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At least 37 records · Page 2

Capped co-doped core/shell nanocrystals for visible light emission

In various embodiments the present disclosure provides a core/shell nanocrystal comprising a core and a shell formed on the core, wherein the core/shell nanocrystal is co-doped with at least one metal dopant and at least one trivalent cation. In some embodiments, the trivalent cation is a Group 13 element. Methods of making and using the core/shell nanocrystal are also described.

Zhang, Jin Z.↗

Effects of surface contamination on the infrared emissivity and visible-light scattering of highly reflective surfaces at cryogenic temperatures

A technique is described for the simultaneous in situ measurement of film thickness, refractive index, total normal emissivity, visible light scattering, and reflectance of contaminant films on a highly reflective liquid nitrogen-cooled, stainless steel substrate. Emissivities and scattering data were obtained for films of water, carbon dioxide, silicone oil, and a number of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons as a function of film thickness between zero and 20 microns. Water had the greatest effect on emissivity, followed by silicone oil, aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, and carbon dioxide. Emissivity increased more rapidly with film thickness between zero and 2.5 microns, than at thickness greater than 2.5 microns. Scattering of visible light changed little below 2-microns thickness but increased rapidly with thickness beyond 2 to 3 microns. The effect of contaminant films on passive radiation coolers is discussed.

Viehmann, W.↗

Near-infrared observations of IRAS minisurvey galaxies

Near-infrared photometry was obtained for 82 galaxies from the Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS) minisurvey, a sample of infrared selected galaxies. The near-infrared colors of these galaxies are similar to those of normal field spiral galaxies, but cover a larger range in J - H and H - K. There is evidence of a tighter correlation between the near and far infrared emission than exists between far-infrared and the visible emission. These results suggest that hot dust emission contributes to the 2.2 micron luminosity, and extinction by dust affects both the near-infrared colors and the visible luminosities. In addition, there is an indication that the far-infrared emission in many of the minisurvey galaxies is coming from a strong nuclear component.

Carico, D. P.↗

Near-infrared observations of IRAS minisurvey galaxies

Near-infrared photometry was obtained for 82 galaxies from the Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS) minisurvey, a sample of infrared selected galaxies. The near-infrared colors of these galaxies are similar to those of normal field spiral galaxies, but cover a larger range in J - H and H - K. There is evidence of a tighter correlation between the near and far infrared emission than exists between far-infrared and the visible emission. These results suggest that hot dust emission contributes to the 2.2 micron luminosity, and extinction by dust affects both the near-infrared colors and the visible luminosities. In addition, there is an indication that the far-infrared emission in many of the minisurvey galaxies is coming from a strong nuclear component.

Carico, David P.↗

Near-infrared observations of IRAS minisurvey galaxies

Near infrared photometry at J, H, and K was obtained for 82 galaxies from the IRAS minisurvey. The near infrared colors of these galaxies cover a larger range in J-H and H-K than do normal field spiral galaxies, and evidence is presented of a tighter correlation between the near and far infrared emission in far infrared bright galaxies than exists between the far infrared and the visible emission. These results suggest the presence of dust in the far infrared bright galaxies, with hot dust emission contributing to the 2.2 micron emission, and extinction by dust affecting both the near infrared colors and the visible luminosities. In addition, there is some indication that the infrared emission in many of the minisurvey galaxies is coming from a strong nuclear component.

Carico, David P.↗

Radiatively cooled magnetic reconnection experiments driven by pulsed power

We present evidence for strong radiative cooling in a pulsed-power-driven magnetic reconnection experiment. Two aluminum exploding wire arrays, driven by a 20 MA peak current, 300 ns rise time pulse from the Z machine (Sandia National Laboratories), generate strongly driven plasma flows (MA≈7) with anti-parallel magnetic fields, which form a reconnection layer (SL≈120) at the mid-plane. The net cooling rate far exceeds the Alfvénic transit rate (τcool−1/τA−1≫1), leading to strong cooling of the reconnection layer. We determine the advected magnetic field and flow velocity using inductive probes positioned in the inflow to the layer, and inflow ion density and temperature from analysis of visible emission spectroscopy. A sharp decrease in x-ray emission from the reconnection layer, measured using filtered diodes and time-gated x-ray imaging, provides evidence for strong cooling of the reconnection layer after its initial formation. X-ray images also show localized hotspots, regions of strong x-ray emission, with velocities comparable to the expected outflow velocity from the reconnection layer. These hotspots are consistent with plasmoids observed in 3D radiative resistive magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the experiment. X-ray spectroscopy further indicates that the hotspots have a temperature (170 eV) much higher than the bulk layer (≤75 eV) and inflow temperatures (about 2 eV) and that these hotspots generate the majority of the high-energy (>1 keV) emission.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Space station contamination study: Assessment of contaminant spectral brightness

