Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Spectrum analysis”

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 631 records · Page 35

An Analysis of the Torsion-Rotation-Vibration Rotational Spectrum of the Lowest In-Plane Bend and First Excited Torsional State of the C(3V) Internal Rotor C2H5CN

C2H5CN (Propionitrile or ethyl cyanide) is a well known interstellar species abundantly observed in hot cores during the onset of star formation. The onset of star formation generally results in elevated temperature, which thermally populates may low lying vibrational states such as the 206/cm in-plane bend and the 212/cm first excited torsional state in C2H5CN. Unfortunately, these two states are strongly coupled through a complex series of torsion-vibration-rotation interactions, which dominate the spectrum. In order to understand the details of these interactions and develop models capable of predicting unmeasured transitions for astronomical observations in C2H5CN and similar molecules, several thousand rotational transitions in the lowest excited in-plane bend and first excited torsional state have been recorded, assigned and analyzed. The analysis reveals very strong a- and b-type Coriolis interactions and a number of other smaller interactions and has a number of important implications for other C3V torsion-rotation-vibration systems. The relative importance and the physical origins of the coupling among the rotational, vibrational and torsional motions will be presented along with a full spectroscopic analysis and supporting astronomical observations.

Pearson, J. C.↗

A critical analysis of air shower structure functions and size spectrum measurements with the NBU air shower array

A total of 11,000 showers in the size range 10 to the 4 to 10 to the 6 particles so far detected by the NBU air shower array has been analyzed using five different structure functions. A comparison of structure functions in terms: (1) of shower size; and (2) electron density at various core distances has been discussed to indicate the present status of structure functions in air shower analysis.

Chaudhuri, N.↗

Sensitivity Analysis Applied to Atomic Data Used for X-ray Spectrum Synthesis

A great deal of work has been devoted to the accumulation of accurate quantities describing atomic processes for use in analysis of astrophysical spectra. But in many situations of interest the interpretation of a quantity which is observed, such as a line flux, depends on the results of a modeling- or spectrum synthesis code. The results of such a code depends in turn on many atomic rates or cross sections, and the sensitivity of the observable quantity on the various rates and cross sections may be non-linear and if so cannot easily be derived analytically. In such cases the most practical approach to understanding the sensitivity of observables to atomic cross sections is to perform numerical experiments, by calculating models with various rates perturbed by random (but known) factors. In addition, it is useful to compare the results of such experiments with some sample observations, in order to focus attention on the rates which are of the greatest relevance to real observations. In this paper I will present some attempts to carry out this program, focussing on two sample datasets taken with the Chandra HETG. I will discuss the sensitivity of synthetic spectra to atomic data affecting ionization balance, temperature, and line opacity or emissivity, and discuss the implications for the ultimate goal of inferring astrophysical parameters.

Kallman, Tim↗

Sensitivity Analysis Applied to Atomic Data Used for X-ray Spectrum Synthesis

A great deal of work has been devoted to the accumulation of accurate quantities describing atomic processes for use in analysis of astrophysical spectra. But in many situations of interest the interpretation of a quantity which is observed, such as a line flux, depends on the results of a modeling- or spectrum synthesis code. The results of such a code depends in turn on many atomic rates or cross sections, and the sensitivity of the observable quantity on the various rates and cross sections may be non-linear and if so cannot easily be derived analytically. This paper describes simple numerical experiments designed to examine some of these issues. Similar studies have been carried out previously in the context of solar UV lines by Gianetti et al. (2000); Savin & Laming (2002) and in the context of the iron M shell UTA in NGC 3783 by Netzer (2004).

Kallman, T.↗

Sensitivity Analysis Applied to Atomic Data Used for X-ray Spectrum Synthesis

A great deal of work has been devoted to the accumulation of accurate quantities describing atomic processes for use in analysis of astrophysical spectra. But in many situations of interest the interpretation of a quantity which is observed, such as a line flux, depends on the results of a modeling- or spectrum synthesis code. The results of such a code depends in turn 011 many atomic rates or cross sections, and the sensitivity of the observable quantity on the various rates and cross sections may be non-linear and if so cannot easily be derived analytically. In such cases the most practical approach to understanding the sensitivity of observables to atomic cross sections is to perform numerical experiments, by calculating models with various rates perturbed by random (but known) factors. In addition, it is useful to compare the results of such experiments with some sample observations, in order to focus attention on the rates which are of the greatest relevance to real observations. In this paper I will present some attempts to carry out this program, focussing on two sample datasets taken with the Chandra HETG. I will discuss the sensitivity of synthetic spectra to atomic data affecting ionization balance, temperature, and line opacity or emissivity, and discuss the implications for the ultimate goal of inferring astrophysical parameters.

Kallman, Tim↗

Sensitivity Analysis Applied to Atomic Data Used for X-ray Spectrum Synthesis

A great deal of work has been devoted to the accumulation of accurate quantities describing atomic processes for use in analysis of astrophysical spectra. But in many situations of interest the interpretation of a quantity which is observed, such as a line flux, depends on the results of a modeling- or spectrum synthesis code. The results of such a code depends in turn on many atomic rates or cross sections, and the sensitivity of the observable quantity on the various rates and cross sections may be non-linear and if so cannot easily be derived analytically. This talk describes simple numerical experiments designed to examine some of these issues.

