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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.

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At least 37 records · Page 2

Scattered light and accuracy of the cross-section measurements of weak absorptions: Gas and liquid phase UV absorption cross sections of CH3CFCl2

Ultraviolet absorption cross sections of CH3CFCl2(HCFC-141b) were determined in the gas phase (190-260 nm) and liquid phase (230-260 mm) at 298 K. The liquid phase absorption cross sections were then converted into accurate gas phase values using a previously described procedure. It has been demonstrated that scattered light from the shorter-wavelength region (as little as several parts per thousand) can seriously compromise the absorption cross-section measurement, particularly at longer wavelengths where cross sections are low, and can be a source of discrepancies in the cross sections of weakly absorbing halocarbons reported in the literature. A modeling procedure was developed to assess the effect of scattered light on the measured absorption cross section in our experiments, thereby permitting appropriate corrections to be made on the experimental values. Modeled and experimental results were found to be in good agreement. Experimental results from this study were compared with other available determinations and provide accurate input for calculating the atmospheric lifetime of HCFC-141b.

Fahr, A.↗

nBn and pBp infrared detectors with graded barrier layer, graded absorption layer, or chirped strained layer super lattice absorption layer

An nBn detector is described where for some embodiments the barrier layer has a concentration gradient, for some embodiments the absorption layer has a concentration gradient, and for some embodiments the absorption layer is a chirped strained layer super lattice. The use of a graded barrier or absorption layer, or the use of a chirped strained layer super lattice for the absorption layer, allows for design of the energy bands so that the valence band may be aligned across the device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Gunapala, Sarath D.↗

The ultraviolet absorption spectrum of the quasar PKS 0405-12 and the local density of Lyman-alpha absorption systems

A sample of 32 absorption lines has been identified in the ultraviolet spectrum of the z = 0.57 quasar PKS 0405-12. Data cover the wavelength range 1190-3260 A. There are 10 extragalactic Ly-alpha absorption lines in the complete sample, all with observed equivalent widths greater than or equal to 0.40 A; three of the Ly-alpha lines have Ly-beta counterparts. The number of Ly-alpha lines observed in the spectrum of PKS 0405-12 is within 1 sigma of the number predicted on the basis of previous HST observations of 3C 273 and of H1821 + 643. Combining the HST observations of 3C 273, H1821 + 643, and PKS 0405-12, we estimate the local number density of Ly-alpha systems with rest equivalent widths larger than 0.32 A to be about 15 +/- 4 Ly-alpha lines per unit redshift. Ground-based images reveal a rich field of galaxies in the direction of PKS 0405-12, including many galaxies with the brightnesses and sizes expected if they belong to a cluster associated with the quasar. The quasar spectrum does not show any evidence for absorption at the redshift of the emission lines, indicating a covering factor of less than unity for the halos of galaxies in the cluster around PKS 0405 - 12.

Bahcall, John N.↗

Strong X-Ray Absorption in a Broad Absorption Line Quasar: PHL 5200

We present ASCA observations of the z = 1.98 prototype broad absorption line quasar (BALQSO):PHL5200. The source was detected in both SIS and GIS. A power-law spectrum (alpha(sub E) = 0.6(sup +0.9)(sub -0.6) with large intrinsic absorption (N(sub H) = 1.3(sup +2.3)(sub -1.1) x 10(exp 23)/sq cm) best describes the spectrum. Excess column density over the local Galactic value is required at the 99% confidence level. This detection suggests that, although BALQSOs are X-ray-quiet, it is strong absorption in the BAL region that makes them appear faint to low-energy X-ray experiments. The required intrinsic absorbing column density is 2-3 orders of magnitude larger than earlier estimates of column densities in BALQSOs. This implies that the BAL systems are much more highly ionized than was previously thought.

