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At least 145 records · Page 8

Variability in Proto-planetary Nebulae. VI. Multitelescope Light Curve Studies of Several Medium-bright (V = 13–15), Carbon-rich Objects

We present 10 years of new photometric monitoring of the light variability of five evolved stars with strong mid-infrared emission from surrounding dust. Three are known carbon-rich proto-planetary nebulae (PPNe) with F−G spectral types; the nature of the other two was previously unknown. For the three PPNe, we determine or refine the pulsation periods of IRAS 04296+3429 (71 days), 06530−0213 (80 days), and 23304+6147 (84 days). A secondary period was found for each, with a period ratio P {sub 2}/P {sub 1} of 0.9. The light variations are small, 0.1–0.2 mag. These are similar to values found in other PPNe. The other two are found to be giant stars. IRAS 09296+1159 pulsates with a period of only 47 days but reaches pulsational light variations of 0.5 mag. Supplemental spectroscopy reveals the spectrum of a CH carbon star. IRAS 08359−1644 is a G1 III star that does not display pulsational variability; rather, it shows nonperiodic decreases of brightness of up to 0.5 mag over this 10 year interval. These drops in brightness are reminiscent of the light curves of R Corona Borealis variables, but with much smaller decreases in brightness and are likely due to transient dust obscuration. Its spectral energy distribution is very similar to that of the unusual oxygen-rich giant star HDE 233517, which possesses mid-infrared hydrocarbon emission features. These two non-PPNe turn out to be members of the rare group of giant stars with large mid-infrared excesses due to dust, objects which presumably have interesting evolutionary histories.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

On the differences in the vertical distribution of modeled aerosol optical depth over the southeastern Atlantic

Abstract. The southeastern Atlantic is home to an expansive smoke aerosol plume overlying a large cloud deck for approximately a third of the year. The aerosol plume is mainly attributed to the extensive biomass burning activities that occur in southern Africa. Current Earth system models (ESMs) reveal significant differences in their estimates of regional aerosol radiative effects over this region. Such large differences partially stem from uncertainties in the vertical distribution of aerosols in the troposphere. These uncertainties translate into different aerosol optical depths (AODs) in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) and the free troposphere (FT). This study examines differences of AOD fraction in the FT and AOD differences among ESMs (WRF-CAM5, WRF-FINN, GEOS-Chem, EAM-E3SM, ALADIN, GEOS-FP, and MERRA-2) and aircraft-based measurements from the NASA ObseRvations of Aerosols above CLouds and their intEractionS (ORACLES) field campaign. Models frequently define the PBL as the well-mixed surface-based layer, but this definition misses the upper parts of decoupled PBLs, in which most low-level clouds occur. To account for the presence of decoupled boundary layers in the models, the height of maximum vertical gradient of specific humidity profiles from each model is used to define PBL heights. Results indicate that the monthly mean contribution of AOD in the FT to the total-column AOD ranges from 44 % to 74 % in September 2016 and from 54 % to 71 % in August 2017 within the region bounded by 25∘ S–0∘ N–S and 15∘ W–15∘ E (excluding land) among the ESMs. ALADIN and GEOS-Chem show similar aerosol plume patterns to a derived above-cloud aerosol product from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) during September 2016, but none of the models show a similar above-cloud plume pattern to MODIS in August 2017. Using the second-generation High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL-2) to derive an aircraft-based constraint on the AOD and the fractional AOD, we found that WRF-CAM5 produces 40 % less AOD than those from the HSRL-2 measurements, but it performs well at separating AOD fraction between the FT and the PBL. AOD fractions in the FT for GEOS-Chem and EAM-E3SM are, respectively, 10 % and 15 % lower than the AOD fractions from the HSRL-2. Their similar mean AODs reflect a cancellation of high and low AOD biases. Compared with aircraft-based observations, GEOS-FP, MERRA-2, and ALADIN produce 24 %–36 % less AOD and tend to misplace more aerosols in the PBL. The models generally underestimate AODs for measured AODs that are above 0.8, indicating their limitations at reproducing high AODs. The differences in the absolute AOD, FT AOD, and the vertical apportioning of AOD in different models highlight the need to continue improving the accuracy of modeled AOD distributions. These differences affect the sign and magnitude of the net aerosol radiative forcing, especially when aerosols are in contact with clouds.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

