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NASA NTRS1980

The 16- to 38-micron spectrum of Callisto

The emission spectrum of Callisto was measured between 16 and 38 microns with a spectral resolution of 1/30 of a wavelength, using the NASA Kuiper Airborne Observatory on the night of October 30-31, 1975. Within the errors, the observed spectrum is like that of a 155 K blackbody, in both shape and absolute intensity. The infrared emission and diameter of Callisto indicate a bolometric Bond albedo of 0.05 + or - 0.14, which is consistent with heating of the surface by absorbed sunlight.

Forrest, W. J.↗

NASA NTRS1976

The emission-line spectrum above the limb of a solar coronal hole - 1175-1940 A

Emission-line spectra of a coronal hole that coincided with the north pole of the sun are discussed which were obtained with a slit spectrograph aboard Skylab at positions within and above the solar white-light limb in the wavelength range from 1175 to 1940 A. Relative line intensities, line profiles, and full widths at half-maximum are presented for selected chromospheric and transition-zone lines observed above the present polar coronal hole. Average mass motions in the transition zone are determined as a function of electron temperature from the widths of the optically thin lines by assuming ionization equilibrium. The line intensities and profiles are compared with corresponding results deduced from spectra obtained above a quiet solar region. The coronal-hole spectra are found to imply an angular dependence for the source function as well as a radial dependence such that the source function is the smallest at the south pole and increases with decreasing solar latitude.

Feldman, U.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Translational anisotropy in the cosmic microwave background radiation and far-infrared emission by galactic dust clouds

The predicted emission spectrum of galactic dust at about 10 K is compared with the spectrum of 2.8-K universal blackbody radiation and with the spectrum of the anisotropy expected in the 2.8-K radiation due to motion of earth with respect to the coordinate system in which the radiation was last scattered. The extremely anisotropic galactic-dust emission spectrum may contribute a significant background to anisotropy measurements which scan through the galactic plane. The contamination would appear in an 8-mm scan around the celestial equator, for example, as a spurious 200 km/s velocity toward declination 0 deg, right ascension 19 hr, if predictions are correct. The predicted spectrum of dust emission in the galactic plane at longitudes not exceeding about 30 deg falls below the total 2.8-K cosmic background intensity at wavelengths of at least 1 mm.

Forman, M. A.↗

NASA NTRS1995

The Rovibrational Intensities of the (40 deg 1) and (00 deg 0) Pentad Absorption Bands of 12C16O2 Between 7284 and 7921 cm(exp-1)

Carbon dioxide is the major constituent of the atmospheres of both Mars and Venus. Correct interpretations of spectra of these atmospheres require accurate knowledge of a substantial number of absorption bands of this gas. This is especially true for Venus; many weak CO2 bands that are insignificant in the earth's atmosphere are prominent absorbers in Venus' hot, dense lower atmosphere. Yet, recent near-infrared spectra of Venus' nightside have discovered emission windows, which occur between CO2 absorption bands, at 4040-4550 cm(exp-1), 5700-5900 cm(exp-1), and several smaller ones between 7500 and 9400 cm(exp-1). This radiation is due to thermal emission from Venus' lower atmosphere, diminished by scattering and absorption within the sulfuric acid clouds on its way to space. Simulations of these data with radiative transfer models can provide improved information on the abundances of a number of constituents of the lower atmosphere (e.g. H2O, CO, HDO, HCl, HF, and OCS) and the optical properties of the clouds, whose spatial variation modulates the brightness of the emissions. However, the accuracy of these retrievals has been limited by insufficient knowledge of the opacity of some of the gas species, including CO2, at the large pathlengths and high temperatures and pressures that exist on Venus. In particular, modeling the emission spectrum did not produce a good fit for the emission window centered at 7830 cm(exp-1). In an ongoing effort to assist analyses of these Venus spectra, we have been making laboratory intensity measurements of several weak bands of CO2 which are significant absorbers in these Venus emission windows. The CO2 bands that are prominent in the 7830 cm(exp-1) region belong to the vibrational sequence 4v1+v3 and associated hot bands. Only 2 of the 5 bands of this sequence have been previously measured. Modeling Venus' emission spectrum in the 7830 cm(exp-1) region had to rely on calculated intensity values for the weak ground state band at 7921 cm-1 and the associated hot bands. Since the calculated intensities of ground state bands are known to have significant uncertainties, we decided to measure this (40 deg 1)I (left arrow) (00 deg 0) band with the Ames 25 meter multiple reflection absorption cell and Fourier transform spectrometer. We also measured the (40 deg 1) (sub IV) (left arrow) (00 deg 0) band at 7460 cm(exp-1), which also had not been previously measured. These measurements are reported in this article, and we also give our reanalysis of the prior measurements of the (40 deg 1) (sub III) (left arrow) (00 deg 0) bands. These measurements provide the basis for improving calculated intensities for related hot bands as well as simulations of Venus' spectrum.

