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At least 127 records · Page 7

Infrared spectroscopy (2.3-20 microns) for the geological interpretation of remotely-sensed multispectral thermal infrared data

The spectral radiance and spectral reflectance of natural weathered surfaces of common sedimentary and igneous rocks is determined from in situ and in the laboratory measurements. In situ spectral radiance measurements (5-14 microns) were made with a portable spectral radiometer and were used to derive the spectral emissivity of the rocks. The spectral reflectance measurements (2.3-20 microns) were made in a laboratory with a Fourier transform IR spectrometer with a diffuse reflectance accessory. Good agreement is found between the two techniques. The field portable spectrometer has a larger field of view and the in situ data provide more accurate measurements of the intensity of spectral features related to temperature and atmospheric effects.

Bartholomew, Mary Jane↗

Theoretical studies of the infrared emission from circumstellar dust shells - The infrared characteristics of circumstellar silicates and the mass-loss rate of oxygen-rich late-type giants

A simple analytic formula and a numerical radiative transfer program have been used to model the IR emission of spherically symmetric circumstellar dust shells in order to determine the IR absorption properties of circumstellar silicate grains and the mass-loss rates of the central stars. The correlation between the near-IR color temperature and the strength of the 10-micron emission or absorption feature is discussed, and it is shown that the near-IR absorption efficiency of circumstellar silicate grains is much higher than is expected from terrestrial minerals, possibly due to the presence of Fe(2+) color centers dissolved in the circumstellar silicates. Detailed models of the IR emission of R Cas, IRC 10011, and OH 26.5+0.6 are presented.

Schutte, W. A.↗

Infrared studies of dust grains in infrared reflection nebulae

IR reflection nebulae, regions of dust which are illuminated by nearby embedded sources, were observed in several regions of ongoing star formation. Near IR observation and theoretical modelling of the scattered light form IR reflection nebulae can provide information about the dust grain properties in star forming regions. IR reflection nebulae were modelled as plane parallel slabs assuming isotropically scattering grains. For the grain scattering properties, graphite and silicate grains were used with a power law grain size distribution. Among the free parameters of the model are the stellar luminosity and effective temperature, the optical depth of the nebula, and the extinction by foreground material. The typical results from this model are presented and discussed.

Pendleton, Yvonne J.↗

Star formation in infrared bright and infrared faint starburst interacting galaxies

Short wavelength IUE spectra of Arp 248b and UGC 8315N are combined with optical spectra and interpreted using a combination of spectrum synthesis and spectral diagnostics to place constraints on the massive star populations of the central regions of these galaxies and to deduce information about the star formation histories in the last 10(exp 8) years. The authors find that both galaxies have substantial fractions of their optical light coming from massive stars and that Arp 248b may be dominated in the UV by WR stars. The UV spectra are dominated by radiation from evolved massive stars and the authors place and age on the burst in Arp 248b of a few tens of millions of years.

Lamb, Susan A.↗

The number counts and infrared backgrounds from infrared-bright galaxies

Extragalactic number counts and diffuse backgrounds at 25, 60, and 100 microns are predicted using new luminosity functions and improved spectral-energy distribution density functions derived from IRAS observations of nearby galaxies. Galaxies at redshifts z less than 3 that are like those in the local universe should produce a minimum diffuse background of 0.0085, 0.038, and 0.13 MJy/sr at 25, 60, and 100 microns, respectively. Models with significant luminosity evolution predict backgrounds about a factor of 4 greater than this minimum.

Hacking, P. B.↗

State-to-state rotational energy-transfer measurements in the nu(2) = 1 state of ammonia by infrared-infrared double resonance

The state-resolved rotational (R-R, R-T) energy transfer in (N-14)H3 (for NH3-NH3 and NH3-Ar collisions) was studied using an IR double-resonance laser spectroscopic technique. Measurements of both the total rate of depopulation by collisions, and the rates of transfer into specific final rovibrational states (v,J,K) were performed using time-resolved tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy. A kinetic master-equation analysis of time-resolved level populatons was carried out, yielding state-to-state rate constants and propensity rules for NH3-NH3 and NH3-Ar collisions.

