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At least 955 records · Page 53

Paramagnetic resonance and susceptibility of ilmenite, FeTiO3 crystal

Large high-purity single crystals of FeTiO3 with ilmenite structure have been grown from a stoichiometric melt of Fe2O3 and TiO2 under an inert atmosphere using the modified Czochralski technique. Susceptibility and X-band paramagnetic resonance studies have been performed. Susceptibility measurements indicate a Neel temperature of about 59 K. The paramagnetic resonance spectrum for magnetic field perpendicular to the crystal c axis consists of a portion of a single, very intense approximately Lorentzian absorption line with its peak at about 600 G and half width at half maximum almost 1200 G. The absorption extends to zero magnetic field. For magnetic field approximately parallel to the c axis, the paramagnetic absorption is much smaller and may be considered a superposition of two approximately Lorentzian line shapes. The magnetic resonance measurements indicate a weak temperature dependence and large angular anisotropy.

Mcdonald, P. F.↗

THE HYADES CLUSTER: IDENTIFICATION OF A PLANETARY SYSTEM AND ESCAPING WHITE DWARFS

Recently, some hot DA-type white dwarfs have been proposed to plausibly be escaping members of the Hyades. We used hydrogen Balmer lines to measure the radial velocities of seven such stars and confirm that three, and perhaps two others, are/were indeed cluster members and one is not. The other candidate Hyad is strongly magnetic and its membership status remains uncertain. The photospheres of at least one quarter of field white dwarf stars are ''polluted'' by elements heavier than helium that have been accreted. These stars are orbited by extended planetary systems that contain both debris belts and major planets. We surveyed the seven classical single Hyades white dwarfs and the newly identified (escaping) Hyades white dwarfs and found calcium in the photosphere of LP 475-242 of type DBA (now DBAZ), thus implying the presence of an orbiting planetary system. The spectrum of white dwarf GD 31, which may be, but probably is not, an escaping member of the Hyades, displays calcium absorption lines; these originate either from the interstellar medium or, less likely, from a gaseous circumstellar disk. If GD 31 was once a Hyades member, then it would be the first identified white dwarf Hyad with a cooling age >340 Myr.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Influence of non-adiabatic effects on linear absorption spectra in the condensed phase: Methylene blue

Modeling linear absorption spectra of solvated chromophores is highly challenging as contributions are present both from coupling of the electronic states to nuclear vibrations and from solute–solvent interactions. In systems where excited states intersect in the Condon region, significant non-adiabatic contributions to absorption line shapes can also be observed. Here, we introduce a robust approach to model linear absorption spectra accounting for both environmental and non-adiabatic effects from first principles. This model parameterizes a linear vibronic coupling (LVC) Hamiltonian directly from energy gap fluctuations calculated along molecular dynamics (MD) trajectories of the chromophore in solution, accounting for both anharmonicity in the potential and direct solute–solvent interactions. The resulting system dynamics described by the LVC Hamiltonian are solved exactly using the thermalized time-evolving density operator with orthogonal polynomials algorithm (T-TEDOPA). The approach is applied to the linear absorption spectrum of methylene blue in water. We show that the strong shoulder in the experimental spectrum is caused by vibrationally driven population transfer between the bright S1 and the dark S2 states. The treatment of the solvent environment is one of many factors that strongly influence the population transfer and line shape; accurate modeling can only be achieved through the use of explicit quantum mechanical solvation. The efficiency of T-TEDOPA, combined with LVC Hamiltonian parameterizations from MD, leads to an attractive method for describing a large variety of systems in complex environments from first principles.

Dunnett, Angus J. (ORCID:0000000285797826)↗

The AC-Stark Effect in Nitric Oxide Induced by Rapidly Swept Continuous Wave Quantum Cascade Lasers

A large AC Stark effect has been observed when nitric oxide, at low pressure in a long optical path (100 m) Herriot cell, is subjected to infrared radiation from a rapidly swept, continuous wave infrared quantum cascade laser. As the frequency sweep rate of the laser is increased, an emission signal induced by rapid passage, occurs after the laser frequency has passed through the resonance of a molecular absorption line. At very high sweep rates a laser field-induced splitting of the absorptive part of the signal is observed, due to the AC Stark effect. This splitting is related to the Autler-Townes mixing of the hyperfine transitions, which lie within the lambda doublet components of the transition, under the Doppler broadened envelope.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy sensor for ethylene detection with a 3.32 μm distributed feedback laser diode

