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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 415 records · Page 23
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2015

Non-resonant below-bandgap two-photon absorption in quantum dot solar cells

We study the optically nonlinear sub-bandgap photocurrent generation facilitated by an extended tailing distribution of states in an InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) solar cell. The tailing states function as both the energy states for low energy photon absorption and the photocarriers extraction pathway. One of the biggest advantages of our method is that it can clearly differentiate the photocurrent due to one-photon absorption (1PA) process and two-photon absorption (2PA) process. Both 1PA and 2PA photocurrent generation efficiency in an InAs/GaAs QD device operated at 1550 nm have been quantitatively evaluated. A two-photon absorption coefficient β = 5.7 cm/GW is extracted.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1988

A model of the photosynthetically available and usable irradiance in the sea

A theoretical model describing the depth dependence of the solar irradiance available to phytoplankton for photosynthesis is developed for waters classified as Case I by Jerlov (1976). The techniques used to account for the effects of incident solar irradiance, pigment concentration, and the spectral diffuse attentuation coefficient are described; an expression for the photosynthetically usable irradiance is derived; and particular attention is given to the specific diffuse absorption coefficient for chlorophyll (Morel, 1978). The relationships among the primary model parameters are shown in graphs.

Collins, Donald J.↗
NASA NTRS1994

An improved quasistatic line-shape theory: The effects of molecular motion on the line wings

A theory is presented for the modification of the line-shape functions and absorption coefficient due to the breakdown of the quasistatic approximation. This breakdown arises from the effects of molecular motion and increases the absorption in the near wings. Numerical calculations for the high-frequency wing of the nu(sub 3) band of CO2 broadened by Ar are reported and it is shown that these effects are significant near the bandhead. The importance of such corrections in other spectral regions and for other systems is discussed briefly.

Ma, Q.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Scattering Properties and Brightness Temperatures Associated with Solid Precipitation

In the past few years, early solid precipitation detection and retrieval algorithms have been developed and shown to be applicable for snowing clouds and blizzards. NOAA has an operational snow versus rain classifier based on AMSU-B observations. Solid precipitation retrieval algorithms reported in the literature over the past two years include those that rely on neural nets, statistics, or physical relationships. All of the algorithms require the use of millimeter-wave radiometer observations. The millimeter-wave frequencies are especially sensitive to the scattering and emission properties of frozen particles due to the ice particle refractive index. Passive radiometric channels respond to both the integrated particle mass throughout the volume and field of view, and to the amount, location, and size distribution of the frozen (and liquid) particles with the sensitivity varying for different frequencies and hydrometeor types. This investigation probes the sensitivity of scattering and absorption coefficients, and hence computed brightness temperatures, resulting from variations in solid precipitation cloud profiles. The first study compares the single scattering, absorption, and asymmetry parameters associated with snow particles in clouds. Several methodologies are used to convert the physical characteristics (e.g., shape, size distributions, ice-air-water ratios) of ice particles to electromagnetic properties (e.g., absorption, scattering, and asymmetry factors). These methodologies include: conversion to solid ice particles, homogeneous dielectric mixing, or discrete dipole approximation. Changes in the conversion methodology can produce computed brightness temperature differences greater than 50 Kelvin.

Skofronick-Jackson, Gail M.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Intercomparison of airborne and surface-based measurements during the CLARIFY, ORACLES and LASIC field experiments