Giver, L. P.↗

NASA NTRS1989

The UV photochemistry of C2N2

The absorption, emission, and photodissociation yield spectra of C2N2 were measured in the 220 and 210 nm region near the 4(0)1 and 1(0)1 4(0)1 bands of the A 1 sigma + from the X 1 sigma + system. The emission spectrum showed very few lines which appeared in the absorption spectrum. Moreover, the emission had 660 ns lifetime and, at 210 nm a very large electronic emission quenching rate. Laser induced fluorescence was used to measure the relative yield of CN radicals as a function of photolysis wavelength. This spectrum seemed to follow the absorption spectrum below the dissociation threshold. Energy in the CN fragments appeared to be statistically distributed.

Halpern, Joshua B.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Titan - Far-infrared and microwave remote sensing of methane clouds and organic haze

Titan's surface and plausible atmospheric thermal opacity sources, which include gaseous N2, CH4, and H2, together with CH4 clouds and organic haze, are sufficient to match available earth-based and Voyager observations of Titan's thermal emission spectrum. Dominant thermal emission sources are the surface, at greater than 1 cm wavelengths, atmospheric N2 for the 1-200 micron range, condensed and gaseous CH4 for 200-20 microns, and molecular bands and organic haze at less than 20 microns.

Thompson, W. R.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Hubble Space Telescope Goddard high-resolution spectrograph H2 rotational spectra of Jupiter's aurora

We have observed the emission spectrum from Jupiter's north auroral atmosphere with 0.57 A spectral resolution over 1204-1241 A. Bright emissions have been detected from 50 deg to 60 deg latitude at locations consistent with 6 to 30 R (sub J) auroral ovals, with much fainter emissions away form the auroral ovals. The emission spectrum is well fitted by both laboratory spectra and theoretical models of optically thin electron excited H2, with added Doppler-broadened Lyman Alpha emission. The observed Lyman Alpha emission wings extend more than 1 A from line center and appear correlated in strength with the H2 brightness. Individual rotational lines in the H2 Werner band system are resolved, allowing a determination of the H2 rotational temperature at the altitude of the emission. We derive best-fit temperatures from 400-450 to 700-750 K, with the auroral emission layer temperature changing either across the auroral oval or over several days' time. These observations demonstrate for the first time the ability to measure the observed rapid H2 temperature variations across Jupiter's auroral atmosphere.

Clarke, John T.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Infrared absorption and emission characteristics of interstellar PAHs

The mid-infrared interstellar emission spectrum with features at 3.28, 6.2, 7.7, 8.7 and 11.3 microns is discussed in terms of the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) hypothesis, which is based on the suggestive, but inconclusive comparison between the interstellar emission spectrum with the infrared absorption and Raman spectra of a few PAHs. The fundamental vibrations of PAHs and PAH-like species which determine the IR and Raman properties are discussed. Interstellar IR band emission is due to relaxation from highly vibrationally excited PAHs excited by ultraviolet photons. The excitation/emission process is described and the IR fluorescence from one PAH, chrysene, is traced. Generally, there is sufficient energy to populate several vibrational levels in each mode. Molecular vibrational potentials are anharmonic and emission from these higher levels will fall at lower frequencies and produce weak features to the red of the stronger fundamentals. This process is also described and can account for some spectroscopic details of the interstellar emission spectra previously unexplained. Analysis of the interstellar spectrum shows that PAHs contain between 20 and 30 carbon atoms are responsible for the emission.

Barker, J. R.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Infrared absorption and emission characteristics of interstellar PAHs

Allamandola, L. J.↗

NASA NTRS1982

The UV emission line spectrum of NGC 6572

Ultraviolet spectra of the medium excitation planetary nebula NGC 6572 were obtained with IUE both in the low and in the high resolution mode. These spectra reveal a superposition of emission lines arising in the expanding atmosphere of the central star, evidenced e.g., by their P Cygni profiles, and features arising in the planetary nebula proper. The latter were analyzed in order to determine C, N, O abundances.

