Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “multi- spectra”

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 433 records · Page 24

Pluto’s Sputnik Planitia: Composition of geological units from infrared spectroscopy

We have compared spectroscopic data of Sputnik Planitia on Pluto, as acquired by New Horizons’ Linear Etalon Imaging Spectral Array (LEISA) instrument, to the geomorphology as mapped by White et al. (2017) using visible and panchromatic imaging acquired by the LOng-Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) and the Multi-spectral Visible Imaging Camera (MVIC). We have focused on 13 of the geologic units identified by White et al. (2017), which include the plains and mountain units contained within the Sputnik basin. We divided the map of Sputnik Planitia into 15 provinces, each containing one or more geologic units, and we use LEISA to calculate the average spectra of the units inside the 15 provinces. Hapke-based modeling was then applied to the average spectra of the units to infer their surface composition, and to determine if the composition resulting from the modeling of LEISA spectra reflects the geomorphologic analyses of LORRI data, and if areas classified as being the same geologically, but which are geographically separated, share a similar composition. We investigated the spatial distribution of the most abundant ices on Pluto’s surface - CH4, N2, CO, H2O, and a non-ice component presumed to be a macromolecular carbon-rich material, termed a tholin, that imparts a positive spectral slope in the visible spectral region and a negative spectral slope longward of ~1.1 μm. Because the exact nature of the non-ice component is still debated and because the negative spectral slope of the available tholins in the near infrared does not perfectly match the Pluto data, for spectral modeling purposes we reference it generically as the negative spectral slope endmember (NSS endmember). We created maps of variations in the integrated band depth (from LEISA data) and areal mass fraction (from the modeling) of the components. The analysis of correlations between the occurrences of the endmembers in the geologic units led to the observation of an anomalous suppression of the strong CH4 absorption bands in units with compositions that are dominated by H2O ice and the NSS endmember. Exploring the mutual variation of the CH4 and N2 integrated band depths with the abundance of crystalline H2O and NSS endmember revealed that the NSS endmember is primarily responsible for the suppression of CH4 absorptions in mountainous units located along the western edge of Sputnik Planitia. Our spectroscopic analyses have provided additional insight into the geological processes that have shaped Sputnik Planitia. A general increase in volatile abundance from the north to the south of Sputnik Planitia is observed. Such an increase first observed and interpreted by Protopapa et al., 2017 and later confirmed by climate modeling (Bertrand et al., 2018) is expressed geomorphologically in the form of preferential deposition of N2 ice in the upland and mountainous regions bordering the plains of southern Sputnik Planitia. Relatively high amounts of pure CH4 are seen at the southern Tenzing Montes, which are a natural site for CH4 deposition owing to their great elevation and the lower insolation they are presently receiving. The NSS endmember correlates the existence of tholins within certain units, mostly those coating the low-latitude mountain ranges that are co-latitudinal with the tholin-covered Cthulhu Macula. The spectral analysis has also revealed compositional differences between the handful of occurrences of northern non-cellular plains and the surrounding cellular plains, all of which are located within the portion of Sputnik Planitia that is presently experiencing net sublimation of volatiles, and which do not therefore exhibit a surface layer of bright, freshly-deposited N2 ice. The compositional differences between the cellular and non-cellular plains here hint at the effectiveness of convection in entraining and trapping tholins within the body of the cellular plains, while preventing the spread of such tholins to abutting non-cellular plains.

Pluto's Sputnik Planitia↗

Diverse Chemo-Dynamical Properties of Nitrogen-Rich Stars Identified from Low-Resolution Spectra

The second generation of stars in the globular clusters (GCs) of the Milky Way (MW) exhibit unusually high N, Na, or Al, compared to typical Galactic halo stars at similar metallicities. The halo field stars enhanced with such elements are believed to have originated in disrupted GCs or escaped from existing GCs. We identify such stars in the metallicity range –3.0 < [Fe/H] < 0.0 from a sample of ~ 36,800 giant stars observed in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope survey, and present their dynamical properties. The N-rich population (NRP) and N-normal population (NNP) among our giant sample do not exhibit similarities in either in their metallicity distribution function (MDF) or dynamical properties. We find that, even though the MDF of the NRP looks similar to that of the MW’s GCs in the range of [Fe/H] < –1.0, our analysis of the dynamical properties does not indicate similarities between them in the same metallicity range, implying that the escaped members from existing GCs may account for a small fraction of our N-rich stars, or the orbits of the present GCs have been altered by the dynamical friction of the MW. We also find a significant increase in the fraction of N-rich stars in the halo field in the very metal-poor (VMP; [Fe/H] < –2.0) regime, comprising up to ~ 20% of the fraction of the N-rich stars below [Fe/H] = –2.5, hinting that partially or fully destroyed VMP GCs may have in some degree contributed to the Galactic halo. A more detailed dynamical analysis of the NRP reveals that our sample of N-rich stars do not share a single common origin. Although a substantial fraction of the N-rich stars seem to originate from the GCs formed in situ, more than 60% of them are not associated with those of typical Galactic populations, but probably have extragalactic origins associated with Gaia Sausage/Enceladus, Sequoia, and Sagittarius dwarf galaxies, as well as with presently unrecognized progenitors.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Fan Beam Emission Tomography for Laminar Fires

