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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 487 records · Page 27
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2017

The Formation and Physical Origin of Highly Ionized Cooling Gas

We present a simple model that explains the origin of warm, diffuse gas seen primarily as highly ionized absorption-line systems in the spectra of background sources. We predict the observed column densities of several highly ionized transitions such as O vi, O vii, Ne viii, N v, and Mg x, and we present a unified comparison of the model predictions with absorption lines seen in the Milky Way disk, Milky Way halo, starburst galaxies, the circumgalactic medium, and the intergalactic medium at low and high redshifts. We show that diffuse gas seen in such diverse environments can be simultaneously explained by a simple model of radiatively cooling gas. We show that most such absorption-line systems are consistent with being collisionally ionized, and we estimate the maximum-likelihood temperature of the gas in each observation. This model satisfactorily explains why O vi is regularly observed around star-forming low- z L* galaxies, and why N v is rarely seen around the same galaxies. We further present some consequences of this model in quantifying the dynamics of the cooling gas around galaxies and predict the shock velocities associated with such flows. A unique strength of this model is that while it has only one free (but physically well-constrained) parameter, it nevertheless successfully reproduces the available data on O vi absorbers in the interstellar, circumgalactic, intragroup, and intergalactic media, as well as the available data on other absorption lines from highly ionized species.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS2002

Chandra Observations of Cygnus X-1 at Different Spectral States and Different Orbital Phases

Cygnus X-1 has been observed in different spectral states and at different orbit phases with the Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer. The observed absorption line and edge features are different in these observations. These differences may be caused by the variations of the column density at different orbit phases in a photoionized-wind accretion system. The variations of the absorption features observed in different states may also provide information about changes in the configuration of the corona and accretion disk around the black hole. We present results of our data analysis and discuss the physical implications of these results.

Feng, Yixin↗
NASA NTRS1992

Water vapor column abundance retrievals during FIFE

A variation of the modified Langley plot algorithm is reported here and applied to the retrieval of atmospheric water column abundance from a filtered sunphotometer. In this new methodology an absorption data base (LOWTRAN 7) is used to compute a water abundance versus transmittance curve of growth, rather than the square-root dependence previously assumed. Validation of the technique is provided from an uncertainty analysis, and plans to further validate using Fourier transform spectrometers are detailed. The new sunphotometer technique is used to report local column water vapor during the First ISLSCP Field Experiment (FIFE), and comparisons are made with abundances retrieved via FIFE radiosonde observations. The sunphotometer data can best be utilized, however, to in turn validate data from airborne or in-orbit measurements of water vapor. With these flight sensors, horizontal and topographic variability within the scene can be viewed. An example of the airborne data set is given using an image from the airborne visible infrared imaging spectrometer, as acquired on August 31, 1990.

Bruegge, Carol J.↗
DOE OSTI2013

DETECTION OF CH{sub 4} IN THE GV TAU N PROTOPLANETARY DISK

T Tauri stars are low mass young stars that may serve as analogs to the early solar system. Observations of organic molecules in the protoplanetary disks surrounding T Tauri stars are important for characterizing the chemical and physical processes that lead to planet formation. Searches for undetected molecules, particularly in the inner, planet forming regions of these disks are important for testing protoplanetary disk chemical models and for understanding the evolution of volatiles through the star and planet formation process. We used NIRSPEC on Keck 2 to perform a high resolution (λ/Δλ ∼ 25,000) L-band survey of T Tauri star GV Tau N. This object is one of two in which the simple organic molecules HCN and C{sub 2}H{sub 2} have been reported in absorption in the warm molecular layer of the protoplanetary disk. In this Letter, we report the first detection of methane, CH{sub 4}, in a protoplanetary disk. Specifically, we detected the ν{sub 3} band in absorption. We determined a rotational temperature of 750 ± 50 K and column density of (2.8 ± 0.2) × 10{sup 17} cm{sup –2}. Our results imply that CH{sub 4} originates in the warm molecular layer of the inner protoplanetary disk.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS2013

