ions are initially loaded into the quadrupole trap and are thereafter shuttled between the two traps. Shuttling ions into the resonance trap allows sensitive microwave interrogation to take place well away from loading interference. The axial magnetic field for the resonance trap is generated by an electric current in a finely wound wire coil surrounded by magnetic shields. In the quadrupole and 12-pole traps, the potentials are produced by RF voltages applied to even numbers (4 and 12, respectively) of parallel rods equally spaced around a circle. The polarity of the voltage on each rod is opposite that of the voltage on the adjacent rod. As a result, the amplitude of the RF trapping field is zero along the centerline and increases, with radius, to a maximum value near the rods.

Burt, Eric↗

High-resolution spectroscopy of uranium laser-produced plasma using saturated absorption spectroscopy

High-resolution spectroscopy of laser ablation plumes or laser-produced plasmas (LPPs) is valuable for various applications, including measuring crowded spectral features, determining spectroscopic constants, characterizing plasmas, and performing isotopic analysis. However, various line broadening mechanisms in plasmas limit its use for several applications. Here, in this study, we present the use of saturated absorption spectroscopy (SAS) for Doppler-free linewidth analysis in a uranium LPP. We demonstrate that SAS is effective in obtaining Doppler-free Lamb dip profiles with linewidths on the order of ≤ 20 MHz. The effects of saturation on the Doppler-broadened absorption and Lamb dip profiles at different pressures and probe intensities are quantified, and their impact on measurements of plasma properties is discussed. Finally, we show that the linewidths of the Lamb dips can be used for quantitative estimates of pressure and natural broadening in the plasma.

Absorption spectroscopy↗

A relative performance analysis of atmospheric Laser Doppler Velocimeter methods.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of atmospheric applications of a Laser Doppler Velocimeter (LDV) at a wavelength of about 0.5 micrometer in conjunction with dual scatter LDV illuminating techniques, or at a wavelength of 10.6 micrometer with local oscillator LDV illuminating techniques. Equations and examples are given to provide a quantitative basis for LDV system selection and performance criteria in atmospheric research. The comparative study shows that specific ranges and conditions exist where performance of one of the methods is superior to that of the other. It is also pointed out that great care must be exercised in choosing system parameters that optimize a particular LDV designed for atmospheric applications.

Farmer, W. M.↗

Beaming in blazars

Relativistic beaming of radiation is generally invoked to explain the extreme properties of blazars. The simplest synchrotron-self-Compton (SSC) model is applied to all blazars that have been observed in the X-ray region and have known VLBI sizes, and the minimum kinematic Doppler factor for each source is derived. All high polarization quasars (HPQs), but only half of the 30 BL Lac objects in the sample require relativistic enhancement of radiation due to beaming effects. The different Doppler factor distributions for the two classes of sources argue against the hypothesis that BL Lacs could be low-luminosity HPQs whose strong emission lines are swamped out by the boosted nonthermal continuum. Thus HPQs and BL Lacs could be intrinsically different in their physical structure.

Madau, P.↗

Estimation and correction of advection effects with single and multiple, conventional and Doppler radars

The laws of fluid motion are invariant under a Gallilean transformation. For a perfect observing system, the data analysis should, therefore, also be invariant under a Gallilean transformation. This invariance is often not preserved in practical observing systems. In this connection, it is often advisable to perform mesoscale analysis in a frame moving with respect to the earth's surface. In the present investigation the velocity of such a frame is referred to as an advection velocity. The investigation is concerned with remaining problems regarding the Gallilean transformation. The establishment of a frame of reference for the achievement of maximum coherence is considered, taking into account the case of given nonsimultaneous observations of scalars or Cartesian vectors. It is found that advection speed can be estimated objectively if a scalar or Cartesian vector can be observed directly and if, in addition, the time and position of each observation is approximately known.

Gal-Chen, T.↗

Heterodyne Doppler 1-micron lidar measurement of reduced effective telescope aperture due to atmospheric turbulence

A pulsed Nd:YAG bistatic focused-beam lidar allowing simultaneous heterodyne and direct detection of the same lidar returns has been experimentally employed to ascertain the effect of atmospheric turbulence on heterodyne and direct-detection lidar at 1 micron, by measuring the average carrier-to-noise ratio and statistical fluctuation level in the return signals under various experimental and atmospheric conditions. Atmospheric turbulence is found capable of reducing the lidar receiver's effective telescope aperture and heterodyne detection efficiency. This observed effective-aperture limitation functionally resembles predictions based on the Clifford and Wandzura (1981) heterodyne wavefront detection theory.

Chan, Kin Pui↗

GEOS-3 Doppler difference tracking

The Doppler difference method as applied to track the GEOS 3 spacecraft is discussed. In this method a pair of 2 GHz ground tracking stations simultaneously track a spacecraft beacon to generate an observable signal in which bias and instability of the carrier frequency cancel. The baselines are formed by the tracking sites at Bermuda, Rosman, and Merritt Island. Measurements were made to evaluate the effectiveness of the Doppler differencing procedure in tracking a beacon target with the high dynamic rate of the GEOS 3 orbit. Results indicate the precision of the differenced data to be at a level comparable to the conventional precise two way Doppler tracking.

Rosenbaum, B.↗

Abundances in late-type giants.

The narrow-band photometry of Spinrad and Taylor (1969) is analyzed by the synthetic spectra technique. Surface gravities, Doppler broadening velocities, effective temperatures, and metal abundances are determined for 131 K giants. Evolutionary tracks and gravities determined from the photometry are used to give space positions, space velocities, and absolute magnitudes of the 131 stars. We conclude that a class of stars exists with metals and/or nitrogen significantly enhanced with respect to the sun; further that these stars have average space motions similar to those of moderately old Population I stars. The Doppler broadening velocity is found to be a strong function of temperature for K giants, and in some cases, possibly a function of surface gravity.

Gottlieb, D. M.↗

Effects of duration and other noise characteristics on the annoyance caused by aircraft-flyover noise

A laboratory experiment was conducted to determine the effects of duration and other noise characteristics on the annoyance caused by aircraft-flyover noise. Duration, doppler shift, and spectra were individually controlled by specifying aircraft operational factors, such as velocity, altitude, and spectrum, in a computer synthesis of the aircraft-noise stimuli. This control allowed the separation of the effects of duration from the other main factors in the experimental design: velocity, tonal content, and sound pressure level. The annoyance of a set of noise stimuli which were comprised of factorial combinations of a 3 durations, 3 velocities, 3 sound pressure levels, and 2 tone conditions were judged. The judgements were made by using a graphical scale procedure similar to numerical category scaling. Each of the main factors except velocity was found to affect the judged annoyance significantly. The interaction of tonal content with sound pressure level was also found to be significant. The duration correction used in the effective-perceived-noise-level procedure, 3 dB per doubling of effective duration, was found to account most accurately for the effect of duration. No significant effect doppler shift was found.

Mccurdy, D. A.↗