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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 OSTI2015

Low-reflection beam refractions by ultrathin Huygens metasurface

We propose a Huygens source unit cell to develop an ultrathin low-reflection metasurface, which could provide extreme controls of phases of the transmitted waves. Both electric and magnetic currents are supported by the proposed unit cell, thus leading to highly efficient and full controls of phases. The coupling between electric and magnetic responses is negligible, which will significantly reduce the difficulty of design. Since the unit cell of metasurface is printed on two bonded boards, the fabrication process is simplified and the thickness of metasurface is reduced. Based on the proposed unit cell, a beam-refracting metasurface with low-reflection is designed and manufactured. Both near-field and far-field characteristics of the beam-refracting metasurface are investigated by simulations and measurements, which indicate that the proposed Huygens metasurface performs well in controlling electromagnetic waves.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Delayed bunching for multi-reflection time-of-flight mass separation

Many experiments are handicapped when the ion sources do not only deliver the ions of interest but also contaminations, i.e., unwanted ions of similar mass. In the recent years, multi-reflection time-of-flight mass separation has become a promising method to isolate the ions of interest from the contaminants, in particular for measurements with low-energy short-lived nuclides. To further improve the performance of multi-reflection mass separators with respect to the limitations by space-charge effects, the simultaneously trapped ions are spatially widely distributed in the apparatus. Thus, the ions can propagate with reduced Coulomb interactions until, finally, they are bunched by a change in the trapping conditions for high-resolution mass separation. Proof-of-principle measurements are presented.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Measurement of reflectivity of spherically bent crystals using Kα signal from hot electrons produced by laser-matter interaction

In an experiment at the laser facility ECLIPSE of the CELIA laboratory, University of Bordeaux, we measure the reflectivity of spherically bent crystals that are commonly used to investigate the propagation of fast electrons through the Kα radiation they generate in matter. The experimental reflectivity compares well with predictions from a ray-tracing code that takes into account the specific geometry, although the crystals seem to suffer from aging problems.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2016

Hard x-ray nanofocusing using total-reflection zone plates

A total-reflection zone plate (TRZP), which is a reflective grating that generates a line focus of hard X-rays, was developed. Newly designed TRZPs, introducing a laminar grating concept, were fabricated with various zone parameters. The focusing performances with regard to the beam size and the diffraction efficiency were evaluated using synchrotron radiation X-rays of 10 keV energy. Although the beam sizes measured are insufficient in comparison with the ideal value, the maximum diffraction efficiency, measured at 20%, exceeds the limitations of conventional TRZPs based on a binary grating.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2016

Characterization of ion beam sputtered deposited W/Si multilayers by grazing incidence x-ray diffraction and x-ray reflectivity technique

W/Si multilayers four samples have been deposited on silicon substrate using ion beam sputtering system. Thickness of tungsten (W) varies from around 10 Å to 40 Å while the silicon (Si) thickness remains constant at around 30 Å in multilayers [W-Si]{sub x4}. The samples have been characterized by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) and X-ray reflectivity technique (XRR). GIXRD study shows the crystalline behaviour of W/Si multilayer by varying W thickness and it is found that above 20 Å the W film transform from amorphous to crystalline phase and X-ray reflectivity data shows that the roughnesses of W increases on increasing the W thicknesses in W/Si multilayers.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2011

Singularities of the second-harmonic light field polarisation arising upon reflection of normally incident elliptically polarised Gaussian beam from the surface of an isotropic chiral medium

We have analysed the conditions for the appearance of polarisation singularities in the second-harmonic beam cross section arising in the case of reflection of a uniformly elliptically polarised Gaussian beam at the fundamental frequency from the surface of an isotropic gyrotropic medium. It is shown that there are elliptical polarisation states of the incident light at which the cross section of the second-harmonic reflected beam contains either one or two C lines and either two, or one, or none L lines [the loci of the points where the propagating radiation is circularly (C) or linearly (L) polarised].The formulas determining the conditions for the occurrence of L and C lines and specifying their orientation in the plane of the cross-section of the second-harmonic beam are obtained.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2013

Selection of linear-cavity fibre laser radiation using a reflection interferometer

We consider the use of a two-mirror multibeam reflection interferometer as a selector of linear-cavity single-mode fibre laser radiation and present experimental data on continuous wavelength tuning of an erbium-doped fibre laser. Conditions are found for single-longitudinal-mode operation of the fibre laser cavity using a reflection interferometer, with the possibility of broadband wavelength tuning. (control of laser pulse parameters)