The assessment of spectral brightness resulting from the ambient-contaminant interaction requires a knowledge of the details of cross sections and excitation mechanisms. The approach adopted was to utilize the spectral brightness measurements made on Spacelab 1 and on the S3-4 spacecraft to identify source mechanisms, key cross sections and hence, the abundance of contaminant species. These inferred abundances were then used to update the composition comprising the total column concentrations predicted by the Science and Engineering Associates' configuration contamination model for the Space Station and to scale the irradiances to four altitudes: 300, 350, 400, and 463 km. The concentration irradiances are compared with zodiacal natural background levels. The results demonstrate that emissive contamination is significantly more severe than anticipated. It is shown that spectral emissions can become competitive with the zodiacal background up to altitudes as high as 400 km for the vacuum ultraviolet and visible emissions.

Torr, D. G.↗

A spectrophotometric study of the Algol binary system RX Geminorum

IUE low-dispersion spectra and optical ITS scans of the semidetached Algol-type binary system RX Gem have been obtained. The spectral type of the primary component was determined to be A0, with good accuracy. Since the primary eclipse is only partial, the spectral type of the cooler component has been determined with less accuracy as K2 (+ or - 2). The system is only slightly reddened: its color excess is E(B-V) = 0.04 + or - 0.01 mag. Two models of the system are considered, depending on the luminosity class of the hotter star. Optically, the system is a Be star, since it displays Balmer line emission, visible most clearly during the primary eclipse. The ultraviolet spectrum observed near mideclipse does not display the expected 'W Serpentis-type' emission lines. Probably the main reason is that the primary eclipse is only partial.

Dobias, Jan J.↗

Liquid crystalline behavior and photoluminescence of lanthanide decanoate nanoparticles synthesized by microwave radiation

Luminescent lanthanide decanoate nanoparticles (LnC 10 NPs; Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Er) with spherical morphology (<100 nm) have been synthesized via a facile microwave (MWV) method using Ln(NO 3 ) 3 ·xH 2 O, ethanol/water, and decanoic acid. These hybrid nanomaterials adopt a lamellar structure consisting of inorganic Ln 3+ layers separated by a decanoate anion bilayer and exhibit liquid crystalline (LC) phases during melting. The particle size, crystalline structure, and LC behavior were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and powder X-ray diffraction (ambient and heated). Thermal analysis indicated the formation of Smectic A LC phases by LnC 10 nanoparticles, with the smaller lanthanides (Ln = Sm, Gd, Er) displaying additional solid intermediate and Smectic C phases. The formation of LC phases by the smaller Ln 3+ suggests that these nanoscale materials have vastly different thermal properties than their bulk counterparts, which do not exhibit LC behavior. In this work, photoluminescence spectroscopy revealed the LnC 10 NPs to be highly optically active, producing strong visible emissions that corresponded to expected electronic transitions by the various Ln 3+ ions. Under long-wave UV irradiation (λ = 365 nm), bright visible luminescence was observed for colloidal suspensions of Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, and ErC 10 NPs. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first reported synthesis of nanoscale metal alkanoates, the first report of liquid crystalline behavior by any decanoate of lanthanides smaller than Nd, and the first observation of strong visible luminescence by non-vitrified lanthanide alkanoates.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Excitation Wavelength-Dependent Emission from Americium(III) in Mineral Acid Solutions

The photoluminescence behavior of trivalent americium, Am(III), in mineral acid solutions is reported under direct-metal excitation at seven high-energy wavelengths in the ultraviolet and visible regions (378-512 nm). This study revealed a dependence of the Am(III)-based visible emission profile on the chosen excitation wavelength. For example, excitation at the more common wavelength of 504 nm produces the two expected emission bands: one at approximately 600 nm (5D1' to 7F0') and another at 690 nm (5D1' to 7F1'). When the excitation wavelength is shifted to 398 nm (targeting the 5D3', 5H7' from 7F0' transitions), the emission occurs almost exclusively at 600 nm. This behavior is unexpected and potentially highlights fundamental knowledge gaps in the current understanding of the intraconfigurational 5f-5f electronic transitions that give rise to Am(III) photoluminescence. Although a full interpretation of these results is limited by the incomplete understanding of Am(III) speciation in mineral acid systems, this study explores several potential explanations for the observed behavior and challenges the widely held assumption of a single emissive Am(III) species.