Observation of Neutral Sodium Above Mercury During the Transit of November 8, 2006

We mapped the absorption of sunlight by sodium vapor in the exosphere of Mercury during the transit of Mercury on November 8, 2006, using the IBIS Interferometric BIdimensional Spectrometer at the Dunn Solar Telescope operated by the National Solar Observatory at Sunspot, New Mexico. The measurements were reduced to line-of-sight equivalent widths for absorption at the sodium D2 line around the shadow of Mercury. The sodium absorption fell off exponentially with altitude up to about 600 km. However there were regions around north and south polar-regions where relatively uniform sodium absorptions extended above 1000 km. We corrected the 0-600 km altitude profiles for seeing blur using the measured point spread function. Analysis of the corrected altitude distributions yielded surface densities, zenith column densities, temperatures and scale heights for sodium all around the planet. Sodium absorption on the dawn side equatorial terminator was less than on the dusk side, different from previous observations of the relative absorption levels. We also determined Earthward velocities for sodium atoms, and line widths for the absorptions. Earthward velocities resulting from radiation pressure on sodium averaged 0.8 km/s, smaller than a prediction of 1.5 km/s. Most line widths were in the range of 20 mA after correction for instrumental broadening, corresponding to temperatures in the range of 1000 K.

Spectrometer↗
DOE OSTI2016

Environmental feasibility of soil amendment with flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG) for terrestrial carbon sequestration

Technologies for increasing carbon storage in soils are gathering attention as a means for mitigating atmospheric CO 2 emissions. Carbon sequestration can be achieved by controlling the organic carbon stock in soil and by accelerating mineral carbonation. In this study, carbon sequestration capacity was measured in soil columns treated with flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG), a by-product of electric power generation. The feasibility of using FGDG as an environmentally benign alternative to gypsum or anhydrite was examined using a toxicity characteristic leaching procedure and Microtox bioassay. While no toxic leachate was generated from the FGDG treatment, some toxic elements in the soil were removed through absorption reactions. Test results for carbon sequestration based on unsaturated soil column experiments suggest that the application of FGDG for soil treatment holds promise of less microbial CO 2 emission from soil. The net benefits of carbon sequestration from the FGDG treatment were calculated as 87 and 621 g C/m 2 /m of infiltrated water, for the 1 % calcite-added column and 3 % calcite-added columns, respectively. The presented test results show that the FGDG treatment for soil carbon sequestration holds a promise when it is applied to slightly alkaline soils.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

Photoluminescence emission at room temperature in zinc oxide nano-columns

Highlights: • ZnO nanoparticles were obtained by microwave-hydrothermal method. • X-ray diffraction reveals a hexagonal structure. • Photoluminescence emission evidenced two absorption peaks, at around 480 nm and 590 nm wavelengths. - Abstract: Hydrothermal microwave method (HTMW) was used to synthesize crystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) nano-columns at the temperature of 120 °C with a soaking time of 8 min. ZnO nano-columns were characterized by using X-ray analyses (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analyses (TG-DTA), field emission gun and transmission electron microscopy (FEG-SEM and TEM) and photoluminescence properties (PL). XRD results indicated that the ZnO nano-columns are free of any impurity phase and crystallize in the hexagonal structure. Typical FT-IR spectra for ZnO nano-columns presented well defined bands, indicating a substantial short-range order in the system. PL spectra consist of a broad band at 590 nm and narrow band at 480 nm corresponding to a near-band edge emission related to the recombination of excitons and level emission related to structural defects. These results show that the HTMW synthesis route is rapid, cost effective, and could be used as an alternative to obtain ZnO nano-columns in the temperature of 120 °C for 8 min.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1989

Interstellar C2, CH, and CN in translucent molecular clouds

Optical absorption-line techniques have been applied to the study of a number of translucent molecular clouds in which the total column densities are large enough that substantial molecular abundances can be maintained. Results are presented for a survey of absorption lines of interstellar C2, CH, and CN. Detections of CN through the A 2Pi-X 2Sigma(+) (1,O) and (2,O) bands of the red system are reported and compared with observations of the violet system for one line of sight. The population distributions in C2 provide diagnostic information on temperature and density. The measured column densities of the three species can be used to test details of the theory of molecule formation in clouds where photoprocesses still play a significant role. The C2 and CH column densities are strongly correlated with each other and probably also with the H2 column density. In contrast, the CN column densities are found to vary greatly from cloud to cloud. The observations are discussed with reference to detailed theoretical models.

