Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “ABSORPTION COEFFICIENT”

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 343 records · Page 19
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2000

Optical Control of Intersubband Absorption in a Multiple Quantum Well-Embedded Semiconductor Microcravity

Optical intersubband response of a multiple quantum well (MQW)-embedded microcavity driven by a coherent pump field is studied theoretically. The n-type doped MQW structure with three subbands in the conduction band is sandwiched between a semi-infinite medium and a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR). A strong pump field couples the two upper subbands and a weak field probes the two lower subbands. To describe the optical response of the MQW-embedded microcavity, we adopt a semi-classical nonlocal response theory. Taking into account the pump-probe interaction, we derive the probe-induced current density associated with intersubband transitions from the single-particle density-matrix formalism. By incorporating the current density into the Maxwell equation, we solve the probe local field exactly by means of Green's function technique and the transfer-matrix method. We obtain an exact expression for the probe absorption coefficient of the microcavity. For a GaAs/Al(sub x)Ga(sub 1-x)As MQW structure sandwiched between a GaAs/AlAs DBR and vacuum, we performed numerical calculations of the probe absorption spectra for different parameters such as pump intensity, pump detuning, and cavity length. We find that the probe spectrum is strongly dependent on these parameters. In particular, we find that the combination of the cavity effect and the Autler-Townes effect results in a triplet in the optical spectrum of the MQW system. The optical absorption peak value and its location can be feasibly controlled by varying the pump intensity and detuning.

Liu, Ansheng↗
NASA NTRS1969

A selective review of ground based passive microwave radiometric probing of the atmosphere

The absorption of the various atmospheric constituents with significant microwave spectra is reviewed. Based on the available data, an estimate is made of the uncertainty in the microwave absorption coefficients of the major constituents, water vapor and oxygen. Then there is an examination of the integral equations which describe the three basic types of observations: measurement of the spectrum of absorption of the sun's radiation by an atmospheric constituent, measurement of the emission spectrum of a constituent, and measurement at one frequency of the zenith angle dependence of the absorption or emission of the atmosphere.

Welch, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Collision-induced Absorption in the Infrared: A Data Base for Modelling Planetary and Stellar Atmospheres

Accurate knowledge of certain collision-induced absorption continua of molecular pairs such as H2-H2, H2-He, H2-CH4, CO2-CO2, etc., is a prerequisite for most spectral analyses and modelling attempts of atmospheres of planets and cold stars. We collect and regularly update simple, state of the art computer programs for the calculation of the absorption coefficient of such molecular pairs over a broad range of temperatures and frequencies, for the various rotovibrational bands. The computational results are in agreement with the existing laboratory measurements of such absorption continua, recorded with a spectral resolution of a few wavenumbers, but reliable computational results may be expected even in the far wings, and at temperatures for which laboratory measurements do not exist. Detailed information is given concerning the systems thus studied, the temperature and frequency ranges considered, the rotovibrational bands thus modelled, and how one may obtain copies of the FORTRAN77 computer programs by e-mail.

Borysow, Aleksandra↗
DOE OSTI2021

Robust and Spectrally Selective Aerogels for Solar Receivers

The development of next generation concentrated solar thermal (CST) plants requires solar receivers to reach high temperatures (> 600°C) while minimizing costs. Efficiently generating such high temperatures using a line-focusing collector and an air-stable receiver has the potential to change the current CSP paradigm because it would: (1) result in large improvements in system-level efficiency of line-focusing systems by enabling the use of high-efficiency supercritical CO 2 power cycles; (2) decrease the LCOE of line-focusing systems to meet SETO 2030 goals; (3) maintain performance over the lifetime of the CSP plant by avoiding issues related to breakdown of vacuum. The use of aerogels as transparent insulating materials (TIMs) in solar thermal receivers has the potential to enable such improvements. Specifically, aerogels can be placed in front of a black (or partially selective) high-temperature absorber to allow sunlight to transmit to the absorber but block heat from escaping. These materials can improve the efficiency and simplify the complexity of thermal transport systems by enabling operation at moderate or no vacuum levels. These potential benefits have been explicitly identified by SETO as ‘high impact’. The use of mesoporous silica as a TIM has already led to large improvements in solar collection efficiency. Nevertheless, these materials inherently lose structural integrity and the ability to suppress radiation losses at high temperatures. Here, we address these challenges by leveraging 1-cycle atomic layer deposition of aluminum oxide onto a silica aerogel to form a thermally stable interfacial layer that is transparent to sunlight but broadly absorbs in the mid-infrared. This interfacial absorption results in a two-fold reduction in measured heat losses from an absorber at 700°C and solar thermal efficiency of 81% at 700°C under 60 Suns, based on measurements of heat loss and solar transmittance. Extended-duration heat treatment reveals that the multicomponent aerogel is stable at high temperatures relative to a silica aerogel. Furthermore, we experimentally demonstrate the concept of using infrared plasmon resonances to selectively enhance the thermal absorption coefficient of TIMs in order to strongly suppress thermal radiative losses at high temperatures. We term this mechanism plasmon-enhanced greenhouse selectivity (PEGS). Unlike silica aerogels, where much of the IR absorption is lost at high temperatures, local surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) in doped oxide nanoparticles overlap a significant portion of the blackbody spectrum and are maintained at high temperatures. Overall, this work paves the way for next-generation solar thermal energy using thermally robust transparent insulating materials.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Robust and Spectrally Selective Aerogels for Solar Receivers (Final Technical Report)