Grewing, M.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Venus - The 17- to 38-micron spectrum

A far-IR emission spectrum of Venus covering the wavelength range from 17 to 38 microns is examined which was obtained on five nights at an altitude of 14 km with the 30-cm telescope of the NASA Lear Jet. The spectrum is found to be characterized by an overall continuum level with noticeable absorption shortward of 20 microns and longward of 30 microns as compared with a 245-K blackbody. The continuum level is taken as implying a continuous source of opacity in the Venusian atmosphere over the entire range from 17 to 38 microns with increased opacity shortward of 20 microns and longward of 30 microns. It is shown that a haze of sulfuric acid droplets can provide the necessary opacity and explain the observed depressions. A pressure level of roughly 200 mb is deduced for this spectrum.

Reed, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Molecule formation and infrared emission in fast interstellar shocks. III - Results for J shocks in molecular clouds

The structure and emission spectrum of J shocks in molecular gas are studied over a broad range of conditions. It is found that at high densities chemistry has a profound effect on the emission spectrum: the density behind the shock is sufficiently high that some of the internal energy of the newly formed H2 molecules is transformed to the gas as heat by collisional deexcitations, producing the H2 formation plateau. In this temperature plateau, endothermal reactions and neutral-neutral chemical reactions with activation energies can proceed efficiently, producing significant quantities of warm H2, CO, OH, and H2O and enhanced columns of warm atoms and ions. The heat generated by the H2 formation is radiated in collisionally excited atomic fine-structure lines.

Hollenbach, David↗

NASA NTRS2005

First Light from the Far-Infrared Spectroscopy of the Troposphere (FIRST) Instrument

We present first light spectra from the new Far-Infrared Spectroscopy of the Troposphere (FIRST) instrument. FIRST is a Fourier Transform Spectrometer developed to measure accurately the far-infrared (15 to 100 micrometers; 650 to 100 wavenumbers) emission spectrum of the Earth and its atmosphere. The observations presented here were obtained during a high altitude balloon flight from Ft. Sumner, New Mexico on 7 June 2005. The flight data demonstrate the instrument's ability to observe the entire energetically significant infrared emission spectrum (50 to 2000 wavenumbers) at high spectral and spatial resolution on a single focal plane in an instrument with one broad spectral bandpass beamsplitter. Comparisons with radiative transfer calculations demonstrate that FIRST accurately observes the very fine spectral structure in the far-infrared. Comparisons of the atmospheric window radiances measured by FIRST and by instruments on the NASA Aqua satellite that overflew FIRST are in excellent agreement. FIRST opens a new window on the spectrum that can be used for studying atmospheric radiation and climate, cirrus clouds, and water vapor in the upper troposphere.

Mlynczak, Martin G.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Diffuse continuum gamma rays from the Galaxy observed by COMPTEL

The diffuse Galactic continuum gamma-ray emission has been studied using the full Sky Survey from COMPTEL on the Compton Observatory CGRO. The diffuse emission appears to be visible in the whole 0.75-30 MeV range covered by the instrument, although a considerable contribution from unresolved point sources cannot be excluded. A correlation analysis using HI and CO surveys of the Galaxy is used to derive the Galactic emissivity spectrum, and this is consistent with a smooth continuation to the spectrum at higher energies derived by a similar analysis of COS-B data. The apparent conversion factor from integrated CO temperature to molecular hydrogen column density can also be determined from the correlation analysis. The value obtained is consistent with results from COS-B and other non-gamma-ray methods. Calculations of the emissivity spectrum from bremsstrahlung from a cosmic-ray electron spectrum based on propagation models are compared with the observations.

Strong, A. W.↗

NASA NTRS2008

Laser Infrared Desorption Spectroscopy to Detect Complex Organic Molecules on Icy Planetary Surfaces

Laser Desorption-Infrared Spectroscopy (LD-IR) uses an IR laser pulse to desorb surface materials while a spectrometer measures the emission spectrum of the desorbed materials (Figure 1). In this example, laser desorption operates by having the incident laser energy absorbed by near surface material (~10 microns in depth). This desorption produces a plume that exists in an excited state at elevated temperatures. A natural analog for this phenomenon can be observed when comets approach the sun and become active and individual molecular emission spectra can be observed in the IR [1,2,3,4,5]. When this occurs in comets, the same species that initially emit radiation down to the ground state are free to absorb it, reducing the amount of detectable emission features. The nature of our technique results in absorption not occurring, because the laser pulse could easily be moved away form the initial desorption plume, and still have better spatial resolution then reflectance spectroscopy. In reflectance spectroscopy, trace components have a relatively weak signal when compared to the entire active nature of the surface. With LDIR, the emission spectrum is used to identify and analyze surface materials.