Data are presented from intercomparisons between two research aircraft, the FAAM BAe-146 and the NASA Lockheed P3, and between the BAe-146 and the surface-based DOE (Department of Energy) ARM (Atmospheric Radiation Monitoring) Mobile Facility at Ascension Island (8 S, 14.5W, a remote island in the mid-Atlantic). These took place from 17 August to 5 September 2017, during the African biomass burning season. The primary motivation was to give confidence in the use of data from multiple platforms with which to evaluate numerical climate models. The three platforms were involved in the CLouds-Aerosol-Radiation Interaction and Forcing for Year 2017 (CLARIFY-2017), ObseRvations of Aerosols above CLouds and their intEractionS (ORACLES), and Layered Atlantic Smoke and Interactions with Clouds (LASIC) field experiments. Comparisons from flight segments on six days where the BAe-146 flew alongside the ARM facility on Ascension Island are presented, along with comparisons from wing-tip to wing-tip flight of the P3 and BAe-146 on 18 th August 2017. The intercomparison flight sampled a relatively clean atmosphere overlying a moderately polluted boundary layer, while the 6 fly-bys of the ARM site sampled both clean and polluted conditions 2–4 km upwind. We compare and validate characterisations of aerosol physical, chemical, and optical properties, atmospheric radiation, and cloud microphysics between platforms. We assess the performance of measurement instrumentation in the field, under conditions where sampling conditions are not tightly controlled as in laboratory measurements where calibrations are performed. Solar radiation measurements compared well between airborne platforms. Optical absorption coefficient measurements compared well across all three platforms, even though absolute magnitudes were often low (< 10 Mm -1 ) and close to the sensitivity limits of measurement instrumentation thereby confounding assessments of the comparability of absorption Ångström exponent characterisations. Aerosol absorption measurements from airborne platforms were more comparable than aircraft-to-ground observations. Scattering coefficient observations compared well between airborne platforms, but agreement with ground-based measurements was worse, potentially caused by small differences in sampling conditions or actual aerosol population differences. Chemical composition measurements followed a similar pattern, with better comparisons between the airborne platforms. Thermodynamics, aerosol, and cloud microphysical properties generally compared well.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Low hygroscopicity of ambient fresh carbonaceous aerosols from pyrotechnics smoke

Pyrotechnics (fireworks) displays are common for many cultures worldwide, with Independence Day celebrations occurring annually on July 4th as the most notable in the U.S. Given an episodic nature, fireworks aerosol properties are poorly characterized. Here we report observations of optical properties of fresh smoke emissions from Independence Day fireworks smoke sampled at Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico U.S.A. on 4–5 July 2016. Aerosol optical properties were measured with a photoacoustic extinctiometer (PAX, DMT, Inc., Model 870 nm) at low RH < 30% and a humidity controlled nephelometry system (Ecotech, Inc., 450 nm Aurora). ‘Dry’ light scattering coefficient (σsp) increased from background < 15 Mm –1 reaching 120 Mm –1 (450 nm) as a 2-min event peak, while the absorption coefficient increased from background of 0.5–4.4 Mm –1 (870 nm). The event peak occurred at 00:35 on 5 July 2016, ~3 h after local fireworks events, and decreased to background by 04:00 on 5 July 2016, showing well mixed aerosol properties. A notable result is that the aerosol hygroscopic response, as characterized by the ratio of wet to dry light scattering or f (RH = 85%), declined to 1.02 at the peak fireworks influence from a background ~1.7. Strong wavelength dependence of light scattering with Ångström exponent ~2.2 throughout the event showed a size distribution dominated by sub-micrometer particles. Likewise, single scattering albedo at 870 nm remained constant throughout the event with ω = 0.86 ± 0.03, indicating light absorbing carbon, though not dominant, was mixed with organic carbon. Subsequent laboratory testing with ground-level sparklers showed that pyrotechnics smoke can generate a strong hygroscopic response, however. As confirmed with chemical analysis, the chemistry of the fireworks was key to defining the hygroscopic response. As a result, sparkler smoke was dominated by salt species such as hygroscopic potassium chloride while it lacked the black powder explosives in aerial fireworks that contribute organic and elemental carbon to its non-hygroscopic smoke.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