Black, John H.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Copernicus observations of the N v resonance doublet in 53 early-type stars

UV spectra in the wavelength interval 1170-1270 A are presented for 53 early-type stars ranging in spectral type from O6.5 V to B2.5 IV. The sample includes four Wolf-Rayet stars, seven known Oe-Be stars, and six galactic halo OB stars. A qualitative analysis of the stellar N v doublet reveals that: (1) N v is present in all stars hotter and more luminous than type B0 for the main sequence, B1 for giants, and B2 for supergiants; (2) shell components of N v and an unidentified absorption feature at 1230 A are present in about half of the stars; (3) the column density of N v is well correlated with bolometric luminosity over the spectral range O6 to B2; and (4) the ratio of emission to absorption equivalent width is a factor of 2 smaller in the main sequence stars than in supergiants, which suggests that the wind structure changes as a star evolves. For several stars, this ratio is too small to be explained by traditional wind models.

Abbott, D. C.↗
DOE OSTI2019

Solid Phase Extraction of Cadmium and Lead from Water by Amberlyst 15 and Determination by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Preconcentration of Cd(II) and Pb(II) was carried out by using column solid phase extraction method. Amberlyst 15 was used as solid phase for these analytes. The optimum extraction conditions such as pH (4), type and volume of eluent (5 mL of 2 mol L{sup −1} HNO{sub 3}) sample flow rate (1 mL min{sup −1}) and sample volume (100 mL for Cd(II) and 750 mL for Pb(II)) were determined. The recoveries were found for Cd(II) and Pb(II) as 104% ± 1% and 102 % ± 2%, respectively. The limit of detections were found as 0.23 µg L{sup −1} for Cd(II) and 0.13 µg L{sup −1} for Pb(II). The effects of foreign ions were also studied. The method was validated by analyzing standard reference material and spiked water samples. Percent relative error and relative standard deviation were below 3% and 4%, respectively.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1995

The discovery of an O VII emission line in the ASCA spectrum of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 3783

We report the first observation of an O VII 0.57 keV emission line in a Seyfert 1 galaxy. NGC 3783 was observed by ASCA twice over a period of 4 days in 1993 December. The source exhibited a approximately 30% change in intensity between the two observations, with most of the variability taking place as a result of steepening of the continuum less than or approximately equal to 1 keV. Spectra from both observations show intense absorption features in the 0.5-1.5 keV band, which can be well fitted by an ionized absorber model of solar composition, column density of 10(exp 22.2)/sq cm and ionization parameter of approximately 7-8; the strongest absorption features being due to O VII and O VIII. Two emission features are also seen in the spectra which we identify as O VII 0.57 keV (equivalent width approximately equals 36 eV) and O VIII 0.65 keV (equivalent width approximately equals 11 eV). We also show that the 3-6 keV continuum of the source is well fitted by a Gamma = 1.3-1.4 power-law continuum, a narrow neutral iron K-shell fluorescence line and a strong iron K-shell absorption edge, possibly corresponding to highly ionized iron.