Obtaining information on the instantaneous structure of turbulent and transient flames is important in a wide variety of applications such as fire safety, pollution reduction, flame spread studies, and model validation. Durao et al. has reviewed the different methods of obtaining structure information in reacting flows. These include Tunable Laser Absorption Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, and Emission Spectroscopy to mention a few. Most flames emit significant radiation signatures that are used in various applications such as fire detection, light-off detection, flame diagnostics, etc. Radiation signatures can be utilized to maximum advantage for determining structural information in turbulent flows. Emission spectroscopy is most advantageous in the infrared regions of the spectra, principally because these emission lines arise from transitions in the fundamental bands of stable species such as CO2 and H2O. Based on the above, the objective of this work was to develop a fan beam emission tomography system to obtain the local scalar properties such as temperature and mole fractions of major gas species from path integrated multi-wavelength infrared radiation measurements.

Sivathanu, Yudaya↗

X-ray digital imaging petrography of lunar mare soils: modal analyses of minerals and glasses

It is essential that accurate modal (i.e., volume) percentages of the various mineral and glass phases in lunar soils be used for addressing and resolving the effects of space weathering upon reflectance spectra, as well as for their calibration such data are also required for evaluating the resource potential of lunar minerals for use at a lunar base. However, these data are largely lacking. Particle-counting information for lunar soils, originally obtained to study formational processes, does not provide these necessary data, including the percentages of minerals locked in multi-phase lithic fragments and fused-soil particles, such as agglutinates. We have developed a technique for modal analyses, sensu stricto, of lunar soils, using digital imaging of X-ray maps obtained with an energy-dispersive spectrometer mounted on an electron microprobe. A suite of nine soils (90 to 150 micrometers size fraction) from the Apollo 11, 12, 15, and 17 mare sites was used for this study. This is the first collection of such modal data on soils from all Apollo mare sites. The abundances of free-mineral fragments in the mare soils are greater for immature and submature soils than for mature soils, largely because of the formation of agglutinitic glass as maturity progresses. In considerations of resource utilization at a lunar base, the best lunar soils to use for mineral beneficiation (i.e., most free-mineral fragments) have maturities near the immature/submature boundary (Is/FeO approximately or = 30), not the mature soils with their complications due to extensive agglutination. The particle data obtained from the nine mare soils confirm the generalizations for lunar soils predicted by L.A. Taylor and D.S. McKay (1992, Lunar Planet Sci. Conf. 23rd, pp. 1411-1412 [Abstract]).

NASA Discipline Exobiology↗

Using Polarized PCRTM-Solar Model to Validate EMIT Surface Reflectance L2A Product

Using the vector linearized discrete ordinate radiative transfer model (VLIDORT), a multiple-scattering multi-layer scattering code, coupled with a fast principal component (PC) radiative transfer model (PCRTM), we can simulate hyperspectral radiation fields from visible to shortwave infrared (VSWIR), i.e., 250 nm to 2500 nm. Since only limited accurate line-by-line calculation using VLIDORT is needed, this coupled PCRTM-VLIDORT approach is very efficient for simulating hyperspectral VSWIR spectra. These simulations incorporate accurately defined optical properties (gas absorptions, molecular and aerosol/cloud particle scattering) and detailed surface reflectance inputs. In this study we used the current L2A products of the Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) imaging spectrometer as the inputs to PCRTM-VLIDORT to simulate EMIT spectra. Comparing the simulated spectra with EMIT measurements provides an efficient method to validate the current EMIT product.