The development of next generation concentrated solar thermal (CST) plants requires solar receivers to reach high temperatures (> 600°C) while minimizing costs. Efficiently generating such high temperatures using a line-focusing collector and an air-stable receiver has the potential to change the current CSP paradigm because it would: (1) result in large improvements in system-level efficiency of line-focusing systems by enabling the use of high-efficiency supercritical CO2 power cycles; (2) decrease the LCOE of line-focusing systems to meet SETO 2030 goals; (3) maintain performance over the lifetime of the CSP plant by avoiding issues related to breakdown of vacuum. The use of aerogels as transparent insulating materials (TIMs) in solar thermal receivers has the potential to enable such improvements. Specifically, aerogels can be placed in front of a black (or partially selective) high-temperature absorber to allow sunlight to transmit to the absorber but block heat from escaping. These materials can improve the efficiency and simplify the complexity of thermal transport systems by enabling operation at moderate or no vacuum levels. These potential benefits have been explicitly identified by SETO as ‘high impact’. The use of mesoporous silica as a TIM has already led to large improvements in solar collection efficiency. Nevertheless, these materials inherently lose structural integrity and the ability to suppress radiation losses at high temperatures. Here, we address these challenges by leveraging 1-cycle atomic layer deposition of aluminum oxide onto a silica aerogel to form a thermally stable interfacial layer that is transparent to sunlight but broadly absorbs in the mid-infrared. This interfacial absorption results in a two-fold reduction in measured heat losses from an absorber at 700°C and solar thermal efficiency of 81% at 700°C under 60 Suns, based on measurements of heat loss and solar transmittance. Extended-duration heat treatment reveals that the multicomponent aerogel is stable at high temperatures relative to a silica aerogel. Furthermore, we experimentally demonstrate the concept of using infrared plasmon resonances to selectively enhance the thermal absorption coefficient of TIMs in order to strongly suppress thermal radiative losses at high temperatures. We term this mechanism plasmon-enhanced greenhouse selectivity (PEGS). Unlike silica aerogels, where much of the IR absorption is lost at high temperatures, local surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) in doped oxide nanoparticles overlap a significant portion of the blackbody spectrum and are maintained at high temperatures. Overall, this work paves the way for next-generation solar thermal energy using thermally robust transparent insulating materials.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1974

Finite amplitude waves in two-dimensional lined ducts

A second-order uniform expansion is obtained for nonlinear wave propagation in a two-dimensional duct lined with a point-reacting acoustic material consisting of a porous sheet followed by honeycomb cavities and backed by the impervious wall of the duct. The waves in the duct are coupled with those in the porous sheet and the cavities. An analytical expression is obtained for the absorption coefficient in terms of the sound frequency, the physical properties of the porous sheet, and the geometrical parameters of the flow configuration. The results show that the nonlinearity flattens and broadens the absorption vs. frequency curve, irrespective of the geometrical dimensions or the porous material acoustic properties, in agreement with experimental observations.

Nayfeh, A. H.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Subbarrier absorption in a stationary superlattice

The calculation of the interband absorption coefficient was carried out in the classical case, when the frequency of light was assumed to bind two miniband subbarrier states of different bands. The influence of two dimensional Mott excitons on this absorption was studied and a comparison was made with the experiment. All of these considerations were done taking into account the photon wave vector (the phase spatial heterogeneity). The basic traits of the energy spectra of superlattice semiconductors, their kinetic and optical properties, and possible means of electromagnetic wave intensification were examined. By the density matrix method, a theory of electrical and electromagnetic properties of superlattices was suggested.