George, I. M.↗
NASA NTRS2020

A Broad-Band X-Ray Spectral Study of the Seyfert 1 Galaxy ESO 141–G055 with XMM-Newton and NuSTAR

We have extensively studied the broad–band X-ray spectra of the source ESO 141–G055 using all available XMM–Newton and NuSTAR observations. We detect a prominent soft excess below 2 keV, a narrow Fe line, and a Compton hump (> 10 keV). The origin of the soft excess is still debated. We used two models to describe the soft excess: the blurred reflection from the ionized accretion disc and the intrinsic thermal Comptonization model. We find that both of these models explain the soft excess equally well. We confirm that we do not detect any broad Fe line in the X-ray spectra of this source, although both the physical models prefer a maximally spinning black hole scenario (a > 0.96). This may mean that either the broad Fe line is absent or blurred beyond detection. The Eddington rate of the source is estimated to be λ(sub Edd) ∼ 0.31. In the reflection model, the Compton hump has a contribution from both ionized and neutral reflection components. The neutral reflector which simultaneously describes the narrow Fe K(sub α) and the Compton hump has a column density of N(sub H) ≤ 7 × 10(exp 24) cm(exp -2). In addition, we detect a partially covering ionized absorption with ionization parameter log ξ/ erg cm s(exp -1) = 0.1(sup +0.1)(sub -0.1) and column density N(sub H) = 20.6(sup +1.0)(sub -1.0) × 10(exp 22) cm(exp -2) with a covering factor of 0.21(sup +0.01)(sub -0.01).

ESO 141–G055↗
NASA NTRS1981

H I and dust in Kutner's cloud

A map in the 1.420 GHz line of H I, with an angular resolution of 9.1 arcmin, is made toward Kutner's Cloud and the region between Kutner's Cloud and Heiles' Cloud. It is assumed that the cold H I in the clouds is located only in front of, and absorbs the H I background; the column density of cold H I, N(H I), is obtained from this absorption. The visual extinction for this region is determined from star counts on red and blue POSS prints. It is noted that most of the gas in the cloud is in the form of H2. The column density of H2 is obtained from the visual extinction and the extinction-to-gas ratio given by Bohlin et al. (1978).

Batrla, W.↗
DOE OSTI2014

Multiwavelength observations of Swift J1753.5–0127

We present contemporaneous X-ray, ultraviolet (UV), optical, and near-infrared observations of the black hole binary system Swift J1753.5–0127 acquired in 2012 October. The UV observations, obtained with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope, are the first UV spectra of this system. The dereddened UV spectrum is characterized by a smooth, blue continuum and broad emission lines of C IV and He II. The system was stable in the UV to <10% during our observations. We estimated the interstellar reddening by fitting the 2175 Å absorption feature and fit the interstellar absorption profile of Lyα to directly measure the neutral hydrogen column density along the line of sight. By comparing the UV continuum flux to steady-state thin accretion disk models, we determined upper limits on the distance to the system as a function of black hole mass. The continuum is well fit with disk models dominated by viscous heating rather than irradiation. The broadband spectral energy distribution shows the system has declined at all wavelengths since previous broadband observations in 2005 and 2007. If we assume that the UV emission is dominated by the accretion disk, the inner radius of the disk must be truncated at radii above the innermost stable circular orbit to be consistent with the X-ray flux, requiring significant mass loss from outflows and/or energy loss via advection into the black hole to maintain energy balance.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1986

The outer atmosphere of the carbon star TX Piscium

A high-resolution LWP IUE spectrum of the bright N-type carbon star TX Psc demonstrates that the Mg II h and k emission profiles are strongly affected by absorption from Mg II, Mn I, probably Fe I, and possibly from molecules. The indication that the absorbing matter has a column density of not less than 10 to the 20th H atoms or molecules per sq cm is consistent with absorption in a slowly expanding envelope. The integrated Mg II line flux is found to be much greater than in 1981, and the radio CO (J = 1 - 0) line from the circumstellar shell is detected. Results for a column density of not larger than 10 to the 22nd H2 molecules/sq cm, and a radial velocity close to that of the star, are in agreement with those obtained from UV data. Some dust emission from carbon grains is suggested by the far infrared flux distribution, and a mass-loss rate estimation for the star of 10 to the -6th to 10 to the -8th solar masses is obtained.