Xiaozhen Xiong↗

Comet Mineralogy as Inferred from Infrared Spectra of Comets

For most comets, infrared (IR) spectroscopy (remote sensing) is the method through which we diagnose the mineralogy and size distribution of dust in their comae. The shape and contrast of the IR spectral features depend on the particle size: optically active minerals (absorbing of visible and near-IR solar photons) and submicron solid grains or highly porous (> 90% vacuum) grains primarily contribute to the shapes of the observed resonances. Comet mineralogies typically are determined by fitting thermal emission models of ensembles of discrete mineral grains to observed IR spectral energy distributions. The absorptivities (Q-abs) and scattering efficiencies (Q-scat) of the discrete mineral grains are computed using Mie scattering, Maxwell-Garnet mixing, Discrete Dipole Approximation, and Multi-Layered Sphere codes. These techniques when applied to crystalline minerals, specifically olivine (Mg_x, Fe_1-x)2 Si04, x>0.9, require the use of ellipsoidal shaped particles with elongated axial ratios or hollow spheres to produce the shapes of the resonances observed both from comet comae and laboratory samples. The wavelength positions of the distinct resonances from submicron-radii crystalline silicates, as well as their thermal equilibrium temperatures, constrain the crystalline olivine to have a relatively high Mg-content (x>0.9, or Fo>90). Only resonances computed for submicron Mg-rich crystalline olivine and crystalline orthopyroxene match the observed IR spectral features. However, this has led to the interpretation that micron-radii and larger crystals are absent from comet comae. Furthermore, the mass fraction of silicate crystals is dependent upon whether just the submicron portion of the size distribution is being compared or the submicron crystals compare to the aggregates of porous amorphous silicates that are computationally tractable as porous spheres. We will discuss the Deep Impact results as examples of these challenges to interpreting mid-IR spectra of short-period comets.

Wooden, Diane H.↗

Quantitative simultaneous multi-element microprobe analysis using combined wavelength and energy dispersive systems

A combined WDS-EDS system obviates the severe X-ray peak overlap problems encountered with Na, Mg, Al and Si common to pure EDS systems. By application of easily measured empirical correction factors for pulse pile-up and peak overlaps which are normally observed in the analysis of silicate minerals, the accuracy of analysis is comparable with that expected for WDS electron microprobe analyses. The continuum backgrounds are subtracted for the spectra by a spline fitting technique based on integrated intensities between the peaks. The preprocessed data are then reduced to chemical analyses by existing data reduction programs.

Walter, L. S.↗

The flat fielding and achievable signal-to-noise of the MAMA detectors

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) was designed to achieve a signal-to-noise (S/N) of at least 100:1 per resolution element. Multi-Anode Microchannel Arrays (MAMA) observations during Servicing Mission Orbital Verification (SMOV) confirm that this specification can be met. From analysis of a single spectrum of GD153, with counting statistics of approximately 165 a S/N of approximately 125 is achieved per spectral resolution element in the far ultraviolet (FUV) over the spectral range of 1280A to 1455A. Co-adding spectra of GRW+7OD5824 to increase the counting statistics to approximately 300 yields a S/N of approximately 190 per spectral resolution element over the region extending from 1347A to 1480A in the FUV. In the near ultraviolet (NUV), a single spectrum of GRW+7OD5824 with counting statistics of approximately 200 yields a S/N of approximately 150 per spectral resolution element over the spectral region extending from 2167 to 2520A. Details of the flat field construction, the spectral extraction, and the definition of a spectral resolution element will be described in the text.

Kaiser, Mary Elizabeth↗

Magnetized laser–plasma interactions in high-energy-density systems: Parallel propagation

In this study, we investigate parametric processes in magnetized plasmas, driven by a large-amplitude pump light wave. Our focus is on laser–plasma interactions relevant to high-energy-density (HED) systems, such as the National Ignition Facility and the Sandia MagLIF concept. We present a self-contained derivation of a “parametric” dispersion relation for magnetized three-wave interactions, meaning the pump wave is included in the equilibrium, similar to the unmagnetized work of Drake et al., Phys. Fluids 17, 778 (1974). For this, we use a multi-species plasma fluid model and Maxwell's equations. The application of an external B field causes right- and left-polarized light waves to propagate with differing phase velocities. This leads to Faraday rotation of the polarization, which can be significant in HED conditions. Phase-matching and linear wave dispersion relations show that Raman and Brillouin scattering have modified spectra due to the background B field, though this effect is usually small in systems of current practical interest. We study a scattering process we call stimulated whistler scattering, where a light wave decays to an electromagnetic whistler wave (ω≲ω ce ) and a Langmuir wave. This only occurs in the presence of an external B field, which is required for the whistler wave to exist.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Rayleigh-Brillouin scattering for high-pressure gas temperature measurements