Americium↗

Realization of a gas puff imaging system on the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator

A system for studying the spatiotemporal dynamics of fluctuations in the boundary of the W7-X plasma using the “Gas-Puff Imaging” (GPI) technique has been designed, constructed, installed, and operated. This GPI system addresses a number of challenges specific to long-pulse superconducting devices, such as W7-X, including the long distance between the plasma and the vacuum vessel wall, the long distance between the plasma and diagnostic ports, the range of last closed flux surface (LCFS) locations for different magnetic configurations in W7-X, and management of heat loads on the system’s plasma-facing components. The system features a pair of “converging–diverging” nozzles for partially collimating the gas puffed locally ≈135 mm radially outboard of the plasma boundary, a pop-up turning mirror for viewing the gas puff emission from the side (which also acts as a shutter for the re-entrant vacuum window), and a high-throughput optical system that collects visible emission resulting from the interaction between the puffed gas and the plasma and directs it along a water-cooled re-entrant tube directly onto the 8 × 16 pixel detector array of the fast camera. The DEGAS 2 neutral code was used to simulate the Hα (656 nm) and HeI (587 nm) line emission expected from well-characterized gas-puffs of H2 and He and excited within typical edge plasma profiles in W7-X, thereby predicting line brightnesses used to reduce the risks associated with system sensitivity and placement of the field of view. Operation of GPI on W7-X shows excellent signal-to-noise ratios (>100 at 2 Mframes/s) over the field of view for minimally perturbing gas puffs. The GPI system provides detailed measurements of the two-dimensional (radial and poloidal) dynamics of plasma fluctuations in the W7-X edge and scrape-off layer and in and around the magnetic islands outside the LCFS that make up the island divertor configuration employed on W7-X.

Instruments & Instrumentation↗

New Observations of UV Emissions from Europa

The recent top prioritization of the Europa Jupiter System Mission for the next outer solar system flagship mission is refocusing attention on Europa and the other Galilean satellites and their contextual environments in the Jupiter system. Surface sputtering by magnetospheric plasma generates a tenuous atmosphere for Europa, dominated by 02 gas. This tenuous gas is in turn excited by plasma electrons, producing ultraviolet and visible emissions. Two sets of imaging observations have been published to date, UV images from the Hubble Space Telescope, and visible eclipse images from Cassini. Three additional sets of HST UV observations were acquired in February 2007, April 2007 and June 2009. The signal to noise ratio in these data are not high, however, given the paucity of data and its increasing importance in terms of planning for EJSM, we have attempted to extract as much new information as possible from these data. This talk will summarize our analysis to date, and discuss them in terms of existing models, which attempt to explain the image morphology either in terms of the underlying source production and loss processes, or in terms of the plasma interaction with the exosphere.

McGrath, Melissa↗

Photoluminescence and Raman spectroscopy of wide bandgap semiconductors damaged by deep-UV laser irradiation

The effects of a pulsed, focused, deep-UV (4.66 eV) laser on wide and ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors were investigated with photoluminescence (PL) and Raman spectroscopy. Three semiconductor single crystals were studied: silicon carbide (6H-SiC), gallium nitride (GaN), and gallium oxide (β-Ga 2 O 3 ). Atomic emission lines from neutral Ga or Si were observed during the laser-damage process. For all three semiconductors, PL mapping (3.49 eV laser excitation) of the damaged material revealed visible emission bands in the 2.6–2.8 eV range, attributed to point defects. Raman spectra (2.33 eV excitation) showed a reduction in the Raman peak intensities in the damaged region, along with weak PL bands around 1.9–2.1 eV.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Effects of surface contamination on the infrared emissivity and visible-light scattering of highly reflective surfaces at cryogenic temperatures

A technique is described for the simultaneous in situ measurement of film thickness, refractive index, total normal emissivity, visible-light scattering, and reflectance of contaminant films on a highly reflective liquid-nitrogen cooled, stainless steel substrate. Emissivities and scattering data are obtained for films of water, carbon dioxide, silicone oil, and a number of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons as a function of film thickness between zero and 20 microns. Of the contaminants investigated, water has by far the greatest effect on emissivity, followed by silicone oil, aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, and carbon dioxide. The emissivity increases more rapidly with film thickness between zero and 2.5 microns than at thicknesses greater than 2.5 microns. Scattering of visible light changes very little below 2 microns thickness but increases rapidly with thickness beyond 2 to 3 microns. The effect of contaminant films on passive radiation coolers is discussed.