Experimental Effects on IR Reflectance Spectra: Particle Size and Morphology

For geologic and extraterrestrial samples it is known that both particle size and morphology can have strong effects on the species’ infrared reflectance spectra. Due to such effects, the reflectance spectra cannot be predicted from the absorption coefficients alone. This is because reflectance is both a surface as well as a bulk phenomenon, incorporating both dispersion as well as absorption effects. The same spectral features can even be observed as either a maximum or minimum. The complex effects depend on particle size and preparation, as well as the relative amplitudes of the optical constants n and k, i.e. the real and imaginary components of the complex refractive index. While somewhat oversimplified, upward-going amplitude in the reflectance spectrum usually result from surface scattering, i.e. rays that have been reflected from the surface without penetration, whereas downward-going peaks are due to either absorption or volume scattering, i.e. rays that have penetrated or refracted into the sample interior and are not reflected. While the effects are well known, we report seminal measurements of reflectance along with quantified particle size of the samples, the sizing obtained from optical microscopy measurements. The size measurements are correlated with the reflectance spectra in the 1.3 – 16 micron range for various bulk materials that have a combination of strong and weak absorption bands in order to understand the effects on the spectral features as a function of the mean grain size of the sample. We report results for both sodium sulfate Na2SO4 as well as ammonium sulfate (NH4)2SO4; the optical constants have been measured for (NH4)2SO4. To go a step further from the field to the laboratory we explore our understanding of particle size effects on reflectance spectra in the field using standoff detection. This has helped identify weaknesses and strengths in detection using standoff distances of up 160 meters away from the Target. The studies have shown that particle size has an enormous influence on the measured reflectance spectra of such materials; successful identification requires sufficient, representative reflectance data to include the particle sizes of interest.

Beiswenger, Toya N.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Liquid content of the lower clouds of Venus as determined from Mariner 10 radio occultation

S- and X-band radio occulation data obtained during the Mariner 10 flyby of Venus are analyzed to determine the effects of signal attenuation due to the clouds of Venus. The signal-amplitude data are corrected for errors introduced by spacecraft motion and antenna steering during the occultation, absorption-coefficient profiles are computed, and the liquid content of the Venusian clouds is estimated. Excess attenuation effects are found and ascribed to absorption by small liquid particles, consisting of a water-sulfuric acid mixture containing 75% + or - 25% sulfuric acid, in the clouds. Three absorbing cloud layers at respective heights of 68, 60, and 48 km are suggested by the X-band absorptivity profile, but only the 68- and 48-km layers are clearly indicated by the S-band profile. The relatively slow S-band absorption at 60 km is tentatively attributed to an unknown constituent that is much more absorbing in the X-band than in the S-band. The results are compared with nephelometer measurements performed at 0.9 micron by the Venera 9 and 10 probes.

Kliore, A. J.↗
DOE OSTI2018

Computational analysis of metamaterial–aluminum–silicon solar cell model

In this paper, the optical parameters of an improved waveguide structure for a more efficient silicon solar cell are studied. Despite its favorable electronic, physical, and chemical properties, silicon remains a poor absorber of light. The optical losses due to the reflection at the air/glass interface of the cell and the transmission at its back are other factors, which limit the cell conversion efficiency. Consequently, several mechanisms for light trapping capable to increase the collection of the incident photons as electrical current and to decrease the transmission loss, have been developed. In this context, we propose a multilayer waveguide structure in which the sunlight is guided by a metamaterial layer and the transmission loss is eliminated by an aluminum back reflector. The reflection and transmission coefficients are derived by using the Generalized Transfer Matrix Method. The application of the law of conservation of energy allowed the determination of the absorption coefficient. These optical parameters are examined for several angles of incidence for s-polarized light, p-polarized light and unpolarized light. Simulation results show a significant reduction of reflection and a complete suppression of transmission.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2018

A Density Functional Theory Investigations of Half-Heusler Compounds RhVZ (Z = P, As, Sb)