Kallman, T.↗

Systematics in the Electron Spectrum Measured by ATIC

An analysis of different parameters to separate electrons from protons in the ATIC experiment has been performed. Five separate discriminants were studied by different Monte Carlo programs, leading to a variety of results. Application to the ATIC data indicates the range of variation possible in the interpretation of the data. The results of this analysis, when compared with the published results [5], show good agreement in the most interesting region of energy (from 90 GeV to 600 GeV). The measured electron spectrum is compared with the recent data reported by Fermi/LAT, and there is no major disagreement between ATIC s results and Fermi/LAT. Finally, possible systematics-free, short energy scale features of the ATIC electron spectrum are mentioned. Keywords: ATIC, electron spectrum, fine structure

Panov, A. D.↗

Stellar Laboratories: New GeV and Ge VI Oscillator Strengths and their Validation in the Hot White Dwarf RE0503-289

State-of-the-art spectral analysis of hot stars by means of non-LTE model-atmosphere techniques has arrived at a high level of sophistication. The analysis of high-resolution and high-S/N spectra, however, is strongly restricted by the lack of reliable atomic data for highly ionized species from intermediate-mass metals to trans-iron elements. Especially data for the latter has only been sparsely calculated. Many of their lines are identified in spectra of extremely hot, hydrogen-deficient post-AGB stars. A reliable determination of their abundances establishes crucial constraints for AGB nucleosynthesis simulations and, thus, for stellar evolutionary theory. Aims. In a previous analysis of the UV spectrum of RE 0503-289, spectral lines of highly ionized Ga, Ge, As, Se, Kr, Mo, Sn, Te, I, and Xe were identified. Individual abundance determinations are hampered by the lack of reliable oscillator strengths. Most of these identified lines stem from Ge V. In addition, we identified Ge VI lines for the first time. We calculated Ge V and Ge VI oscillator strengths in order to reproduce the observed spectrum. Methods. We newly calculated Ge V and Ge VI oscillator strengths to consider their radiative and collisional bound-bound transitions in detail in our non-LTE stellar-atmosphere models for the analysis of the Ge IV-VI spectrum exhibited in high-resolution and high-S/N FUV (FUSE) and UV (ORFEUS/BEFS, IUE) observations of RE 0503-289. Results. In the UV spectrum of RE 0503-289, we identify four Ge IV, 37 Ge V, and seven Ge VI lines. Most of these lines are identified for the first time in any star. We can reproduce almost all Ge IV, GeV, and Ge VI lines in the observed spectrum of RE 0503-289 (T(sub eff) = 70 kK, log g = 7.5) at log Ge = -3.8 +/- 0.3 (mass fraction, about 650 times solar). The Ge IV/V/VI ionization equilibrium, that is a very sensitive T(sub eff) indicator, is reproduced well. Conclusions. Reliable measurements and calculations of atomic data are a prerequisite for stellar-atmosphere modeling. Our oscillator-strength calculations have allowed, for the first time, Ge V and Ge VI lines to be successfully reproduced in a white dwarf s (RE 0503-289) spectrum and to determine its photospheric Ge abundance.

Rauch, T.↗

Analysis of the far infrared H2-He spectrum

Previous measurements of the far infrared absorption due to H2-He collisions at the temperatures of 77, 195, and 292 K are analyzed. The spectra are fitted by a semiempirical line shape representing the isotropic induced overlap component and combined anisotropic quadrupolar and overlap components. The experimental spectral moments are evaluated and compared with theory for several induced-dipole and potential models. From the isotropic contribution, the range and strength of the induced dipole is evaluated and compared with the results of ab initio calculations. Fitting parameters are obtained with physically plausible temperature dependences which allow simple and accurate representation of the spectra and of their moments at temperatures different from those of the measurements.

Cohen, E. R.↗

Additional measurements and a refined analysis of the millimeter- and submillimeter-wave spectrum of methanol

A total of 414 previously unobserved millimeter- and submillimeter-wave transitions of (C-12)H3OH through J = 10 and v(t) = 2 are assigned. These data and previous measured spectral transitions are combined and fitted by a modified internal axis method (IAM) treatment in which the A and E substates are treated separately and a wide variety of new rotational-torsional interaction terms are employed. The modified IAM treatment reduces the overall rms deviation of the fits to the level of experimental accuracy. The resultant spectroscopic constants allow for the accurate prediction of 569 additional transitions through J = 12 or less.

Anderson, Todd↗

Developing SNMS for Full-Spectrum High-Sensitivity In-Situ Isotopic Analysis of Individual Comet Grains Collected by Stardust?