Laser Desorption-Infrared Spectroscopy↗

NASA NTRS1987

Fluorescent excitation of interstellar H2

The infrared emission spectrum of H2 excited by ultraviolet absorption, followed by fluorescence, was investigated using comprehensive models of interstellar clouds for computing the spectrum and to assess the effects on the intensity to various cloud properties, such as density, size, temperature, and the intensity of the UV radiation field. It is shown that the absolute H2 IR line intensities depend primarily on the density of the cloud and the strength of the incident UV radiation, and to a much lesser exent on the temperature of the gas, the total thickness of the cloud, and the optical properties of the grains. A variety of recent observational results are discussed with reference to theoretical models. It is shown that the rich H2 emission spectrum of the reflection nebula NGC 2023 can be reproduced by a model with density of about 10,000/cu cm, temperature of about 80 K, and UV flux approximately 300 times that of the Galactic background starlight.

Black, John H.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Emission lines from X-ray-heated accretion disks in low-mass X-ray binaries

We investigate the structure of accretion disks illuminated by X-rays from a central compact object in a binary system. X-rays can photoionize the upper atmosphere of the disk and form an accretion disk corona (ADC) where emission lines can form. We construct a model to calculate the vertical structure and the emission spectrum of the ADC with parameters appropriate to low-mass X-ray binaries. These models are made by nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium calculations of ion and level populations and include a large number of atomic processes for 10 cosmically abundant elements. Transfer of radiation is treated by using the escape probability formalism. The vertical temperature profile of the ADC consists of a Compton-heated region and a mid-T zone where the temperature is approximately 10(exp 6) K. A thermal instability occurs close to the disk photosphere and causes the temperature of the ADC to drop abruptly from 10(exp 6) K to several times 10(exp 4) K. The emission spectrum in the optical, ultraviolet, extreme ultraviolet, and X-ray range is discussed and compared with the observations.

Ko, Yuan-Kuen↗

NASA NTRS2008

Instrument Performance of GISMO, a 2 Millimeter TES Bolometer Camera used at the IRAM 30 m Telescope

In November of 2007 we demonstrated a monolithic Backshort-Under-Grid (BUG) 8x16 array in the field using our 2 mm wavelength imager GISMO (Goddard IRAM Superconducting 2 Millimeter Observer) at the IRAM 30 m telescope in Spain for astronomical observations. The 2 mm spectral range provides a unique terrestrial window enabling ground-based observations of the earliest active dusty galaxies in the universe and thereby allowing a better constraint on the star formation rate in these objects. The optical design incorporates a 100 mm diameter silicon lens cooled to 4 K, which provides the required fast beam yielding 0.9 lambda/D pixels. With this spatial sampling, GISMO will be very efficient at detecting sources serendipitously in large sky surveys, while the capability for diffraction limited imaging is preserved. The camera provides significantly greater detection sensitivity and mapping speed at this wavelength than has previously been possible. The instrument will fill in the spectral energy distribution of high redshift galaxies at the Rayleigh-Jeans part of the dust emission spectrum, even at the highest redshifts. Here1 will we present early results from our observing run with the first fielded BUG bolometer array. We have developed key technologies to enable highly versatile, kilopixel, infrared through millimeter wavelength bolometer arrays. The Backshort-Under-Grid (BUG) array consists of three components: 1) a transition-edge-sensor (TES) based bolometer array with background-limited sensitivity and high filling factor, 2) a quarter-wave reflective backshort grid providing high optical efficiency, and 3) a superconducting bump-bonded large format Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) multiplexer readout. The array is described in more detail elsewhere (Allen et al., this conference). In November of 2007 we demonstrated a monolithic 8x 16 array with 2 mm-pitch detectors in the field using our 2 mm wavelength imager GISMO (Goddard IRAM Superconducting 2 Millimeter Observer) at the IRAM 30 m telescope in Spain for astronomical observations. The 2 mm spectral range provides a unique terrestrial window enabling ground-based observations of the earliest active dusty galaxies in the universe and thereby allowing a better constraint on the star formation rate in these objects. The optical design incorporates a 100 mm diameter silicon lens cooled to 4 K, which provides the required fast beam yielding 0.9 lambda1D pixels. With this spatial sampling, GISMO will be very efficient at detecting sources serendipitously in large sky surveys, while the capability for diffraction limited imaging is preserved. The camera provides significantly greater detection sensitivity and mapping speed at this wavelength than has previously been possible. The instrument will fill in the spectral energy distribution of high redshift galaxies at the Rayleigh-Jeans part of the dust emission spectrum, even at the highest redshifts. Here I will we present early results from our observing run with the first fielded BUG bolometer array.

Staguhn, Johannes↗