On duality of color and kinematics in (A)dS momentum space

We explore color-kinematic duality for tree-level AdS/CFT correlators in momentum space. We start by studying the bi-adjoint scalar in AdS at tree-level as an illustrative example. We follow this by investigating two forms of color-kinematic duality in Yang-Mills theory, the first for the integrated correlator in AdS 4 and the second for the integrand in general AdS d +1 . For the integrated correlator, we find color-kinematics does not yield additional relations among n -point, color-ordered correlators. To study color-kinematics for the AdS d +1 Yang-Mills integrand, we use a spectral representation of the bulk-to-bulk propagator so that AdS diagrams are similar in structure to their flat space counterparts. Finally, we study color KLT relations for the integrated correlator and double-copy relations for the AdS integrand. We find that double-copy in AdS naturally relates the bi-adjoint theory in AdS d +3 to Yang-Mills in AdS d +1 . We also find a double-copy relation at three-points between Yang-Mills in AdS d +1 and gravity in AdS d– 1 and comment on the higher-point generalization. By analytic continuation, these results on AdS/CFT correlators can be translated into statements about the wave function of the universe in de Sitter.

gauge-gravity correspondence↗

X-ray transient absorption reveals the 1Au (nπ*) state of pyrazine in electronic relaxation

Abstract Electronic relaxation in organic chromophores often proceeds via states not directly accessible by photoexcitation. We report on the photoinduced dynamics of pyrazine that involves such states, excited by a 267 nm laser and probed with X-ray transient absorption spectroscopy in a table-top setup. In addition to the previously characterized 1 B 2u (ππ*) (S 2 ) and 1 B 3u (nπ*) (S 1 ) states, the participation of the optically dark 1 A u (nπ*) state is assigned by a combination of experimental X-ray core-to-valence spectroscopy, electronic structure calculations, nonadiabatic dynamics simulations, and X-ray spectral computations. Despite 1 A u (nπ*) and 1 B 3u (nπ*) states having similar energies at relaxed geometry, their X-ray absorption spectra differ largely in transition energy and oscillator strength. The 1 A u (nπ*) state is populated in 200 ± 50 femtoseconds after electronic excitation and plays a key role in the relaxation of pyrazine to the ground state.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Effect of pattern transfer process on roughness of block copolymer patterns from directed self-assembly

Block copolymer-directed self-assembly (DSA) remains promising for improving pattern quality and reducing the stochastic variations that challenge high numerical aperture extreme ultraviolet lithography. Equally critical is refining pattern transfer methods for accurately transferring the rectified DSA features to the underlying substrate. We compare two atomic layer deposition (ALD)-based techniques: sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) and dry liftoff, applied to polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) DSA patterns. Both methods utilize aluminum oxide hard masks, with one synthesized through infiltration into the PMMA domains and the other through conformal ALD coating. High-resolution scanning electron micrographs were analyzed to measure line edge, width, and placement roughness for both the line (PMMA) and space (PS) features. Although both methods yielded similar overall 3σ rms roughness, they differed significantly in the frequency-dependent power spectral density (PSD) profiles. SIS reduced line placement roughness at length scales associated with the polymer pitch, but increased space width roughness at low frequencies, whereas dry liftoff mimicked the frequency content of the original guiding pattern. This study underscores the importance of PSD evaluation in selecting optimal pattern transfer strategies for specific applications.