We have studied the half-Heusler compounds RhVZ (Z = P, As, Sb) using Density Functional Theory (DFT). The method of the Full Potential Linearly Augmented Plane Wave (FP-LAPW) is employed in the Wien2k package for calculation of structural, elastic, mechanical, electronic, magnetic, and optical properties. Lattice constants are found in the range 5.67 − 5.80 Å. Analysis of elastic properties shows that two of the compounds namely RhVP and RhVAs are ductile while RhVSb is brittle in nature. All three compounds are half-metals as revealed from the band structures and Density of States (DoS) calculations. In all of them, spin-down channels have the small band gaps, while spin-up channels are conducting. These compounds follow the Slater-Pauling 18 (M{sub Tot} = Z{sub Tot} − 18) electron rule with the total magnetic moments in the range 1 − 2 μ{sub B}. Optical properties like dielectric function, refractive index, reflectivity, conductivity, and absorption coefficient are calculated and discussed.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

A study of polaritonic transparency in couplers made from excitonic materials

We have studied light matter interaction in quantum dot and exciton-polaritonic coupler hybrid systems. The coupler is made by embedding two slabs of an excitonic material (CdS) into a host excitonic material (ZnO). An ensemble of non-interacting quantum dots is doped in the coupler. The bound exciton polariton states are calculated in the coupler using the transfer matrix method in the presence of the coupling between the external light (photons) and excitons. These bound exciton-polaritons interact with the excitons present in the quantum dots and the coupler is acting as a reservoir. The Schrödinger equation method has been used to calculate the absorption coefficient in quantum dots. It is found that when the distance between two slabs (CdS) is greater than decay length of evanescent waves the absorption spectrum has two peaks and one minimum. The minimum corresponds to a transparent state in the system. However, when the distance between the slabs is smaller than the decay length of evanescent waves, the absorption spectra has three peaks and two transparent states. In other words, one transparent state can be switched to two transparent states when the distance between the two layers is modified. This could be achieved by applying stress and strain fields. It is also found that transparent states can be switched on and off by applying an external control laser field.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Spray pyrolysis deposition of Cu-ZnO and Zn-SnO{sub 2} solar cells

Large-gap metal oxides, such as titanium, tin, and zinc oxides, have attracted great interest because of their remarkable potential in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) and their low cost and simple preparation procedure. In this work, we investigated several Zn-SnO{sub 2} and Cu-ZnO thin films that were sprayed under different experimental conditions. We varied [Zn/[Sn] and [Cu/[Zn] ratios, calculated on atomic percent in the starting solution. We report some structural results of the films using X-ray diffraction. Optical reflection and transmission spectra investigated by an UV/VIS/NIR spectrophotometer permit the determination of optical constants. The direct band gap was deduced from the photon energy dependence of the absorption coefficient.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2025

Extinction of Laser Light Due to Arctic Haze Final Campaign Report

Recent changes in emission patterns may have altered the historical stability of light attenuation strengths within the Arctic and, more specifically, the polar dome. While there have been decades of past and ongoing research on how atmospheric constituents, such as aerosols, affect light absorption, the bulk of this work is focused on the visible region. In recent years, there has been renewed interest in understanding laser light propagation at wavelengths such as 1 and 2 µm in this area. There is a need to evaluate how specific environmental parameters affect the propagation of light in this wavelength region, in particular: the extinction, scattering, and absorption coefficients, and how they relate to particle concentration; cn 2 and refractive index variations. Seasonally dependent variations in particle concentrations and compositions introduce different absorption and scattering characteristics that, in conjunction with varying temperatures, index-of-refraction variations, and wind, can result in laser beam focus and irradiance degradation. Understanding the fundamental influence of these parameters with respect to the propagation of light across a wide spectral band could lead to new insights about the minimal required datastreams required to provide accurate light propagation forecasting.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2006

Bio-Optical Properties and Ocean Color Algorithms for Coastal Waters Influenced by the Mississippi River During a Cold Front Passage