Mathur, Smita↗

Absorption of Sunlight by Water Vapor in Cloudy Conditions: A Partial Explanation for the Cloud Absorption Anomaly

The atmospheric radiative transfer algorithms used in most global general circulation models underestimate the globally-averaged solar energy absorbed by cloudy atmospheres by up to 25 W/sq m. The origin of this anomalous absorption is not yet known, but it has been attributed to a variety of sources including oversimplified or missing physical processes in these models, uncertainties in the input data, and even measurement errors. Here, a sophisticated atmospheric radiative transfer model was used to provide a more comprehensive description of the physical processes that contribute to the absorption of solar radiation by the Earth's atmosphere. We found that the amount of sunlight absorbed by a cloudy atmosphere is inversely proportional to the solar zenith angle and the cloud top height, and directly proportional to the cloud optical depth and the water vapor concentration within the clouds. Atmospheres with saturated, optically-thick, low clouds absorbed about 12 W/sq m more than clear atmospheres. This accounts for about 1/2 to 1/3 of the anomalous ab- sorption. Atmospheres with optically thick middle and high clouds usually absorb less than clear atmospheres. Because water vapor is concentrated within and below the cloud tops, this absorber is most effective at small solar zenith angles. An additional absorber that is distributed at or above the cloud tops is needed to produce the amplitude and zenith angle dependence of the observed anomalous absorption.

Crisp, D.↗

Strong X-Ray Absorption in a Broad Absorption Line Quasar: PHL 5200

We present ASCA observations of the z=1.98 prototype broad absorption line quasar (BALQSO): PHL 5200. The source detected in both SIS and GIS. A power-law spectrum (alpha(sub epsilon)=0.6(sup 0.9)(sub -0.6)) with large intrinsic absorption (N(sub H)=1.3(sup 2.3)(sub -1.1)x10(exp 23)cm(exp -2)) best describes the spectrum. Excess column density over the local Galactic value is required at the 99% confidence level. This detection suggests that although BALQSOs are X-ray-quiet, it is strong absorption in the BAL region that makes them appear faint to low-energy X-ray experiments. The required intrinsic absorbing column density is 2-3 orders of magnitude larger than earlier estimates of column densities in BALQSOs. This implies that the BAL systems are much more highly ionized than was previously thought.

Mathur, Smita↗

Characterization of the oral absorption of several aminopenicillins: determination of intrinsic membrane absorption parameters in the rat intestine in situ

The absorption mechanism of several penicillins was characterized using in situ single-pass intestinal perfusion in the rat. The intrinsic membrane parameters were determined using a modified boundary layer model (fitted value +/- S.E.): Jmax* = 11.78 +/- 1.88 mM, Km = 15.80 +/- 2.92 mM, Pm* = 0, Pc* = 0.75 +/- 0.04 for ampicillin; Jmax* = 0.044 +/- 0.018 mM, Km = 0.058 +/- 0.026 mM, Pm* = 0.558 +/- 0.051, Pc* = 0.757 +/- 0.088 for amoxicillin; and Jmax* = 16.30 +/- 3.40 mM, Km = 14.00 +/- 3.30 mM, Pm* = 0, Pc* = 1.14 +/- 0.05 for cyclacillin. All of the aminopenicillins studied demonstrated saturable absorption kinetics as indicated by their concentration-dependent wall permeabilities. Inhibition studies were performed to confirm the existence of a nonpassive absorption mechanism. The intrinsic wall permeability (Pw*) of 0.01 mM ampicillin was significantly lowered by 1 mM amoxicillin and the Pw* of 0.01 mM amoxicillin was reduced by 2 mM cephradine consistent with competitive inhibition.

Non-NASA Center↗

Microstructure and water absorption of ancient concrete from Pompeii: An integrated synchrotron microtomography and neutron radiography characterization

There is renewed interest in using advanced techniques to characterize ancient Roman concrete due to its exceptional durability and low-carbon footprint. In the present work, samples were drilled from the “Hospitium” in Pompeii and were analyzed by synchrotron microtomography (μCT) and neutron radiography to study how the microstructure, including the presence of induced cracks, affects their water adsorption. The water distribution and absorptivity were quantified by neutron radiography. The 3D crack propagation, pore size distribution and orientation, tortuosity, and connectivity were analyzed from μCT results using advanced imaging methods. Porosity was also measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) as a reference. Ductile fracture patterns were observed once cracks were introduced. Compared to Portland cement mortar/concrete, the Pompeii samples had relatively high porosity, low connectivity, and a similar coefficient of capillary penetration. In addition, permeability was predicted from models based on percolation theory and pore structure data to evaluate the fluid transport properties. Understanding the microstructure of ancient Pompeii concrete is important because it could inspire the development of modern concrete with high durability.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Exploring the impact of ions on oxygen K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy in NaCl solution using the GW-Bethe-Salpeter-equation approach