Block copolymers↗

Results from a multi-laboratory ocean metaproteomic intercomparison: effects of LC-MS acquisition and data analysis procedures

Metaproteomics is an increasingly popular methodology that provides information regarding the metabolic functions of specific microbial taxa and has potential for contributing to ocean ecology and biogeochemical studies. A blinded multi-laboratory intercomparison was conducted to assess comparability and reproducibility of taxonomic and functional results and their sensitivity to methodological variables. Euphotic zone samples from the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) in the North Atlantic Ocean collected by in situ pumps and the autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) Clio were distributed with a paired metagenome, and one-dimensional (1D) liquid chromatographic data-dependent acquisition mass spectrometry analysis was stipulated. Analysis of mass spectra from seven laboratories through a common bioinformatic pipeline identified a shared set of 1056 proteins from 1395 shared peptide constituents. Quantitative analyses showed good reproducibility: pairwise regressions of spectral counts between laboratories yielded R 2 values averaged 0.62±0.11, and a Sørensen similarity analysis of the top 1000 proteins revealed 70 %–80 % similarity between laboratory groups. Taxonomic and functional assignments showed good coherence between technical replicates and different laboratories. A bioinformatic intercomparison study, involving 10 laboratories using eight software packages, successfully identified thousands of peptides within the complex metaproteomic datasets, demonstrating the utility of these software tools for ocean metaproteomic research. Lessons learned and potential improvements in methods were described. Future efforts could examine reproducibility in deeper metaproteomes, examine accuracy in targeted absolute quantitation analyses, and develop standards for data output formats to improve data interoperability. Together, these results demonstrate the reproducibility of metaproteomic analyses and their suitability for microbial oceanography research, including integration into global-scale ocean surveys and ocean biogeochemical models.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

The Outburst of the Young Star Gaia19bey

We report photometry and spectroscopy of the outburst of the young stellar object Gaia19bey. We have established the outburst light curve with archival Gaia “G,” ATLAS “Orange,” Zwicky Transient Facility r-band, and Pan-STARRS “rizy”-filter photometry, showing an outburst of ~4 yr duration, longer than typical EX Lupi objects but shorter than FU Orionis objects. Its pre-outburst spectral energy distribution shows a flat far-infrared spectrum, confirming the early evolutionary state of Gaia19bey and its similarity to other deeply embedded young stars experiencing outbursts. A lower limit to the peak outburst luminosity is ~182 L{sub ⊙} at an assumed distance of 1.4 kpc, the minimum plausible distance. Infrared and optical spectroscopy near maximum light show an emission line spectrum, including H i lines, strong red Ca ii emission, other metal emission lines, infrared CO bandhead emission, and a strong infrared continuum. Toward the end of the outburst, the emission lines have all but disappeared and the spectrum has changed into an almost pure continuum spectrum. This indicates a cessation of magnetospheric accretion activity. The near-infrared colors have become redder as Gaia19bey has faded, indicating a cooling of the continuum component. Near the end of the outburst, the only remaining strong emission lines are forbidden shock-excited emission lines. Adaptive optics integral-field spectroscopy shows the H{sub 2} 1–0 S(1) emission with the morphology of an outflow cavity and the extended emission in the [Fe ii] line at 1644 nm with the morphology of an edge-on disk. However, we do not detect any large-scale jet from Gaia19bey.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

High-Resolution Image Products Acquired from Mid-Sized Uncrewed Aerial Systems for Land–Atmosphere Studies

We assess the viability of deploying commercially available multispectral and thermal imagers designed for integration on small uncrewed aerial systems (sUASs, <25 kg) on a mid-size Group-3-classification UAS (weight: 25–600 kg, maximum altitude: 5486 m MSL, maximum speed: 128 m/s) for the purpose of collecting a higher spatial resolution dataset that can be used for evaluating the surface energy budget and effects of surface heterogeneity on atmospheric processes than those datasets traditionally collected by instrumentation deployed on satellites and eddy covariance towers. A MicaSense Altum multispectral imager was deployed on two very similar mid-sized UASs operated by the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Aviation Facility. This paper evaluates the effects of flight on imaging systems mounted on UASs flying at higher altitudes and faster speeds for extended durations. We assess optimal calibration methods, acquisition rates, and flight plans for maximizing land surface area measurements. We developed, in-house, an automated workflow to correct the raw image frames and produce final data products, which we assess against known spectral ground targets and independent sources. We intend this manuscript to be used as a reference for collecting similar datasets in the future and for the datasets described within this manuscript to be used as launching points for future research.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Open Specy 1.0: Automated (Hyper)spectroscopy for Microplastics