Eriksson, K.↗
DOE OSTI2014

A far-infrared spectral sequence of galaxies: trends and models

We present a framework for the interpretation of the far-infrared spectra of galaxies in which we have expanded the model parameters compared with previous work by varying the ionization parameter U, column density N(H), and gas density at the cloud face n(H{sup +}) for a central starburst or active galactic nucleus (AGN). We compare these models carried out with the Cloudy spectral synthesis code to trends in line-to-total far-infrared luminosity ratios, far-infrared fine-structure line ratios, IRAS colors, and OH and H{sub 2}O column densities found in the well-studied sample of 10 nearby galaxies from the IRAS Bright Galaxy Sample with infrared luminosities greater than 10{sup 10} L {sub ☉} and IRAS 60 μm fluxes equal to or greater than that of the nearby ultraluminous infrared galaxy (ULIRG) Arp 220. We find that the spectral sequence extending from normal starburst-type emission-line-dominated spectra to ULIRG-type absorption-dominated spectra with significant absorption from excited levels can be best explained by simultaneously increasing the hydrogen column density, from as low as 10{sup 21} cm{sup –2} to as high as 10{sup 24.8} cm{sup –2} or greater, and the ionization parameter, from as low as 10{sup –4} to as high as 1. The starburst models best reproduce most of the sequence, while AGN models are somewhat better able to produce the high OH and H{sub 2}O column densities in Arp 220. Our results suggest that the molecular interstellar medium in ULIRG-like, molecular-absorption-dominated systems is located close to and at least partially obscures the source of power throughout much of the far-infrared, which must be taken into account in order to properly interpret diagnostics of both their sources of power and of feedback.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

On the source of the dust extinction in type Ia supernovae and the discovery of anomalously strong Na I absorption

High-dispersion observations of the Na I D λλ5890, 5896 and K I λλ7665, 7699 interstellar lines, and the diffuse interstellar band at 5780 Å in the spectra of 32 Type Ia supernovae are used as an independent means of probing dust extinction. We show that the dust extinction of the objects where the diffuse interstellar band at 5780 Å is detected is consistent with the visual extinction derived from the supernova colors. This strongly suggests that the dust producing the extinction is predominantly located in the interstellar medium of the host galaxies and not in circumstellar material associated with the progenitor system. One quarter of the supernovae display anomalously large Na I column densities in comparison to the amount of dust extinction derived from their colors. Remarkably, all of the cases of unusually strong Na I D absorption correspond to 'Blueshifted' profiles in the classification scheme of Sternberg et al. This coincidence suggests that outflowing circumstellar gas is responsible for at least some of the cases of anomalously large Na I column densities. Two supernovae with unusually strong Na I D absorption showed essentially normal K I column densities for the dust extinction implied by their colors, but this does not appear to be a universal characteristic. Overall, we find the most accurate predictor of individual supernova extinction to be the equivalent width of the diffuse interstellar band at 5780 Å, and provide an empirical relation for its use. Finally, we identify ways of producing significant enhancements of the Na abundance of circumstellar material in both the single-degenerate and double-degenerate scenarios for the progenitor system.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1974

A new device for acquiring ground truth on the absorption of light by turbid waters

The author has identified the following significant results. A new device, called a Spectral Attenuation Board, has been designed and tested, which enables ERTS-1 sea truth collection teams to monitor the attenuation depths of three colors continuously, as the board is being towed behind a boat. The device consists of a 1.2 x 1.2 meter flat board held below the surface of the water at a fixed angle to the surface of the water. A camera mounted above the water takes photographs of the board. The resulting film image is analyzed by a micro-densitometer trace along the descending portion of the board. This yields information on the rate of attenuation of light penetrating the water column and the Secchi depth. Red and green stripes were painted on the white board to approximate band 4 and band 5 of the ERTS MSS so that information on the rate of light absorption by the water column of light in these regions of the visible spectrum could be concurrently measured. It was found that information from a red, green, and white stripe may serve to fingerprint the composition of the water mass. A number of these devices, when automated, could also be distributed over a large region to provide a cheap method of obtaining valuable satellite ground truth data at present time intervals.

Klemas, V.↗