In anticipation of the return of comet (and ISM?) dust grains by the Stardust mission [1] in mid-January next year, Academia Sinica (AS) and Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) have entered into a collaboration to develop instrument and method for the isotopic analysis of these samples. We need to achieve the highest possible sensitivity so that we can analyze individual grains one at a time to the smallest possible size. Only by doing so can we hope to reach one of the main science goals of the mission, namely the recognition of those isotopically distinct grains each carrying the characteristic signature of a particular nucleosynthetic stage of its parent star. In order to facilitate the interpretation of these grains the second requirement of our method is that the measurements must be made over the widest possible mass range before samples exhaustion. For instance, the thermonuclear fusion reactions that produced the isotopes of various major elements of a wide mass range required drastically different temperatures. Therefore their abundances could constrain the conditions at greatly varying depth inside the source star hence its structure and evolution.

Chen, Chun-Yen↗

Chandra Phase-Resolved X-Ray Spectroscopy of the Crab Pulsar

We present here the first phase-resolved study of the X-ray spectral properties of the Crab Pulsar that covers all pulse phases. The superb angular resolution of the Chandra X-ray Observatory enables distinguishing the pulsar from the surrounding nebulosity, even at pulse minimum. Analysis of the pulse-averaged spectrum measures interstellar photoelectric absorption and scattering by dust grains in the direction of the Crab Nebula. Analysis of the spectrum as a function of pulse phase measures the low-energy X-ray spectral index even at pulse minimum - albeit with large statistical uncertainty. The data are used to set a new upper limit to any thermal component.

Weisskopf, Martin C.↗

Sterile-neutrino search based on 259 days of KATRIN data

Neutrinos are the most abundant fundamental matter particles in the Universe and play a crucial part in particle physics and cosmology. Neutrino oscillation, discovered about 25 years ago, shows that the three known species mix with each other. Anomalous results from reactor and radioactive-source experiments suggest a possible fourth neutrino state, the sterile neutrino, which does not interact through the weak force. The Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino (KATRIN) experiment, primarily designed to measure the neutrino mass using tritium β-decay, also searches for sterile neutrinos suggested by these anomalies. A sterile-neutrino signal would appear as a distortion in the β-decay energy spectrum, characterized by a discontinuity in curvature (kink) related to the sterile-neutrino mass. This signature, which depends only on the shape of the spectrum rather than its absolute normalization, offers a robust, complementary approach to reactor experiments. Here we report the analysis of the energy spectrum of 36 million tritium β-decay electrons recorded in 259 measurement days within the last 40 eV below the endpoint. The results exclude a substantial part of the parameter space suggested by the gallium anomaly and challenge the Neutrino-4 claim. Together with other neutrino-disappearance experiments, KATRIN probes sterile-to-active mass splittings from a fraction of an eV 2 to several hundred eV 2 , excluding light sterile neutrinos with mixing angles above a few per cent.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

The Multi-Component Nature of the Vela Pulsar Nonthermal X-ray Spectrum

We report on our analysis of a 274 ks observation of the Vela pulsar with the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). The double-peaked, pulsed emission at 2 - 30 keV, which we had previously detected during a 93 ks observation, is confirmed with much improved statistics. There is now clear evidence, both in the spectrum and the light curve, that the emission in the RXTE band is a blend of two separate non-thermal components. The spectrum of the harder component connects smoothly with the OSSE, COMPTEL and EGRET spectrum and the peaks in the light curve are in phase coincidence with those of the high-energy light curve. The spectrum of the softer component is consistent with an extrapolation to the pulsed optical flux, and the second RXTE pulse is in phase coincidence with the second optical peak. In addition, we see a peak in the 2-8 keV RXTE pulse profile at the radio phase.

Harding, Alice K.↗

The X-ray Spectrum of the North Polar Spur

An analysis is presented of the soft X-ray background spectrum measured by the EPIC MOS cameras on XMM-Newton in three observations targeted on the North Polar Spur (NPS). Three distinct Galactic plasma components are identified, a cool Local Hot Bubble (LHB) component, T(sub lo) approx. 0.1 keV, a cool Galactic Halo component at a similar temperature and a hotter component, T(sub hi) approx. 0.26 keV, associated with the NPS itself. Using the new data in combination with the Rosat All-Sky Survey count rates measured in the 0.1-0.4 keV band, we estimate the emission measure of the LHB material to be 0.0040-0.0052 cm(exp -6) pc, which implies an electron density of 0.008-0.011 cm(exp -3) and pressure of approx. 22000 cm(exp -3) K. The halo and NPS components lie behind at least 50% of the line-of-sight cold gas for which the total Galactic column density is in the range (2 - 8) x 10(exp 20) cm(exp -2). Modelling the X-ray emitting superbubble as a sphere at distance 210 pc, radius 140 pc and center l(sub II) = 352 deg, b(sub II) = 15 deg, the implied electron density in the NPS is approx. 0.03 cm(exp -3) with pressure approx. 150000 cm(exp -3) K. The observed spectral line complexes from OVII, OVIII, FeXVII, NeIX, NeX and MgXI provide constraints on the composition of the plasma. The hot component in the NPS is depleted in oxygen, neon and, to some extent, magnesium and iron. Assuming the effective line of sight across the halo emission is 1 kpc, the electron density in the halo is 0.007-0.011 cm(exp -3) and the pressure is approx. 16500 cm(exp -3) K, conditions very similar to those in the LHB.

Willingale, Richard↗