Microplastic spectral analysis is one of the most time-consuming processes in studying microplastic pollution, often requiring days per sample. Researchers are transitioning to automated batch and hyperspectral image analysis techniques to enhance efficiency. Open Specy, initially aimed at manual single-spectrum analysis, has now integrated automated methods. This updated version, Open Specy 1.0, introduces several new features, including two algorithms for automated processing (smoothing and particle compression), an extensive library containing over 40,000 open-source Raman and FTIR spectra, and two machine learning classifiers (logistic regression and k medoids) developed from this library. Furthermore, it includes a revamped user interface, an R package, and a benchmark data set for testing future advancements in automated techniques. Researchers evaluated various configurations for hyperspectral smoothing, particle identification, compression, and splitting, to achieve combined recovery rates between 50 and 150% particle counts, identities, and sizes with a coefficient of variation (CV) of less than 40% (the accredited standard). Mean absorbance times the standard deviation provided a consistent particle identification. Hyperspectral smoothing led to a 96% combined recovery rate and reduced variability (CV = 38%) compared to the 86% recovery (CV = 83%) of nonsmoothed controls. Additionally, compressing spectra for particles was significantly faster (>3x) and showed similar accuracy but with reduced variability than processing each pixel individually. Key challenges persist in automating spectral analysis, particularly in refining particle splitting algorithms, and improving identification routines to minimize false positives and negatives. In conclusion, new methods in sample preparation for better stabilization and dispersion of particles could overcome some of these issues.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗

Preserving Superconvergence of Spectral Elements for Curved Domains via h and p-Geometric Refinement [Slides]

Spectral element methods (SEM) are extensions of finite element methods (FEM) that employ Gauss-Lobatto or similar nodes instead of equidistant nodes for high-order elements. SEM can deliver superior accuracy compared to equidistant FEM due to potential superconvergence. However, significant challenges remain for domains with curved boundaries, which have limited the advantages of SEM for real-world applications. In this work, we propose a novel approach to bolster the overall accuracy and preserve the superconvergence of SEM over curved domains.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Comparison of the Energy-Transfer Rates in Structural and Spectral Variants of the B800–850 Complex from Purple Bacteria

Photosynthetic light harvesting can occur with a remarkable near-unity quantum efficiency. The B800–850 complex, also known as light-harvesting complex 2 (LH2), is the primary light-harvesting complex in purple bacteria and has been extensively studied as a model system. The bacteriochlorophylls of the B800–850 complex are organized into two concentric rings, known as the B800 and B850 rings. However, depending on the species and growth conditions, the number of constituent subunits, the pigment geometry, and the absorption energies vary. While the dynamics of some B800–850 variants have been exhaustively characterized, others have not been measured. Furthermore, a direct and simultaneous comparison of how both structural and spectral differences between variants affect these dynamics has not been performed. In this work, we utilize ultrafast transient absorption measurements to compare the B800 to B850 energy-transfer rates in the B800–850 complex as a function of the number of subunits, geometry, and absorption energies. The nonameric B800–850 complex from Rhodobacter (Rb.) sphaeroides is 40% faster than the octameric B800–850 complex from Rhodospirillum (Rs.) molischianum, consistent with structure-based predictions. In contrast, the blue-shifted B800–820 complex from Rs. molischianum is only 20% faster than the B800–850 complex from Rs. molischianum despite an increase in the spectral overlap between the rings that would be expected to produce a larger increase in the energy-transfer rate. These measurements support current models that contain dark, higher-lying excitonic states to bridge the energy gap between rings, thereby maintaining similar energy-transfer dynamics. Altogether, these results demonstrate that energy-transfer dynamics in the B800–850 complex are robust to the spectral and structural variations between species used to optimize energy capture and flow in purple bacteria.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

powersqueeze

powersqueeze (psqz) is a truncated power iteration library intended for high-performance computing platforms. psqz efficiently produces low-dimensional, linear measurements of graph matrix spectra by combining classical power iteration with sparse Johnson-Lindenstrauss transforms. psqz is intended to produce high-quality, fast, data-oblivious low-dimensional representations of high-dimensional sparse data such as graphs and term-document matrices. psqz is intended to replace similar workflows that depend on directly approximating a truncated eigendecomposition (e.g., the first step of spectral clustering), which is a much more expensive operation.