Arutyunyan, G. M.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Laboratory Measurements of Celestial Solids

Our experimental study has focused on laboratory measurements of the low temperature optical properties of a variety of astronomically significant materials in the infrared and mm-wave region of the spectrum. Our far infrared measurements of silicate grains with an open structure have produced a variety of unusual results: (1) the low temperature mass opacity coefficient of small amorphous 2MgO(central dot)SiO2 and MgO(central dot)2SiO2 grains are many times larger than the values previously used for interstellar grain material; (2) all of the amorphous silicate grains studied possess the characteristic temperature dependent signature associated with two level systems in bulk glass; and (3) a smaller but nonzero two level temperature dependence signature is also observed for crystalline particles, its physical origin is unclear. These laboratory measurements yield surprisingly large and variable values for the mm-wave absorption coefficients of small silicate particles similar to interstellar grains, and suggest that the bulk absorptivity of interstellar dust at these long wavelengths will not be well known without such studies. Furthermore, our studies have been useful to better understand the physics of the two level absorption process in amorphous and crystalline grains to gain confidence in the wide applicability of these results.

Sievers, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Photorefractive gain in GaAs under a dc electric field

This paper reports on the first observation of a photorefractive gain coefficient as high as 2.6/cm in the undoped liquid-encapsulated Czochralski-grown GaAs crystals at 1.06 microns under a dc electric field of 13 kV/cm without using the moving grating technique.The absorption coefficient of the crystals used is 1.3/cm, showing that a net gain has been achieved. This measured gain coefficient is close to the predicted theoretical value.

Liu, Duncan T. H.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Charged particle modification of surfaces in the outer solar system

Voyager reflectance spectra data have indicated clear leading/trailing differences in the albedo of the icy Galilean and Saturian satellites. For the Galilean satellites, these have been analyzed by Nelson, et al. and, more recently, by McEwen. They have described the longitudinal dependence of this data and attempted to interpret this in terms of plasma and meteorite modification of the surface. Primary attention has been paid to Europa at which the leading/trailing differences are the largest. This data was reanalyzed extracting the single grain albedo (w) and constructing the Espat-function, W = (1-w)/w from this. Because w is near unity, W is approximately 2(alpha)D where alpha is the absorption coefficient and D is the grain size. In doing so, a direct comparison to the longitudinal plasma bombardment flux was found for the first time. This occurs primarily in the UV and is probably due to an absorption associated with implanted S, as the UV band of Voyager overlaps the IUE data of Lane et al. The relative importance of grain size effects and implant impurity effects can now be studied.

Johnson, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1985

High temperature measurement of water vapor absorption

An investigation was undertaken to measure the absorption coefficient, at a wavelength of 10.6 microns, for mixtures of water vapor and a diluent gas at high temperature and pressure. The experimental concept was to create the desired conditions of temperature and pressure in a laser absorption wave, similar to that which would be created in a laser propulsion system. A simplified numerical model was developed to predict the characteristics of the absorption wave and to estimate the laser intensity threshold for initiation. A non-intrusive method for temperature measurement utilizing optical laser-beam deflection (OLD) and optical spark breakdown produced by an excimer laser, was thoroughly investigated and found suitable for the non-equilibrium conditions expected in the wave. Experiments were performed to verify the temperature measurement technique, to screen possible materials for surface initiation of the laser absorption wave and to attempt to initiate an absorption wave using the 1.5 kW carbon dioxide laser. The OLD technique was proven for air and for argon, but spark breakdown could not be produced in helium. It was not possible to initiate a laser absorption wave in mixtures of water and helium or water and argon using the 1.5 kW laser, a result which was consistent with the model prediction.

Keefer, Dennis↗
NASA NTRS1989

Narrow bandgap semiconducting silicides: Intrinsic infrared detectors on a silicon chip

Polycrystalline thin films of CrSi2, LaSi2, and ReSi2 were grown on silicon substrates. Normal incidence optical transmittance and reflectance measurements were made as a function of wavelength. It was demonstrated that LaSi2 is a metallic conductor, but that CrSi2 and ReSi2 are, in fact, narrow bandgap semiconductors. For CrSi2, the complex index of refraction was determined by computer analysis of the optical data. From the imaginary part, the optical absorption coefficient was determined as a function of photon energy. It was shown that CrSi2 possesses an indirect forbidden energy gap of slightly less than 0.31 eV, and yet it is a very strong absorber of light above the absorption edge. On the other hand, the ReSi2 films exhibit an absorption edge in the vicinity of 0.2 eV. Measurements of the thermal activation energy of resistivity for ReSi2 indicate a bandgap of 0.18 eV. It is concluded that the semiconducting silicides merit further investigation for development as new silicon-compatible infrared detector materials.