An antimonide distributed feedback quantum wells diode laser operating at 3.32 μm at near room temperature in the continuous wave regime has been used to perform ethylene detection based on quartz enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy. An absorption line centered at 3007.52 cm{sup −1} was investigated and a normalized noise equivalent absorption coefficient (1σ) of 3.09 10{sup −7} cm{sup −1} W Hz{sup −1/2} was obtained. The linearity and the stability of the detection have been evaluated. Biological samples’ respiration has been measured to validate the feasibility of the detection setup in an agronomic environment, especially on ripening apples.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Ultraviolet absorption by highly ionized halo gas near the Galactic center

Initial results are presented for a program to survey highly ionized gas in the Milky Way disk and halo. High-resolution IUE (International Ultraviolet Explorer) far-UV spectra were obtained for 12 stars at galactocentric distances less than 6 kpc. The stars are 0.7-2.2 kpc away from the plane. Most of the spectra contain exceedingly strong and broad interstellar absorption lines of weakly and highly ionized atoms. In addition to the normally strong lines of Si IV and C IV, strong interstellar NV lines have been detected in the spectra of eight stars. The detection of NV absorption (amounting to more than 10 times the predicted NV) provides an important new constraint on models for the origin of Galactic halo gas. A Galactic fountain operating in the presence of known UV and EUV radiation might explain the observations.

Savage, B. D.↗

Measured line positions and strengths of methane between 5500 and 6180/cm

Calculations for the positions and strengths of over 2000 methane absorption lines stronger than 0.0001/sq cm per atm have been obtained in the 5500-6180/cm spectral region. Spectra were obtained at room temperature using the Fourier transform spectrometer at the Kitt Peak National Observatory solar telescope. The 2nu3 band strength of C-12H4 was shown to be 1.641/sq cm per atm. A Herman-Wallis-type correction of 1 + 0.0298 m + 0.000536 sq m was also found.

Margolis, Jack S.↗

W134: A new pre-main-sequence double-lined spectroscopic binary

We report the discovery that the pre-main-sequence star Walker 134 in the young cluster NGC 2264 is a double-lined spectroscopic binary. Both components are G stars with strong Li I 6708 A absorption lines. Twenty radial velocity measurements have been used to determined the orbital elements of this system. The orbit has a period of 6.3532 +/- 0.0012 days and is circular within the limits of our velocity resolution; e less than 0.01. The total system mass is stellar mass sin(exp 3) i = 3.16 solar mass with a mass ratio of 1.04. Estimates for the orbit inclination angle and stellar radii place the system near the threshold for eclipse observability; howerver, no decrease in brightness was seen during two attempts at photometric monitoring. The circular orbit of W 134 fills an important gap in the period distribution of pre-main-sequence binaries and thereby constrains the effectiveness of tidal orbital circularization during the pre-main sequence.

Padgett, Deborah L.↗

Measurement of Oxygen A Band Line Parameters by Using Modulation Spectroscopy with Higher Harmonic Detection

Wavelength modulation spectroscopy is used to demonstrate that extremely weak absorption lines can be measured even when these lines suffer from interference from the wings of adjacent stronger lines. It is shown that the use of detection at several harmonics allows such interference to be examined clearly and conveniently. The results of experimental measurements on a weak magnetic dipole driven, spin-forbidden line in the oxygen A band, which experiences interference from the wings of a pair of adjacent lines towards the blue and red regions of line center, are presented. A comparison of the experimental results to theory is given.

Dharamsi, Amin↗

The Scientific Impact of the GHRS on our Understanding of the Local Interstellar Medium

A high-resolution echelle grating and low-noise Digicon detectors make the GHRS an excellent instrument for studying ultraviolet absorption lines formed in the local interstellar medium (LISM). The GHRS has observed interstellar gas absorption along several dozen fines of sight toward stars; many of these stars are located within 100 pc of the Sun and thus sample the LISM properties quite well. We will summarize how the analysis of these beautiful echelle spectra permit us to study four important but closely interrelated topics about the LISM: (1) the dynamics and structure of the warm interstellar clouds, (2) the temperature, density, and other physical properties of the gas, (3) the chemical composition and chemical depletions in the gas phase, and (4) the interaction of the interstellar gas with the ionized hot winds of the Sun and other stars.

Linsky, Jeffrey L.↗

Eta Carinae and the Homunculus: A Physics Laboratory

The Luminous Blue Variable, Eta Carinae, and its ejecta, thrown out since the 1840s, are proving to be a very challenging system to explain. The > 100 solar mass central source (which is likely a binary system) is very complex with P-Cygni lines throughout the spectrum. Superimposed upon the stellar spectrum are many thousands of narrow absorption lines. Indeed we have found twenty different velocities between -140km/s and -580km/s with many lower levels well elevated above the ground states of numerous ions.