Priest, BenjaminW [Lawrence Livermore National Lab↗

The 10 September 2025 M w 4.1 Earthquake in Northeastern Utah, United States: An Archetypal Continental Mantle Event

The 10 September 2025 M w 4.1 earthquake in northeastern Utah, United States, had a focal depth 68 km beneath sea level, which is ∼20–25 km greater than estimates of local crustal thickness, making it a rare example of a continental mantle earthquake (CME). The focal depth is well resolved from arrival-time inversion (nearest station ∼13 km away) and moment tensor inversion of regional waveforms. Similar to other CMEs in the Intermountain West, there were no obvious aftershocks or foreshocks, and the waveforms were enriched in high-frequency energy. Spectral modeling gives a stress drop of ∼80 MPa and a radiation efficiency of ∼0.08, albeit with large uncertainties. The high stress drop and low radiation efficiency are consistent with a dissipative source process such as thermal runaway. Also similar to previous Intermountain West CMEs, the event occurred along the boundary of the Archean Wyoming craton, where pressure–temperature conditions favor ductile deformation. We hypothesize that edge-driven or regional-scale mantle convection produces increased strain rates near the craton boundary that make either conventional brittle failure or thermal runaway feasible at relatively high pressure–temperature conditions. High conductivity inferred around the edge of the craton may suggest that fluids also contribute to CME occurrence.

Koper, Keith D. [Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT↗

Isolating the Vibrational Spectra of the Red Chlorophylls in Photosystem I with Multispectral Two-Dimensional Spectroscopy

Photosystem I (PSI) uses an antenna of chlorophyll (Chl) molecules to create a charge separated state with high quantum efficiency. Understanding the charge separation mechanism is currently hindered by spectral overlap between the antenna and reaction center (RC) Chls and the fact that energy transfer and electron transfer occur with similar time scales. Here, we characterize the antenna excited states by applying two-dimensional electronic (2DES) and two-dimensional electronic-vibrational (2DEV) spectroscopy to PSI complexes with closed RCs. Comparison of the 2DES and 2DEV spectra, which evolve with the same kinetics, enabled characterization of the vibrational modes of the antenna during energy equilibration between spectrally distinct Chls. Through global analysis, we learn how energy transfer between the Bulk and Red Chls presents in the 2DEV spectra and we definitively identify vibrations of the cationic components of the mixed exciton and intermolecular charge transfer states associated with the Red Chls. This work enables future studies of the initial charge separation mechanism of PSI by 2DEV spectroscopy.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Charge-transfer satellites and chemical bonding in photoemission and x-ray absorption of SrTi O 3 and rutile Ti O 2 : Experiment and first-principles theory with general application to spectroscopic analysis

First-principles, real-time-cumulant, and Bethe-Salpeter-equation calculations fully capture the detailed satellite structure that occurs in response to the sudden creation of the core hole in both photoemission and x-ray absorption spectra of the transition-metal compounds SrTi O 3 and rutile Ti O 2 . Analysis of the excited-state, real-space charge-density fluctuations betrays the physical nature of these many electron excitations that are shown to reflect the materials’ solid-state electronic structure and chemical bonding. This first-principles development of the cumulant-based core hole spectral function is generally applicable to other systems and should become a standard tool for all similar spectroscopic analysis going beyond the quasiparticle physics of the photoelectric effect.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Improved Gas Plume Identification Using Nearest Neighbor Methods for Background Estimation