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2016

Measuring nonlinear reflectance of laser radiation with a wavelength of 2940 nm from silica glass – water and silica glass – ethanol interfaces

We have measured the reflectance of an Er{sup 3+} : YAG laser pulse from silica glass – water and silica glass – ethanol interfaces at high (0.9 J cm{sup -2}) and low (5 mJ cm{sup -2}) energy densities of incident radiation. The nonlinearity of reflectance dynamics is found for high-power radiation during the laser pulse action. (nonlinear optical phenomena)

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2017

Multiple-beam fibre reflection interferometer based on an all-dielectric diffraction structure

We report experiments aimed at making a fibre reflection interferometer based on all-dielectric diffraction structures for the range 1500–1600 nm. The diffractive scattering structure of the input mirror of the interferometer is produced on the fibre end face by damaging it using abrasive diamond film with a grain size of a few microns. As a result, sharp reflection peaks are obtained for two interferometers, with the following parameters: finesse, 100 and 11; contrast, 2 and 60, respectively. Such an interferometer can, in principle, combine high contrast and high finesse. (laser applications and other topics in quantum electronics)

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2012

USE OF INCIDENT AND REFLECTED SOLAR PARTICLE BEAMS TO TRACE THE TOPOLOGY OF MAGNETIC CLOUDS

Occasionally, large solar energetic particle (SEP) events occur inside magnetic clouds (MCs). In this work, the onset time analysis, the peak intensity analysis, and the decay phase analysis of SEPs are used to investigate two large SEP events inside MCs: the 1998 May 2 and 2002 April 21 events. The onset time analysis of non-relativistic electrons and {approx}MeV nucleon{sup -1} heavy ions shows the stability of the magnetic loop structure during a period of a few hours in the events examined. The joint analysis of pitch-angle distributions and peak intensities of electrons exhibits that, depending on the particle pitch angle observed at 1 AU, in the April event the reflection point of particles may be distributed along a wide spatial range, implying that the magnetic loop is a magnetic bottle connected to the Sun with both legs. In contrast, in the May event particle reflection occurs abruptly at the magnetic mirror formed by a compressed field enhancement behind the interplanetary shock, consistent with its open field line topology.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

REFLECTION-DOMINATED NUCLEAR X-RAY EMISSION IN THE EARLY-TYPE GALAXY ESO 565-G019

We present the discovery of a reflection-dominated active galactic nucleus (AGN) in the early-type radio-quiet galaxy ESO 565-G019 with Suzaku and Swift/Burst Alert Telescope. The source X-ray spectrum below 10 keV is characteristic of other Compton-thick (CT) AGNs, clearly showing an inverted continuum and prodigious fluorescence iron emission above {approx}3 keV. A Compton shoulder to the neutral Fe K{alpha} line also appears to be present. There is evidence for long-term hard X-ray flux variability that we associate with changes in the intrinsic AGN power law. More of such reflection-dominated AGNs should be uncovered in the near future with the increased sensitivity of ongoing and new hard X-ray surveys. ESO 565-G019 is hosted in an early-type galaxy whose morphology has been variously classified as either type E or type S0. Only about 20 bona fide CT-AGNs have been identified in the local universe so far, and all exist in host galaxies with late Hubble types (S0 or later). CT columns of nuclear obscuring gas are uncommon in early-type galaxies in the local universe, so confirmation of the exact morphological class of ESO 565-G019 is important. Infrared photometry also shows the presence of large quantities of cool dust in the host, indicative of significant ongoing star formation. ESO 565-G019 may be the first identified local example of minor-merger-driven CT-AGN growth in an early-type host, or may be the result of interaction with its neighboring galaxy ESO 565-G018 in a wide pair.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