Abel, Bernd↗

Columbia University Participation in the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) Guest Obs. Program: Evolution of Near-Infrared Lines from the Formation of Supernova Remnant 1987A

The goal of this project is to determine the mass loss history of a sample of seven mass losing Asymptotic Giant Branch stars. This is done by observing their circumstellar dust shells which contain a record of the most recent mass loss history. The further away from the star we are able to detect this increasingly fainter dust emission the further back we can look into the mass loss history.

Crotts, Arlin P. S.↗

Empirical Constraints on the Cosmic Infrared Background Using Near-Infrared DIRBE Data

Empirical models for emission from stars and the ISM are subtracted from the zodiacal-light-subtracted DIRBE 3.5 pm emission. Because the models are contaminated by unknown levels of the CM at other near-IR wavelength, the residual is not simply the 3.5 Jim Cosmic IR Background, but a linear combination of the background levels at several wavelengths. In spite of this, the residual can be used to place limits on the near-IR CIB intensity if its spectral shape is assumed. Additionally, the residual level is shown to be more nearly isotropic than previous estimates over a much larger fraction of the sky. An excellent correlation of near-IR and far-IR ISM emission provides evidence of the high accuracy of the brighter stellar emission model. The possibility that any residual emission is zodiacal in nature is discussed.

Arendt, Richard G.↗

The Space Infrared Interferometric Telescope (SPIRIT): High-resolution Imaging and Spectroscopy in the Far-infrared

We report results of a recently-completed study of SPIRIT, a candidate NASA Origins Probe. SPIRIT is a spatial and spectral interferometer with an operating wavelength range 25 - 400 microns. SPIRIT will provide sub-arcsecond resolution images and spectra with resolution R = 3000 in a 1 arcmin field of view to accomplish three primary scientific objectives: (1) Learn how planetary systems form from protostellar disks, and how they acquire their chemical organization; (2) Characterize the family of extrasolar planetary systems by imaging the structure in debris disks to understand how and where planets form, and why some planets are ice giants and others are rocky; and (3) Learn how high-redshift galaxies formed and merged to form the present-day population of galaxies. Observations with SPIRIT will be complementary to those of the James Webb Space Telescope and the ground-based Atacama Large Millimeter Array. All three observatories could be operational contemporaneously. SPIRIT will pave the way to the 1 km maximum baseline interferometer known as the Submillimeter Probe of the Evolution of Cosmic Structure (SPECS). In addition to the SPIRIT mission concept, this talk will emphasize the importance of dense u-v plane coverage and describe some of the practical considerations associated with alternative interferometric baseline sampling schemes.

Leisawitz, D,↗

Recent Advances in Laboratory Infrared Spectroscopy of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: PAHs in the Far Infrared

Over 25 years of observations and laboratory work have shown that the mid-IR spectra of a majority of astronomical sources are dominated by emission features near 3.3, 6.2, 7.7, and 11.2 microns, which originate in free polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules. PAHs dominate the mid-IR emission from many galactic and extragalactic objects. As such, this material tracks a wide variety of astronomical processes, making this spectrum a powerful probe of the cosmos Apart from bands in the mid-IR, PAHs have bands spanning the Far-IR (FIR) and emission from these FIR features should be present in astronomical sources showing the Mid-IR PAH bands. However, with one exception, the FIR spectral characteristics are known only for a few neutral small PAHs trapped in salt pellets or oils at room temperature, data which is not relevant to astrophysics. Furthermore, since most emitting PAHs responsible for the mid-IR astronomical features are ionized, the absence of any experimental or theoretical PAH ion FIR spectra will make it impossible to correctly interpret the FIR data from these objects. In view of the upcoming Herschel space telescope mission and SOFIA's FIR airborne instrumentation, which will pioneer the FIR region, it is now urgent to obtain PAH FIR spectra. This talk will present an overview recent advances in the laboratory spectroscopy of PAHs, Highlighting the FIR spectroscopy along with some quantum calculations.