An experiment was set up to evaluate the feasibility of using Rayleigh-Brillouin scattering as a diagnostic technique for measuring gas temperature in high pressure environments, such as the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) Preburner. A high pressure furnace is used as the scattering chamber. Either nitrogen or hydrogen may be used. An argon ion laser beam is focused into the furnace. Light backscattering from the gas in the furnace is collected and analyzed with a 5-pass scanning Fabry-Perot interferometer and photon counting electronics. The multi-pass configuration provides the high frequency selectively needed to measure the Brillouin peaks in the presence of large amounts of spuriously scattered light at the laser frequency. Preliminary measurements were made at room temperature in nitrogen at pressures up to 2000 psia. The free spectral range of the interferometer and frequency separation of the Brillouin peaks are determined from measured spectra. Temperature measurements are then obtained using the simple continuum theory with low frequency values of specific heat ratio and shear viscosity. The measured temperatures are within 10 percent of the true value.

Seasholtz, Richard G.↗

Multi-modal effects on indirect noise induced by turbulent entropy fields

Planar entropy waves are commonly assumed for predicting indirect combustion noise. However, the non-planar and turbulent nature of flows found in most practical combustors challenges this assumption. In the present paper, we examine the indirect noise generated by non-planar and turbulent entropy fields through subsonic nozzles. Firstly, we introduce a new transfer function framework that accounts for the contribution of non-planar Fourier modes of the entropy field to the indirect noise spectra. When applied to a turbulent flow field, this method demonstrates a significant improvement in spectral predictions compared with a conventional approach that only considers the planar mode. Secondly, simulations show that non-planar Fourier modes become significant above a threshold frequency ƒ thresh , found in the mid- to high-frequency range. This contribution of non-planar modes is explained by two-dimensional shear effects that distort the entropy waves. A scaling relation that uses residence times along streamlines is developed for ƒ thresh , showing good agreement with simulation results. Finally, we show that the indirect noise from non-planar entropy modes found in aviation combustors can be significant at frequencies below 1 kHz, which might be relevant in situations of thermo-acoustic instabilities coupled to indirect noise.

42 ENGINEERING↗

A Bulk Comptonization Model for the Prompt GRB Emission and its Relation to the Fermi GRB Spectra

We present a model in which the GRB prompt emission at E ~ E(sub peak) is due to bulk Comptonization by the relativistic blast wave motion of either its own synchrotron photons of ambient photons of the stellar configuration that gave birth to the GRB. The bulk Comptonization process then induces the production of relativistic electrons of Lorentz factor equal to that of the blast wave through interactions with its ambient protons. The inverse compton emission of these electrons produces a power law component that extends to multi GeV energies in good agreement with the LAT GRB observations.

Kazanas, Demosthenes↗

Hamiltonian parameter inference from resonant inelastic x-ray scattering with active learning

Identifying model Hamiltonians is a vital step toward creating predictive models of materials. Here, in this study, we combine Bayesian optimization with the EDRIXS numerical package to infer Hamiltonian parameters from resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) spectra within the single atom approximation. To evaluate the efficacy of our method, we test it on experimental RIXS spectra of NiPS 3 , NiCl 2 , Ca 3 ⁢LiOsO 6 , and Fe 2⁢ O 3 , and demonstrate that it can reproduce results obtained from hand-fitted parameters to a precision similar to expert human analysis while providing a more systematic mapping of parameter space. Our work provides a key first step toward solving the inverse scattering problem to extract effective multi-orbital models from information-dense RIXS measurements, which can be applied to a host of quantum materials. We also propose atomic model parameter sets for two materials, Ca 3⁢ LiOsO 6 and Fe 2⁢ O 3 , that were previously missing from the literature.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Probing strangeness canonical ensemble with K - , Φ(1020) and Ξ - production in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{^S{NN}}$ = 3 GeV

We report on the first multi-differential measurement of φ meson and Ξ - hyperon production as well as the φ/K - and φ/Ξ - ratio in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{^S{NN}}$ = 3 GeV with the STAR experiment under its fixed target configuration at RHIC. φ mesons and Ξ - hyperons are measured through their hadronic decay channels, φ → K+K - and Ξ - → Λπ - . The transverse kinetic energy spectra of K - , φ and Ξ - are presented in different centrality and rapidity intervals. The total production yields and the ratios within a 4π coverage are calculated and compared to thermal model predictions. A calculation within the grand canonical ensemble framework shows a clear discrepancy from our measurement. Our data favor the canonical ensemble approach employing local strangeness conservation with a small strangeness correlation length (r c ≤ 4.2 fm) in 0–10% central Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{^S{NN}}$ = 3 GeV.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

The Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST) Quasar Survey: Quasar Properties from Data Releases 6 to 9