A REFLECTION MODEL FOR THE CYCLOTRON LINES IN THE SPECTRA OF X-RAY PULSARS

Cyclotron resonance scattering features observed in the spectra of some X-ray pulsars show significant changes of the line energy with the pulsar luminosity. At high luminosities, these variations are often associated with the onset and growth of the accretion column, which is believed to be the origin of the observed emission and of the cyclotron lines. However, this scenario inevitably implies a large gradient of the magnetic field strength within the line-forming region, which makes the formation of the observed line-like features problematic. Moreover, the observed variation of the cyclotron line energy is much smaller than could be anticipated for the corresponding luminosity changes. We argue here that a more physically realistic situation is that the cyclotron line forms when the radiation emitted by the accretion column is reflected from the neutron star surface, where the gradient of the magnetic field strength is significantly smaller. Here we develop a reflection model and apply it to explain the observed variations of the cyclotron line energy in a bright X-ray pulsar V 0332+53 over a wide range of luminosities.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

A TRANSMISSION SPECTRUM OF TITAN'S NORTH POLAR ATMOSPHERE FROM A SPECULAR REFLECTION OF THE SUN

Cassini/VIMS T85 observations of a solar specular reflection off of Kivu Lacus (87.°4N 241.°1E) provide an empirical transmission spectrum of Titan's atmosphere. Because this observation was acquired from short range (33,000 km), its intensity makes it visible within the 2.0, 2.7, and 2.8 μm atmospheric windows in addition to the 5 μm window where all previous specular reflections have been seen. The resulting measurement of the total one-way normal atmospheric optical depth (corresponding to haze scattering plus haze and gas absorption) provides strong empirical constraints on radiative transfer models. Using those models, we find that the total haze column abundance in our observation is 20% higher than the Huygens equatorial value. Ours is the first measurement in the 2-5 μm wavelength range that probes all the way to the surface in Titan's arctic, where the vast majority of surface liquids are located. The specular technique complements other probes of atmospheric properties such as solar occultations and the direct measurements from Huygens. In breaking the degeneracy between surface and atmospheric absorptions, our measured optical depths will help to drive future calculations of deconvolved surface albedo spectra.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

The reflection component from Cygnus X-1 in the soft state measured by NuSTAR and Suzaku

The black hole binary Cygnus X-1 was observed in late 2012 with the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) and Suzaku, providing spectral coverage over the ∼1-300 keV range. The source was in the soft state with a multi-temperature blackbody, power law, and reflection components along with absorption from highly ionized material in the system. The high throughput of NuSTAR allows for a very high quality measurement of the complex iron line region as well as the rest of the reflection component. The iron line is clearly broadened and is well described by a relativistic blurring model, providing an opportunity to constrain the black hole spin. Although the spin constraint depends somewhat on which continuum model is used, we obtain a {sub *} > 0.83 for all models that provide a good description of the spectrum. However, none of our spectral fits give a disk inclination that is consistent with the most recently reported binary values for Cyg X-1. This may indicate that there is a >13° misalignment between the orbital plane and the inner accretion disk (i.e., a warped accretion disk) or that there is missing physics in the spectral models.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

NuSTAR J033202-2746.8: Direct constraints on the Compton reflection in a heavily obscured quasar at z ≈ 2

We report Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) observations of NuSTAR J033202-2746.8, a heavily obscured, radio-loud quasar detected in the Extended Chandra Deep Field-South, the deepest layer of the NuSTAR extragalactic survey (∼400 ks, at its deepest). NuSTAR J033202-2746.8 is reliably detected by NuSTAR only at E > 8 keV and has a very flat spectral slope in the NuSTAR energy band (Γ=0.55{sub −0.64}{sup +0.62}; 3-30 keV). Combining the NuSTAR data with extremely deep observations by Chandra and XMM-Newton (4 Ms and 3 Ms, respectively), we constrain the broad-band X-ray spectrum of NuSTAR J033202-2746.8, indicating that this source is a heavily obscured quasar (N{sub H}=5.6{sub −0.8}{sup +0.9}×10{sup 23} cm{sup –2}) with luminosity L {sub 10-40} {sub keV} ≈ 6.4 × 10{sup 44} erg s{sup –1}. Although existing optical and near-infrared (near-IR) data, as well as follow-up spectroscopy with the Keck and VLT telescopes, failed to provide a secure redshift identification for NuSTAR J033202-2746.8, we reliably constrain the redshift z = 2.00 ± 0.04 from the X-ray spectral features (primarily from the iron K edge). The NuSTAR spectrum shows a significant reflection component (R=0.55{sub −0.37}{sup +0.44}), which was not constrained by previous analyses of Chandra and XMM-Newton data alone. The measured reflection fraction is higher than the R ∼ 0 typically observed in bright radio-loud quasars such as NuSTAR J033202-2746.8, which has L {sub 1.4} {sub GHz} ≈ 10{sup 27} W Hz{sup –1}. Constraining the spectral shape of active galactic nuclei (AGNs), including bright quasars, is very important for understanding the AGN population, and can have a strong impact on the modeling of the X-ray background. Our results show the importance of NuSTAR in investigating the broad-band spectral properties of quasars out to high redshift.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Clouds on the hot Jupiter HD189733b: Constraints from the reflection spectrum