Gull, Theodore R.↗

Monitoring the Intrinsic Absorption Complex Toward RX J1230.8+115

There is a very prominent intrinsic absorption complex in the spectrum of the quasar RX J1230.8+115. It was diagnosed as intrinsic due to partial covering of the quasar by the absorber, which can only happen for material very near to the quasar. Measuring a variability timescale for the absorption would allow us to place a more stringent constraint on the distance of the absorber from the central engine. Furthermore, understanding the variability and covering factors in different transitions can help to identify if it is due to changes in the ionizing source or transverse motion of the absorber. The OVI doublet is covered in the FUSE wavelength range. Unfortunately, our initial target, RX J1230.8+0115 could not be observed due to the failure of the first reaction wheel. We determined that another target, H 1821+643, could be observed and would satisfy similar science goals, understanding intrinsic narrow absorption line systems. Our specific goal for that target was to search for Ne VI11 absorption from the associated absorber. This observation was attempted, but the counts in the Sic channel, where the absorption was expected to lie, were too low to satisfy our science goal. This was, at least in part, due to a misalignment of the SiC mirrors. Because of this problem, more time was awarded. However, even the extra time was too little. It appears that the quasar may be too faint to properly align all the mirrors. So with disappointment, I report that we were not able to accomplish our science goals for this program. The funds were used to support my work with a graduate student, Jie Ding, to evaluate possible replacement targets once we learned that Rx J1230.8+115 would not be observable. We considered the intrinsic NAL candidates that we could find through a partial coverage analysis of doublets in the STIS E140M and E230M quasar spectra taken from the HST archive. We then checked the flux in the FUSE wavelength range, and in most cases of interest it was found to be too low to satisfy our S/N requirement in the exposure time we had been awarded. We decided that H1821+643 was the best choice for this project, even though the associated absorber we would be studying might in fact originate in the cluster with the quasar and not in intrinsic gas. Part of the appeal of the target, was in fact the opportunity to consider this issue. Please do not hesitate to contact me if more detail is needed for this report. I found it difficult to write a satisfying report under the circumstance and am uncertain if I've provided the proper level of information.

Charlton, Jane↗

A census of gas outflows in type 2 active galactic nuclei

We perform a census of ionized gas outflows using a sample of ∼23,000 type 2 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) out to z ∼ 0.1. By measuring the velocity offset of narrow emission lines, i.e., [O III] λ5007 and Hα, with respect to the systemic velocity measured from the stellar absorption lines, we find that 47% of AGNs display an [O III] line-of-sight velocity offset ≥ 20 km s{sup –1}. The fraction of the [O III] velocity offset in type 2 AGNs is comparable to that in type 1 AGNs after considering the projection effect. AGNs with a large [O III] velocity offset preferentially have a high Eddington ratio, implying that the detected velocity offsets are related to black hole activity. The distribution of the host galaxy inclination is clearly different between the AGNs with blueshifted [O III] and the AGNs with redshifted [O III], supporting the combined model of the biconical outflow and dust obscuration. In addition, for ∼3% of AGNs, [O III] and Hα show comparable large velocity offsets, indicating a more complex gas kinematics than decelerating outflows in a stratified narrow-line region.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Optical properties of vacancies in aluminum oxide (𝛼−Al 2 ⁢O 3 ) from first principles

We employ first-principles calculations based on hybrid density functional theory to investigate the structural and optical properties of the oxygen vacancy (𝑉 O ) and aluminum vacancy (𝑉 Al ) in 𝛼−Al 2 ⁢O 3 , the most stable (corundum) phase of alumina. Our calculations facilitate the identification of experimental excitation and luminescence spectra with specific electronic transitions at the vacancy sites. The absorption line shape for excitation of an electron at 𝑉$^0_O$ to the conduction-band minimum (CBM) is in excellent agreement with the 6.1 eV band detected by optical absorption spectroscopy, and we find that the 5.9 eV absorption band is generated by an internal electron transition at 𝑉$^0_O$. We confirm that the slowly decaying 3.0 eV emission band of the 𝐹 center is due to a triplet-singlet transition at 𝑉$^0_O$. Our calculations also reveal that the 4.8 eV/5.4 eV absorption and 3.8 eV emission bands assigned to the 𝐹 + center are generated by internal transitions at 𝑉$^{+1}_O$. The line shape for the excitation of an electron from 𝑉$^{+1}_O$ to the CBM agrees well with an absorption band at 6.4 eV, while the recombination of an electron with 𝑉$^{+2}_O$ also produces luminescence around 3.8 eV, but with a considerably broader line shape. For Al vacancies, we confirm that the most prevalent configuration in 𝛼−Al 2 ⁢O 3 is a split-vacancy configuration 𝑉 Al,s , and we calculate migration barriers for different directions in the corundum crystal. We predict absorption and emission spectra for the excitation and recombination of an electron localized at 𝑉$^{−3}_{Al}$ and 𝑉$^{−3}_{Al,s}$ sites with the CBM. The line shapes of the two 𝑉 Al configurations overlap and are considerably broader than the spectra corresponding to 𝑉 O .