Longwave infrared (LWIR) hyperspectral imaging (HSI) can be used for many tasks in remote sensing, including detecting and identifying effluent gases by LWIR sensors on airborne platforms. Identification is used after detection to increase confidence in weakly detected plumes, reduce false positives from detection, and distinguish between similar and confounding material signatures. Background estimation is an important step used to reveal the unique spectral characteristics of the detected gas, allowing the identification model to determine what the gas is specifically. The importance of proper background estimation increases when dealing with weak signals, large libraries of gases of interest, and uncommon or heterogeneous backgrounds. In this article, we propose two methods for background estimation: a novel k-nearest segments (KNS) algorithm and the standard k-nearest neighbors (KNN) algorithm. We test our methods and three existing background estimation methods for comparison against global background estimation to determine which performs best at estimating the true background radiance under a plume and for increasing identification confidence using a neural network classification model. We compare the different methods using 640 simulated weak plumes in an urban environment. For identification, our KNS algorithm improves median neural network identification confidence by 53.2%. For background radiance estimation, the KNN algorithm provides a median of 49 times less RMSE than global background estimation. Furthermore, KNN is the easiest method to tune for different plumes, making it an excellent “out of the box” background estimator.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

High-fidelity retrieval from instantaneous line-of-sight returns of nacelle-mounted lidar including supervised machine learning

Abstract. Wind turbine applications that leverage nacelle-mounted Doppler lidar are hampered by several sources of uncertainty in the lidar measurement, affecting both bias and random errors. Two problems encountered especially for nacelle-mounted lidar are solid interference due to intersection of the line of sight with solid objects behind, within, or in front of the measurement volume and spectral noise due primarily to limited photon capture. These two uncertainties, especially that due to solid interference, can be reduced with high-fidelity retrieval techniques (i.e., including both quality assurance/quality control and subsequent parameter estimation). Our work compares three such techniques, including conventional thresholding, advanced filtering, and a novel application of supervised machine learning with ensemble neural networks, based on their ability to reduce uncertainty introduced by the two observed nonideal spectral features while keeping data availability high. The approach leverages data from a field experiment involving a continuous-wave (CW) SpinnerLidar from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) that provided scans of a wide range of flows both unwaked and waked by a field turbine. Independent measurements from an adjacent meteorological tower within the sampling volume permit experimental validation of the instantaneous velocity uncertainty remaining after retrieval that stems from solid interference and strong spectral noise, which is a validation that has not been performed previously. All three methods perform similarly for non-interfered returns, but the advanced filtering and machine learning techniques perform better when solid interference is present, which allows them to produce overall standard deviations of error between 0.2 and 0.3 m s−1, or a 1 %–22 % improvement versus the conventional thresholding technique, over the rotor height for the unwaked cases. Between the two improved techniques, the advanced filtering produces 3.5 % higher overall data availability, while the machine learning offers a faster runtime (i.e., ∼ 1 s to evaluate) that is therefore more commensurate with the requirements of real-time turbine control. The retrieval techniques are described in terms of application to CW lidar, though they are also relevant to pulsed lidar. Previous work by the authors (Brown and Herges, 2020) explored a novel attempt to quantify uncertainty in the output of a high-fidelity lidar retrieval technique using simulated lidar returns; this article provides true uncertainty quantification versus independent measurement and does so for three techniques rather than one.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Frequency domain assurance criterion for defect detection in additively manufactured parts

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a very desirable manufacturing method for industries such as aerospace and automotive due to its ability to create internal features and complex geometries, however, these characteristics also present challenges for nondestructive evaluation (NDE) and defect detection. Dynamic analysis and modal analysis have shown promise for NDE and identifying flaws in AM parts. Frequency Domain Assurance Criterion (FDAC) is a method of dynamic evaluation that represents the degree of correlation between two sets of operational deflection shapes (ODS) at each spectral line. Using colormaps to display the results allows for quick and easy interpretation of parts’ similarities and differences. This method appears to show promise in identifying parts with minor defects and can be used to differentiate nominal and defective parts. This paper explores the use of FDAC on various AM parts with and without intentional defects.

Deonarain, G↗