The hot Jupiter HD 189733b is probably the best studied of the known extrasolar planets, with published transit and eclipse spectra covering the near UV to mid-IR range. Recent work on the transmission spectrum has shown clear evidence for the presence of clouds in its atmosphere, which significantly increases the model atmosphere parameter space that must be explored in order to fully characterize this planet. In this work, we apply the NEMESIS atmospheric retrieval code to the recently published HST/STIS reflection spectrum, and also to the dayside thermal emission spectrum in light of new Spitzer/IRAC measurements, as well as our own re-analysis of the HST/NICMOS data. We first use the STIS data to place some constraints on the nature of clouds on HD 189733b and explore solution degeneracy between different cloud properties and the abundance of Na in the atmosphere; as already noted in previous work, absorption due to Na plays a significant role in determining the shape of the reflection spectrum. We then perform a new retrieval of the temperature profile and abundances of H{sub 2}O, CO{sub 2}, CO, and CH{sub 4} from the dayside thermal emission spectrum. Finally, we investigate the effect of including cloud in the model on this retrieval process. We find that the current quality of data does not warrant the extra complexity introduced by including cloud in the model; however, future data are likely to be of sufficient resolution and signal-to-noise that a more complete model, including scattering particles, will be required.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

X-ray reflection spectroscopy of the black hole GX 339–4: Exploring the hard state with unprecedented sensitivity

We analyze simultaneously six composite RXTE spectra of GX 339–4 in the hard state comprising 77 million counts collected over 196 ks. The source spectra are ordered by luminosity and span the range 1.6%–17% of the Eddington luminosity. Crucially, using our new tool pcacorr, we re-calibrate the data to a precision of 0.1%, an order of magnitude improvement over all earlier work. Using our advanced reflection model relxill, we target the strong features in the component of emission reflected from the disk, namely, the relativistically broadened Fe K emission line, the Fe K edge, and the Compton hump. We report results for two joint fits to the six spectra: For the first fit, we fix the spin parameter to its maximal value (a{sub *} = 0.998) and allow the inner disk radius R{sub in} to vary. Results include (i) precise measurements of R{sub in}, with evidence that the disk becomes slightly truncated at a few percent of Eddington and (ii) an order-of-magnitude swing with luminosity in the high energy cutoff, which reaches >890 keV at our lowest luminosity. For the second fit, we make the standard assumption in estimating spin that the inner edge of the accretion disk is located at the innermost stable circular orbit (R{sub in} = R{sub ISCO}) and find a{sub ∗}=0.95{sub −0.05}{sup +0.03} (90% confidence, statistical). For both fits, and at the same level of statistical confidence, we estimate that the disk inclination is i = 48° ± 1° and that the Fe abundance is super-solar, A{sub Fe} = 5 ± 1.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

NuSTAR REVEALS RELATIVISTIC REFLECTION BUT NO ULTRA-FAST OUTFLOW IN THE QUASAR PG 1211+143

We report on four epochs of observations of the quasar PG 1211+143 using NuSTAR. The net exposure time is 300 ks. Prior work on this source found suggestive evidence of an ultra-fast outflow (UFO) in the Fe K band with a velocity of approximately 0.1c. The putative flow would carry away a high-mass flux and kinetic power, with broad implications for feedback and black hole--galaxy co-evolution. NuSTAR detects PG 1211+143 out to 30 keV, meaning that the continuum is well-defined both through and above the Fe K band. A characteristic relativistic disk reflection spectrum is clearly revealed via a broad Fe K emission line and Compton back-scattering curvature. The data offer only weak constraints on the spin of the black hole. A careful search for UFOs shows no significant absorption feature above 90% confidence. The limits are particularly tight when relativistic reflection is included. We discuss the statistics and the implications of these results in terms of connections between accretion onto quasars, Seyferts, and stellar-mass black holes, and feedback into their host environments.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