Mahan, John E.↗
NASA NTRS2008

The Influence of Ablation on Radiative Heating for Earth Entry

Using the coupled ablation and radiation capability recently included in the LAURA flowfield solver, this paper investigates the influence of ablation on the shock-layer radiative heating for Earth entry. The extension of the HARA radiation model, which provides the radiation predictions in LAURA, to treat a gas consisting of the elements C, H, O, and N is discussed. It is shown that the absorption coefficient of air is increased with the introduction of the C and H elements. A simplified shock layer model is studied to show the impact of temperature, as well as the abundance of C and H, on the net absorption or emission from an ablation contaminated boundary layer. It is found that the ablation species reduce the radiative flux in the vacuum ultraviolet, through increased absorption, for all temperatures. However, in the infrared region of the spectrum, the ablation species increase the radiative flux, through strong emission, for temperatures above 3,000 K. Thus, depending on the temperature and abundance of ablation species, the contaminated boundary layer may either provide a net increase or decrease in the radiative flux reaching the wall. To assess the validity of the coupled ablation and radiation LAURA analysis, a previously analyzed Mars-return case (15.24 km/s), which contains significant ablation and radiation coupling, is studied. Exceptional agreement with previous viscous shock-layer results is obtained. A 40% decrease in the radiative flux is predicted for ablation rates equal to 20% of the free-stream mass flux. The Apollo 4 peak-heating case (10.24 km/s) is also studied. For ablation rates up to 3.4% of the free-stream mass flux, the radiative heating is reduced by up to 19%, while the convective heating is reduced by up to 87%. Good agreement with the Apollo 4 radiometer data is obtained by considering absorption in the radiometer cavity. For both the Mars return and the Apollo 4 cases, coupled radiation alone is found to reduce the radiative heating by 30 60% and the convective heating by less than 5%.

Johnston, Christopher O.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Photoaging of phenolic secondary organic aerosol in the aqueous phase: evolution of chemical and optical properties and effects of oxidants

Abstract. While gas-phase reactions are well established to have significant impacts on the mass concentration, chemical composition, and optical properties of secondary organic aerosol (SOA), the aqueous-phase aging of SOA remains poorly understood. In this study, we performed a series of long-duration photochemical aging experiments to investigate the evolution of the composition and light absorption of the aqueous SOA (aqSOA) from guaiacyl acetone (GA), a semivolatile phenolic carbonyl that is common in biomass burning smoke. The aqSOA was produced from reactions of GA with hydroxyl radical (•OH-aqSOA) or a triplet excited state of organic carbon (3C∗-aqSOA) and was then photoaged in water under conditions that simulate sunlight exposure in northern California for up to 48 h. The effects of increasing aqueous-phase •OH or 3C∗ concentration on the photoaging of the aqSOA were also studied. High-resolution aerosol mass spectrometry (HR-AMS) and UV–Vis spectroscopy were utilized to characterize the composition and the light absorptivity of the aqSOA and to track their changes during aging. Compared to •OH-aqSOA, the 3C∗-aqSOA is produced more rapidly and shows less oxidation, a greater abundance of oligomers, and higher light absorption. Prolonged photoaging promotes fragmentation and the formation of more volatile and less light-absorbing products. More than half of the initial aqSOA mass is lost, and substantial photobleaching occurs after 10.5 h of prolonged aging under simulated sunlight illumination for 3C∗-aqSOA and 48 h for •OH-aqSOA. By performing positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis of the combined HR-AMS and UV–Vis spectral data, we resolved three generations of aqSOA with distinctly different chemical and optical properties. The first-generation aqSOA shows significant oligomer formation and enhanced light absorption at 340–400 nm. The second-generation aqSOA is enriched in functionalized GA species and has the highest mass absorption coefficients in 300–500 nm, while the third-generation aqSOA contains more fragmented products and is the least light absorbing. These results suggest that intermediately aged phenolic aqSOA is more light absorbing than other generations, and that the light absorptivity of phenolic aqSOA results from a competition between brown carbon (BrC) formation and photobleaching, which is dependent on aging time. Although photoaging generally increases the oxidation of aqSOA, a slightly decreased O/C of the •OH-aqSOA is observed after 48 h of prolonged photoaging with additional •OH exposure. This is likely due to greater fragmentation and evaporation of highly oxidized compounds. Increased oxidant concentration accelerates the transformation of aqSOA and promotes the decay of BrC chromophores, leading to faster mass reduction and photobleaching. In addition, compared with •OH, photoaging by 3C∗ produces more low-volatility functionalized products, which counterbalances part of the aqSOA mass loss due to fragmentation and evaporation.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1973