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is a powerful experimental tool to probe the local structure in materials with the core hole excitations. Here, the oxygen K-edge XAS spectra of the NaCl solution and pure water are computed by using a recently developed GW-Bethe-Salpeter equation approach, based on configurations modeled by path-integral molecular dynamics with the deep-learning technique. The neural network is trained on ab initio data obtained with strongly constrained and appropriately normed density functional theory. The observed changes in the XAS features of the NaCl solution, compared to those of pure water, are in good agreement between experimental and theoretical results. We provided detailed explanations for these spectral changes that occur when NaCl is solvated in pure water. Specifically, the presence of solvating ion pairs leads to localization of electron-hole excitons. As a result, our theoretical XAS results support the theory that the effects of the solvating ions on the H-bond network are mainly confined within the first hydration shell of ions, however beyond the shell the arrangement of water molecules remains to be comparable to that observed in pure water.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Enhanced Water Vapor Absorption within Tropospheric Clouds: A Partial Explanation for Anomalous Absorption

Comparisons between solar flux measurements and predictions obtained from theoretical radiative transfer models indicate that most of these models underestimate the globally averaged solar energy absorbed by cloudy atmospheres by up to 25Wm&sup-2;.The origin of this anomalous absorption has not yet been established, but it has been attributed to a variety of sources including oversimplified or missing physical processes in the existing models, uncertainties in the input data, and even measurement errors. We used a sophisticated atmospheric radiative transfer model to provide improved constraints on the physical processes that contribute to the absorption of solar radiation by Earth's atmosphere. The results are described herein.

solar flux measurement water vapor absorption atmo↗

Weak Hard X-Ray Emission from Two Broad Absorption Line Quasars Observed with NuStar: Compton-Thick Absorption or Intrinsic X-Ray Weakness?

We present Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) hard X-ray observations of two X-ray weak broad absorption line (BAL) quasars, PG 1004+130 (radio loud) and PG 1700+518 (radio quiet). Many BAL quasars appear X-ray weak, probably due to absorption by the shielding gas between the nucleus and the accretion-disk wind. The two targets are among the optically brightest BAL quasars, yet they are known to be significantly X-ray weak at rest-frame 2-10 keV (16-120 times fainter than typical quasars). We would expect to obtain approx. or equal to 400-600 hard X-ray (is greater than or equal to 10 keV) photons with NuSTAR, provided that these photons are not significantly absorbed N(sub H) is less than or equal to 10(exp24) cm(exp-2). However, both BAL quasars are only detected in the softer NuSTAR bands (e.g., 4-20 keV) but not in its harder bands (e.g., 20-30 keV), suggesting that either the shielding gas is highly Compton-thick or the two targets are intrinsically X-ray weak. We constrain the column densities for both to be N(sub H) 7 × 10(exp 24) cm(exp-2) if the weak hard X-ray emission is caused by obscuration from the shielding gas. We discuss a few possibilities for how PG 1004+130 could have Compton-thick shielding gas without strong Fe Kα line emission; dilution from jet-linked X-ray emission is one likely explanation. We also discuss the intrinsic X-ray weakness scenario based on a coronal-quenching model relevant to the shielding gas and disk wind of BAL quasars. Motivated by our NuSTAR results, we perform a Chandra stacking analysis with the Large Bright Quasar Survey BAL quasar sample and place statistical constraints upon the fraction of intrinsically X-ray weak BAL quasars; this fraction is likely 17%-40%.

nuclei↗

Redox Mechanisms and Migration Tendencies in Earth-Abundant 0.7Li 2 MnO 3 ·0.3LiFeO 2 Cathodes: Coupling Spin-Resolved X-ray Absorption Near Edge and X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Spectroscopies