Viehmann, W.↗

A comparison of the composition of new and evolved comets

The continuum to molecular emission intensity ratio in cometary spectra is examined as an indicator of initial composition of the comets. This ratio presumably measures the dust to gas ratio in comets, or the component of gas yielding visible emissions. The spectral relationships and compositions of new comets and more evolved ones are compared. No significant difference in the continuum to emission ratio was noted between new and more evolved comets, which is in contradiction to Oort's conclusion. This suggests that no systematic change occurs in the continuum to emission ratio as comets evolve from new to periodic. Perihelion passage does not seem to produce a general weakening of the continuum, although it occurs in individual cases.

Donn, B.↗

Toward white light emission from plasmonic-luminescent hybrid nanostructures

We study the light emission of plasmonic-luminescent hybrid nanostructures consisting of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in europium oxide (EuO X ). The Ag NPs present a bidimensional organization in the nanostructures and they optically behave as oblate spheroids. The photoluminescence (PL) spectral response of the nanostructures evolves from a narrow red emission characteristic of Eu 3+ ions in absence of Ag NPs to a broad blue-green emission band associated with Eu 2+ ions when the layer of Ag NPs is present. This behavior is not related to a change in the Eu 2+ /Eu 3+ ratio, which is verified by compositional analysis. Instead, a detailed investigation of the PL emission of the nanostructures suggests that the coupling of the Ag NPs to the Eu 2+ ions present in the EuO X layer, which manifests itself in an efficient sensitization of these ions, enhances their broad visible emission. In particular, the longitudinal mode of the Ag NPs surface plasmon is considered to be responsible for the efficient energy transfer for the non-normal incidence excitation PL configuration used. Finally, the use of a capping amorphous Al 2 O 3 layer allows improving the robustness of hybrid nanostructures and further enhances their PL emission. These findings provide a new path to actively control the selective excitation of Eu 2+ and Eu 3+ ions via a controlled coupling with the surface plasmon resonance modes of the Ag NPs and points to these nanostructures as promising building blocks for the development of integrable white light sources.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Chandra Observations of Io and the Io Plasma Torus

Chandra observed the Jovian system for approximately 1 day with ACIS-S in Nov, 1999, and approximately 10 hours with HRC-I in Dec, 2000. Among the many results of great interest to planetary scientists are the detection of x-ray emission from the Io Plasma Torus (IPT) and, very faintly, associated with the Jovian moon Io itself. The IPT is an almost self-generating donut of S and O ions in Io's orbit that ultimately derive from volcanoes on the surface. While EUV and visible emissions from the IPT are relatively well understood to result from low charge state transitions of S and O and from electron impact, the x-ray emissions are too energetic to be explained this way and seem to require the presence of higher charge states of S and O. We present current ideas as to origins of these x-ray emissions.

Elsner, Ronald F.↗

Simultaneous Luminescence Pressure and Temperature Measurement System for Hypersonic Wind Tunnels

Surface pressures and temperatures are determined from visible emission brightness and green-to-red color ratioing of induced luminescence from a ceramic surface with an organic dye coating. A ceramic-dye matrix of porous silica ceramic with an adsorbed dye is developed for high-temperature pressure sensitivity and stability (up to 150 C). Induced luminescence may be excited using a broad range of incident radiation from visible blue light (488-nm wavelength) to the near ultraviolet (365 nm). Ceramic research models and test samples are fabricated using net-form slip-casting and sintering techniques. Methods of preparation and effects of adsorption film thickness on measurement sensitivity are discussed. With the present 8-bit imaging system a 10% pressure measurement uncertainty from 50 to 760 torr is estimated, with an improvement to 5% from 3 to 1500 torr with a 12-bit imaging system.

Buck, Gregory M.↗