We report the fourth installment in the series of the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST) quasar survey, which includes quasars observed between 2017 September and 2021 June. There are in total 13,066 quasars reliably identified, of which 6685 are newly discovered that are not reported in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) DR14 quasar catalog or Million Quasars catalog. Because LAMOST does not provide accurate absolute flux calibration, we recalibrate the spectra with the SDSS/Pan-STARRS1 multiband photometric data. The emission-line properties of Hα, Hβ, Mg II , and C Iv and the continuum luminosities are measured by fitting the recalibrated spectra. We also estimate the single-epoch virial black hole masses (M BH ) using the derived emission-line and continuum parameters. This is the first time that the emission-line and continuum fluxes were estimated based on LAMOST recalibrated quasar spectra. The catalog and spectra for these quasars are available online. After the 9 yr LAMOST quasar survey, there are in total 56,175 identified quasars, of which 24,127 are newly discovered. The LAMOST quasar survey not only discovers a great number of new quasars but also provides a database for investigating the spectral variability of the quasars observed by both LAMOST and SDSS and finding rare quasars, including changing-look quasars and broad absorption line quasars.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Impact of Aerosols and Atmospheric Thermodynamics on Cloud Properties within the Climate System

A combination of cloud-top and columnar droplet sizes derived from the multi Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM) sensors reveals the sensitivity of the aerosols effect on cloud-precipitation process due to environmental vertical thermodynamic structure. First, the magnitude of aerosol indirect effect could be larger with the analysis of columnar droplet sizes than that derived from the cloud-top droplet sizes, since column-droplet size can account for the broader droplet spectra in the cloud layers. Second, a combination of cloud- top and columnar droplet sizes reveals that the warm rain process is prevented regardless of the aerosols concentration under a high static stability such as when a strong temperature inversion exists, while a high aerosol concentration suppresses the warm rain formulation under a low static stability.

Matsui, Toshihisa↗

The Nature of the X-Ray Binary IGR J19294+1816 from INTEGRAL, RXTE, and Swift Observations

We report the results of a high-energy multi-instrumental campaign with INTEGRAL, RXTE, and Swift of the recently discovered INTEGRAL source IGR J19294+ 1816. The Swift/XRT data allow us to refine the position of the source to R.A. (J2000) = 19h 29m 55.9s, Decl. (J2000) = +18 deg 18 feet 38 inches . 4 (+/- 3 inches .5), which in turn permits us to identify a candidate infrared counterpart. The Swift and RXTE spectra are well fitted with absorbed power laws with hard (Gamma approx 1) photon indices. During the longest Swift observation, we obtained evidence of absorption in true excess to the Galactic value, which may indicate some intrinsic absorption in this source. We detected a strong (P = 40%) pulsations at 12.43781 (+/- 0.00003) s that we interpret as the spin period of a pulsar. All these results, coupled with the possible 117 day orbital period, point to IGR J19294+ 1816 being an high-mass X-ray binary (HMXB) with a Be companion star. However, while the long-term INTEGRAL/IBIS/ISGRI 18-40 keV light curve shows that the source spends most of its time in an undetectable state, we detect occurrences of short (2000-3000 s) and intense flares that are more typical of supergiant fast X-ray transients. We therefore cannot make firm conclusions on the type of system, and we discuss the possible implication of IGR J19294+1816 being an Supergiant Fast X-ray Transient (SFXT).

Rodriquez, J.↗

Modeling of Am-241 as an alternative fuel source in a radioisotope thermoelectric generator

Radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) have been utilized in the USA to power satellites and space exploration equipment for over half a century. In our preceding paper, Dustin and Borrelli (2021), we assessed the performance of 241 Am as an alternative to 238 Pu by modeling the specific decay-heat and gamma spectra of several potential radioisotopes in SCALE-ORIGEN, and comparing these with 238 Pu An analysis of heat output, heat stability, safety, availability and required mass showed that of the isotopes reviewed, 241 Am had the greatest potential for replacing 238 Pu, with additional design considerations. In our current work, we have assessed radiation transport for two configurations of an 241 Am powered Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG), due to the potential health effects for operators, fabricators, and others with the potential to be exposed to neutrons and lower energy gamma rays. We have modeled the use of americium as a fuel source replacement for plutonium in current MMRTG designs. The assessment has been performed using MCNP6, in terms of neutron and gamma emissions that might interfere with sensitive equipment and power system production. The radiation transport behavior in terms of dose rate of the 241 Am fueled models is compared with that of a 238 Pu fueled model. Finally, additional work was performed to validate modeling simplifications with regards to thermocouple material configurations.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