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

HST-COS SPECTROSCOPY OF THE COOLING FLOW IN A1795—EVIDENCE FOR INEFFICIENT STAR FORMATION IN CONDENSING INTRACLUSTER GAS

We present far-UV spectroscopy from the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope of a cool, star-forming filament in the core of A1795. These data, which span 1025 Å < λ{sub rest} < 1700 Å, allow for the simultaneous modeling of the young stellar populations and the intermediate-temperature (10{sup 5.5} K) gas in this filament, which is far removed (∼30 kpc) from the direct influence of the central active galactic nucleus. Using a combination of UV absorption line indices and stellar population synthesis modeling, we find evidence for ongoing star formation, with the youngest stars having ages of 7.5{sub −2.0}{sup +2.5} Myr and metallicities of 0.4{sub −0.1}{sup +0.2} Z {sub ☉}. The latter is consistent with the local metallicity of the intracluster medium. We detect the O VI λ1038 line, measuring a flux of f {sub O} {sub VI,} {sub 1038} = 4.0 ± 0.9 × 10{sup –17} erg s{sup –1} cm{sup –2}. The O VI λ1032 line is redshifted such that it is coincident with a strong Galactic H{sub 2} absorption feature, and is not detected. The measured O VI λ1038 flux corresponds to a cooling rate of 0.85 ± 0.2 (stat) ± 0.15 (sys) M {sub ☉} yr{sup –1} at ∼10{sup 5.5} K, assuming that the cooling proceeds isochorically, which is consistent with the classical X-ray luminosity-derived cooling rate in the same region. We measure a star formation rate of 0.11 ± 0.02 M {sub ☉} yr{sup –1} from the UV continuum, suggesting that star formation is proceeding at 13{sub −2}{sup +3}% efficiency in this filament. We propose that this inefficient star formation represents a significant contribution to the larger-scale cooling flow problem.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

First calibration measurements of an FTIR absorption spectroscopy system for liquid hydrogen isotopologues for the isotope separation system of fusion power plants

Fusion facilities like ITER and DEMO will circulate huge amounts of deuterium and tritium in their fuel cycle with an estimated throughput of kg per hour. One important capability of these fuel cycles is to separate the hydrogen isotopologues (H{sub 2}, D{sub 2}, T{sub 2}, HD, HT, DT). For this purpose the Isotope Separation System (ISS), using cryogenic distillation, as part of the Tritium Enrichment Test Assembly (TRENTA) is under development at Tritium Laboratory Karlsruhe. Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy (FTIR) has been selected to prove its capability for online monitoring of the tritium concentration in the liquid phase at the bottom of the distillation column of the ISS. The actual research-development work is focusing on the calibration of such a system. Two major issues are the identification of appropriate absorption lines and their dependence on the isotopic concentrations and composition. For this purpose the Tritium Absorption IR spectroscopy experiment has been set up as an extension of TRENTA. For calibration a Raman spectroscopy system is used. First measurements, with equilibrated mixtures of H{sub 2}, D{sub 2} and HD demonstrate that FTIR can be used for quantitative analysis of liquid hydro-gen isotopologues and reveal a nonlinear dependence of the integrated absorbance from the D{sub 2} concentration in the second vibrational branch of D{sub 2} FTIR spectra. (authors)

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Interstellar matter research with the Copernicus satellite

The use of the Copernicus satellite in an investigation of interstellar matter makes it possible to study absorption lines in the ultraviolet range which cannot be observed on the ground because of atmospheric absorption effects. A brief description is given of the satellite and the instrument used in the reported studies of interstellar matter. The results of the studies are discussed, giving attention to interstellar molecular hydrogen, the chemical composition of the interstellar gas, the coronal gas between the stars, and the interstellar abundance ratio of deuterium to hydrogen.

Spitzer, L., Jr.↗