Mattioda, Andrew L.↗

Infrared Free Space Communication - The Autonomous Testing of Free Space Infrared Communication

Fiber optics has been a winning player in the game of high-speed communication and data transfer in cable connections. Yet, in free space RF has been the repeated choice of communication medium of the space industry. Investigating the benefits of free space optical communication over radio frequency is worthwhile. An increase in science data rate return capabilities could occur if optical communication is implemented. Optical communication systems also provide efficiencies in power, mass, and volume over RF systems1. Optical communication systems have been demonstrated from a satellite in orbit with the moon to earth, and resulted in the highest data rates ever seen through space (622Mbps)2. Because of these benefits, optical communication is far superior to RF. The HiDRA (High Data Rate Architecture) project is researching Passive Misalignment Mitigation of Dynamic Free Apace Optical Communication Links. The goal of this effort is to enable gigabit per second transmission of data in short range dynamic links (less than 100 meters). In practice this would enhance data rates between sites on the International Space Station with minimal size, weight, and power requirements. This paper will focus on an autonomous code and a hardware setup that will be used to fulfill the next step in the research being conducted. The free space optical communications pointing downfalls will be investigated. This was achieved by creating 5 python programs and a top-level code to automate this test.

Heldman, Christopher↗

Near-infrared Reflectance of Rocks at high Temperature: Preliminary Results and Implications for Near-infrared Emissivity of Venus's Surface

Light emitted from Venus’s surface can be viewed through spectral “windows” in its atmosphere, in the nearinfrared (NIR) around 1000 nanometer (nm) wavelengths. The NIR emissivity of Venus’s surface can constrain rock types and their weathering state; emissivities can be measured directly or calculated from reflectances. We measured the reflectances of igneous and sedimentary rocks at Venus’s surface temperature, 400 °C–500 °C at 850 and 950 nm; samples were heated in a box furnace in air, illuminated by light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and imaged with a modified charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. Reflectances were also measured at 25 °C from 350 to 1400 nm. Rock reflectances at 850 and 950 nm and 400 °C–500 °C are nearly identical to those at 25 °C, except for the effects of nanophase hematite forming on some surfaces. Fresh basalts have reflectances (high and low temperatures) near 7.5%; a leucogranite similarly has reflectances near 50%. Pigmentary hematite has nearly identical reflectances at high- and low-temperature at these wavelengths. Pigmentary hematite appears dark brown 400 °C–500 °C because its absorption edge has shifted to beyond the limit of human vision. These rock reflectances imply that basalts should have emissivities near 0.9, and granite (and similar felsic rocks) should have lower emissivities ∼0.5. Thus, basalt and felsic rock should be easily distinguished in NIR emissivity measurements of Venus’s surface, such as are baselined in recent Venus mission proposals. Other sedimentary rocks should have even lower emissivities: quartz sand at around ∼0.3, and anhydrite as low as 0.1.

Allan H Treiman↗

Observation of Carbon Monoxide and Ozone from 2019-2020 Australia Fires Using Thermal Infrared and Near-Infrared Satellite Sensors

The Single Field-of-view Sounder Atmospheric Products (SiFSAP), including ozone (O3) and carbon monoxide (CO), from CrIS on SNPP have a spatial resolution of about 14 km. Such high-resolution sounder products enable us to make process-oriented analysis of CO emission and transport from biomass burning as well as the O3 production along the transport of fire plumes from large wildfires. An analysis of SiFSAP CO from Australia’s unprecedented wildfires in the end of 2019 to early 2020 and comparison with other satellite products, such as TROPOMI and MOPPIT, demonstrate a good agreement of CO observations among these space-borne sensors. This study also demonstrates the advantage of the SiFSAP CO in capturing the feature of CO transport and O3 production from wildfires, which will benefit air quality study.

Xiaozhen Xiong↗