We report the use of iron 1s3p resonant X-ray emission processes to conduct spin-selective, high-energy resolution fluorescence detected X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (HERFD-XANES) on an iron-containing, lithium- and manganese-rich, fully earth-abundant cathode material, Li 1.3 Mn 0.5 Fe 0.2 O 2 (0.7Li 2 MnO 3 ·0.3LiFeO 2 ). Coupling this technique with conventional Mn K-edge XANES and detailed extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis from both the Mn and Fe vantage points, we gain fundamental insights into the redox processes and migration tendencies of transition metals in this cathode material at the bulk level. We show that during the first charge, Fe 3+ undergoes oxidation to form Fe 4+ prior to the activation plateau. Toward the end of activation, a significant fraction of the iron is present as tetrahedral Fe 3+ . This observation reveals that iron migration from octahedral to tetrahedral sites and iron reduction are initiated during activation. Upon first discharge from the activated state, a continuous and overlapping reduction of both Fe and Mn is observed, with Fe largely restored back as an octahedrally coordinated Fe 3+ . The manganese local environment gradually changes to a distorted cooperative Jahn–Teller Mn 3+ structure during discharge, with the clear presence of two Mn–O as well as two Mn–Mn correlation distances at 2.0 V. The significant reduction of manganese in the very first discharge is distinctly different from that seen in typical nickel-based lithium-manganese-rich materials but is similar to that observed for pure Li 2 MnO 3 . In conclusion, these findings shed light on key structure–property correlations in the cathode material and point to a causative relationship between the redox mechanisms as well as structural changes endured by the material and relatively poor performance during extended electrochemical cycling.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy and magnetic circular dichroism as operando probes of complex oxide electrolyte gate transistors

Electrolyte-based transistors utilizing ionic liquids/gels have been highly successful in the study of charge-density-controlled phenomena, particularly in oxides. Experimental probes beyond transport have played a significant role, despite challenges in their application in electric double-layer transistors. Here, we demonstrate the application of synchrotron soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) as operando probes of the charge state and magnetism in ion-gel-gated ferromagnetic perovskite films. Electrochemical response via oxygen vacancies at positive gate bias in LaAlO 3 (001)/La 0.5 Sr 0.5 CoO 3-δ is used as a test case. XAS/XMCD measurements of 4–25 unit-cell-thick films first probe the evolution of hole doping (from the O K-edge pre-peak) and ferromagnetism (at the Co L-edges), to establish a baseline. Operando soft XAS/XMCD of electrolyte-gated films is then demonstrated, using optimized spin-coated gels with a thickness of ~1 μm and a specific composition. The application of gate voltages up to +4 V is shown to dramatically suppress the O K-edge XAS pre-peak intensity and Co L-edge XMCD, thus enabling the Co valence and ferromagnetism to be tracked upon gate-induced reduction. Soft XAS and XMCD, with appropriate electrolyte design, are thus established to be viable for the operando characterization of electrolyte-gated oxides.

Yu, Biqiong↗

Anomalous absorption of electromagnetic waves by 2D transition metal carbonitride Ti 3 CNT x (MXene)

Lightweight, ultrathin, and flexible electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials are needed to protect electronic circuits and portable telecommunication devices and to eliminate cross-talk between devices and device components. Here, we show that a two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbonitride, Ti 3 CNT x MXene, with a moderate electrical conductivity, provides a higher shielding effectiveness compared with more conductive Ti 3 C 2 T x or metal foils of the same thickness. This exceptional shielding performance of Ti 3 CNT x was achieved by thermal annealing and is attributed to an anomalously high absorption of electromagnetic waves in its layered, metamaterial-like structure. These results provide guidance for designing advanced EMI shielding materials but also highlight the need for exploring fundamental mechanisms behind interaction of electromagnetic waves with 2D materials.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗

Super-resolution computational saturated absorption microscopy

Imaging beyond the diffraction limit barrier has attracted wide attention due to the ability to resolve previously hidden image features. Of the various super-resolution microscopy techniques available, a particularly simple method called saturated excitation microscopy (SAX) requires only simple modification of a laser scanning microscope: The illumination beam power is sinusoidally modulated and driven into saturation. SAX images are extracted from the harmonics of the modulation frequency and exhibit improved spatial resolution. Unfortunately, this elegant strategy is hindered by the incursion of shot noise that prevents high-resolution imaging in many realistic scenarios. Here, we demonstrate a technique for super-resolution imaging that we call computational saturated absorption (CSA) in which a joint deconvolution is applied to a set of images with diversity in spatial frequency support among the point spread functions (PSFs) used in the image formation with saturated laser scanning fluorescence microscopy. CSA microscopy allows access to the high spatial frequency diversity in a set of saturated effective PSFs, while avoiding image degradation from shot noise.

Murray, Gabe (ORCID:0000000295655485)↗

The Hubble Space Telescope quasar absorption line key project. II - Data calibration and absorption-line selection

We present the observational and data processing aspects of the Hubble Space Telescope Quasar Absorption Line Key Project. Topics discussed include the observational technique, calibration of the data, software that simulates the data, the automated procedure used to identify and characterize the absorption features, and the determination of the sensitivity limits of the survey.

Schneider, Donald P.↗