During the passage of a cold front in March 2002, bio-optical properties examined in coastal waters impacted by the Mississippi River indicated westward advective flows and increasing river discharge containing a larger nonalgal particle content contributed significantly to surface optical variability. A comparison of seasonal data from three cruises indicated spectral models of absorption and scattering to be generally consistent with other coastal environments, while their parameterization in terms of chlorophyll a concentration (Chl) showed seasonal variability. The exponential slope of the colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) averaged 0.0161 plus or minus 0.00054 per nanometer, and for nonalgal absorption it averaged 0.011 per nanometer with deviations from general trends observed due to anomalous water properties. Although the phytoplankton specific absorption coefficients varied over a wide range (0.02 to 0.1 square meters (mg Chl) sup -1)) being higher in offshore surface waters, values of phytoplankton absorption spectra at the SeaWiFS wavebands were highly correlated to modeled values. The normalized scattering spectral shapes and the mean spectrum were in agreement to observations in other coastal waters, while the backscattering ratios were on average lower in phytoplankton dominated surface waters (0.0101 plus or minus 0.002) and higher in near-bottom waters (0.0191 plus or minus 0.0045) with low Chl. Average percent differences in remote sensing reflectance R (sub rs) derived form modeled and in-eater radiometric measurements were highest in the blue wavebands (52%) and at sampling stations with a ore stratified water column. Estimates of Chl and CDOM absorption derived from SeaWiFS images generated using regional empirical algorithms were highly correlated to in situ data.

D'Sa Eurico J.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Infrared thermometry in high temperature materials processing: influence of liquid water and steam

Here, the capability of four infrared thermometry techniques (2-colour and 1-colour pyrometers, Pyrolaser and IR camera) was evaluated with respect to the impact of water or steam in the line of sight to determine temperature from two heat sources (blackbody calibration source and steel block inside the furnace). The influence of liquid water on the temperature readings was minimal when using 2-colour pyrometry due to comparable absorption coefficients of water for the measured wavelengths. The signals measured using both the Pyrolaser and the 1-colour pyrometer were decreased due to the partial absorption and resulted in an apparent temperature lower than the actual. Water readily absorbed the IR signal in the range of the IR camera operation, resulting in no signal whenever liquid water was present in the line of sight. Steam caused the most deviation and fluctuation of temperature readings for all techniques due to the large level of light scattering in addition to the absorption of the radiant energy. A technique was developed to determine the transmissivity (apparent emissivity) when water or steam is in the line of sight of measurement. An approximate correction to the measurements based on Planck’s law is discussed for both 2-colour and 1-colour pyrometers.

2-colour and 1-colour pyrometry↗
NASA NTRS1986

Parameterization of near infrared absorption by atmospheric gases

An absorption coefficient (k) distribution model is presented for fast calculation of atmospheric transmittances based solely on essential data from line-by-line (LBL) calculations. The absorption at any site is summed over the spectra obtained by LBL calculations. Application of the scaling model is illustrated with sample calculations for 0.72 micron emissions and the 1.36 micron water vapor band. LBL absorption spectra are calculated for the pressure levels 260 mb, 400 mb and 1000 mb.

Ridgway, W. L.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Ab initio theory of free-carrier absorption in semiconductors

The absorption of light by free carriers in semiconductors results in optical loss for all photon wavelengths. Since free-carrier absorption competes with optical transitions across the band gap, it also reduces the efficiency of optoelectronic devices such as solar cells because it does not generate electron-hole pairs. In this work, we develop a first-principles theory of free-carrier absorption taking into account both single-particle excitations and the collective Drude term, and we demonstrate its application to the case of doped Si. Here, we determine the free-carrier absorption coefficient as a function of carrier concentration and we obtain excellent agreement with experimental data. We identify the dominant processes that contribute to free-carrier absorption at various photon wavelengths, and analyze the results to evaluate the impact of this loss mechanism on the efficiency of Si-based optoelectronic devices.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