A search for global and seasonal variation of methane from Nimbus 4 IRIS measurements

The Nimbus 4 infrared interferometer spectrometer (IRIS) measurements in the region around wave number 1304 show absorption due to methane in the earth's atmosphere. From the laboratory measurements of the absorption coefficient and a selected vertical distribution corresponding to 1.13 atm cm of methane, a theoretical model for the transmittance at wave number 1304 is developed. The weighting function deduced from this model shows a maximum around 300 mb. Some weak absorption due to nitrous oxide in the atmosphere has been taken into account. The vertical temperature profile, derived from the 15 micron CO2 band in the IRIS spectrum, together with the methane weighting function have been used in a consistent way to compute the upwelling intensity at wave number 1304. The brightness temperature corresponding to the IRIS observed radiance at wave number 1304 has been compared with the brightness temperature deduced from the calculated upwelling intensity from 80 deg North to 80 deg South and for different periods of the year. This comparison shows that the two brightness temperatures agree with one another to within the accuracy of measurements about 2 K. From this result it was found that global or seasonal variability of methane is less than + or - 0.25 atm cm.

Prabhakara, C.↗
NASA NTRS1995

In situ phytoplankton absorption, fluorescence emission, and particulate backscattering spectra determined from reflectance

An inverse model was developed to extract the absortion and scattering (elastic and inelastic) properties of oceanic constituents from surface spectral reflectance measurements. In particular, phytoplankton spectral absorption coefficients, solar-stimulated chlorophyll a fluorescence spectra, and particle backscattering spectra were modeled. The model was tested on 35 reflectance spectra obtained from irradiance measurements in optically diverse ocean waters (0.07 to 25.35 mg/cu m range in surface chlorophyll a concentrations). The universality of the model was demonstrated by the accurate estimation of the spectral phytoplankton absorption coefficents over a range of 3 orders of magnitude (rho = 0.94 at 500 nm). Under most oceanic conditions (chlorophyll a less than 3 mg/cu m) the percent difference between measured and modeled phytoplankton absorption coefficents was less than 35%. Spectral variations in measured phytoplankton absorption spectra were well predicted by the inverse model. Modeled volume fluorescence was weakly correlated with measured chl a; fluorescence quantum yield varied from 0.008 to 0.09 as a function of environment and incident irradiance. Modeled particle backscattering coefficients were linearly related to total particle cross section over a twentyfold range in backscattering coefficents (rho = 0.996, n = 12).

Roesler, Collin S.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Detection of volcanic eruptions from space by their sulfur dioxide clouds

The capabilities of the total ozone mapping spectrometer (TOMS) on the Nimbus 7 satellite for tracking volcano plumes are assessed. TOMS was installed on the sun-synchronous polar orbiting satellite to measure spatial variations in the global total ozone field. Radiance absorption coefficients of the atmosphere for four near-UV wavelengths from 312.5-380.0 are measured. Data from the El Chichon eruption in March-April 1982 revealed that SO2 was an absorbing species at 312.5 and 317.5 nm. The near-UV absorption level differences between SO2 and O3 permit discriminating the atmospheric densities of each species. An examination of the data base generated by TOMS since 1978 showed the perceptible tracks of all known major eruptions in the 1978-1982 time period. A constellation of three of the polar orbiting TOMS would be sufficient to provide near-real time alerts of plumes to warn aircraft of the hazards.

Krueger, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Radio observations of the planets - The importance of laboratory measurements

Laboratory data on the line broadening parameters of H2S gas under Uranian/Neptunian conditions, on the far wings of the H2S and NH3 line profiles, and on the dielectric properties of CH4-, NH3-, H2S-, and NH4SH-ice are needed to constrain elemental abundances and understand the dynamics and cloud physics in the atmospheres of the giant planets. Measurements of the absorption coefficient of gaseous H2SO4 at millimeter wavelengths are needed in order to obtain a better understanding of Venus' atmosphere. To determine wind velocity fields in Venus' and Mars' atmospheres, accurate measurements of the center frequencies of the CO lines are necessary. The absorption and scattering properties of lunar soils and/or terrestrial rock powders at frequencies from approximately 1 to 200 GHz, determined in laboratory experiments, would provide a valuable addition to existing data at 450 MHz, 35 GHz, and far infrared frequencies. These data would be used to analyze the microwave spectra of planetary surfaces. Such studies may be helpful in distinguishing the effects of radiative transfer from those of nonlinear heat conduction and internal heat sources.

De Pater, Imke↗