Astrophysical Spectra Research Articles

Electronic Spectroscopy of Anthracene Cations and Protonated Anthracene in the Search for Carriers of Diffuse Interstellar Bands

Abstract The helium-tagging technique was employed to record absorption spectra of cold anthracene cations and protonated anthracene. The evaluation of the spectra of the chromophore with a different number of attached He atoms allows getting the precise band positions of the molecular ions in the gas phase. The positions of the two most intense bands of anthracene, suitable for astrophysical detection, were found to be λ max = 3478.9 ± 1.8 Å and λ max = 7068.9 ± 5.7 Å. A considerable shift of the red band position compared to a previous measurement was attributed to a temperature effect. No coincidence of the absorption bands in astrophysical observational spectra was found. This allows estimating the upper limit for the abundance of anthracene cations per H nuclei <10−9 along the HD 183143 line of sight. We discuss possible reasons for such a low abundance of this molecular ion.

Atomic Cascade Computations

Atomic cascades are ubiquitous in nature and they have been explored within very different scenarios, from precision measurements to the modeling of astrophysical spectra, and up to the radiation damage in biological matter. However, up to the present, a quantitative analysis of these cascades often failed because of their inherent complexity. Apart from utilizing the rotational symmetry of atoms and a proper distinction of different physical schemes, a hierarchy of useful approaches is therefore needed in order to keep cascade computations feasible. We here suggest a classification of atomic cascades and demonstrate how they can be modeled within the framework of the Jena Atomic Calculator. As an example, we shall compute within a configuration-average approach the stepwise decay cascade of atomic magnesium, following a 1s inner-shell ionization, and simulate the corresponding (final) ion distribution. Our classification of physical scenarios (schemes) and the hierarchy of computational approaches are both flexible to further refinements as well as to complex shell structures of the atoms and ions, for which the excitation and decay dynamics need to be modeled in good detail.

Theoretical spectral analysis of Ar ions from Ar9+ to Ar14+

Atomic spectral data of six argon ions from Ar9+ to Ar14+ are calculated by combining the relativistic multi-configuration interaction method and the many-body perturbation theory (FAC-MBPT) method. Transitions from shell number n=2 to shell numbers n=3, 4, 5, and 6 are investigated where relativistic effects, correlation effects, and QED effects are applied. Experimental transition lines often demonstrate blending and overlapping that confuse the identification of spectral lines in absence of accurate theoretical data. This elucidates the importance of having accurate atomic calculations in order to carry out reliable modelling for laboratory and astrophysical spectra of Ar ions. When compared with published data, our findings offer the best agreement with experimental observations; thereby recommend the use of FAC-MBPT calculation method to produce accurate theoretical data for the six investigated Ar ions.

Resonant neutrino self-interactions

If neutrinos have self-interactions, these will induce scatterings between astrophysical and cosmic neutrinos. Prior work proposed to look for possible resulting resonance features in astrophysical neutrino spectra in order to seek a neutrino self-interaction which can be either diagonal in the neutrino flavor space or couple different neutrino flavors. The calculation of the astrophysical spectra involves either a Monte Carlo simulation or a computationally intensive numerical integration of an integro-partial-differential equation. As a result only limited regions of the neutrino self-interaction parameter space have been explored, and only flavor-diagonal self-interactions have been considered. Here, we present a fully analytic form for the astrophysical neutrino spectra for arbitrary neutrino number and arbitrary self-coupling matrix that accurately obtains the resonance features in the observable neutrino spectra. The results can be applied to calculations of the diffuse supernova neutrino background and of the spectrum from high-energy astrophysical neutrino sources. We illustrate with a few examples.

The Spectrum and Term Analysis of Singly Ionized Manganese

Abstract An extensive analysis of the Mn spectrum was carried out using high-resolution Fourier transform (FT) and grating spectroscopy of Mn–Ne and Mn–Ar hollow cathode discharge sources, over the range 82–5500 nm (1820–121,728 cm−1). Spectral wavelengths for a total of 6019 Mn ii lines have been measured, of which 1345 are obtained through FT spectroscopy. These wavelengths are given to at least an order of magnitude lower uncertainty than previous measurements. These lines were used to identify 6256 Mn ii transitions and improve the values of 505 previously published energy levels with typical uncertainties of a few thousandths of a cm−1, representing an order-of-magnitude reduction in uncertainty. We have verified and improved an additional 57 Mn ii energy levels, previously established through observation of stellar spectra alone, using our FT spectra. In addition, 52 new energy level values have been established. The number of classified lines reported is approximately 50% more than previously published. The new accurate data for 614 energy levels and 6019 lines will allow a more reliable analysis of Mn ii spectral lines in astrophysical spectra.

Transition Probabilities and Collision Strengths for Fine-structure Levels Excitation of Ti II

Abstract Several spectral features from the stellar and nebular objects arise due to the iron-peak Ti II fine-structure excitations. Transition probabilities and electron excitation collision strengths of iron-peak elements are important for a meaningful interpretation and analysis of the observed astrophysical spectra. Accurate description of atomic structure with open 3d-shell elements is the key to the reliable and accurate computation of radiative and collision rates. The term-dependent one-electron orbitals in the multiconfiguration Hartree–Fock approach with adjustable configuration expansions and semi-empirical fine-tuning for energy corrections have been used in achieving highly accurate target description. A total of 314 Ti II fine-structure levels of the ground 3d 24s and excited 3d 3, 3d4s 2, 3d 24p, 3d 25s, 3d4s4p, 3d 24d, 3d 25p, and 3d 24f configurations have been included in the calculations of these atomic parameters. The present calculation of collision strengths has been performed in a close-coupling approximation based on the B-spline Breit–Pauli R-matrix method with inclusion of spin–orbit interaction term in the Hamiltonian matrices. Effective collision strengths over a Maxwellian distribution of electron velocities at temperatures in the range from 103 to 105 K have been reported for transitions between the 314 fine-structure levels. These wide array of transitions give rise to many main Ti II infrared, optical, and ultraviolet lines from a variety of astrophysical objects. Our calculated parameters are compared with the available other theoretical and experimental results, and through this comparison likely uncertainties in our results have been estimated, especially for transitions among the low-lying fine-structure levels of astrophysical importance.

PyAtomDB: Extending the AtomDB Atomic Database to Model New Plasma Processes and Uncertainties

The AtomDB project provides models of X-ray and extreme ultraviolet emitting astrophysical spectra for optically thin, hot plasma. We present the new software package, PyAtomDB, which now underpins the entire project, providing access to the underlying database, collisional radiative model calculations, and spectrum generation for a range of models. PyAtomDB is easily extensible, allowing users to build new tools and models for use in analysis packages such as XSPEC. We present two of these, the kappa and ACX models for non-Maxwellian and Charge-Exchange plasmas respectively. In addition, PyAtomDB allows for full open access to the apec code, which underlies all of the AtomDB spectra and has enabled the development of a module for estimating the sensitivity of emission lines and diagnostic line ratios to uncertainties in the underlying atomic data. We present these publicly available tools and results for several X-ray diagnostics of Fe L-shell ions and He-like ions as examples.

A Laboratory Astrophysics Problem: The Lifetime of Very Long-Lived Levels in Low-Charge Ions

Emission lines of singly charged ions populate many astrophysical spectra. However, the interpretation of the line intensities (usually line ratios) often depends on the transition rates of the decays of very long-lived low-lying levels. For example, the line ratio of two electric-dipole forbidden transitions in the 3s 2 3p 3 ground configuration of singly ionized sulfur (ion S + , spectrum S II) has been interpreted in terms of a density diagnostic for planetary nebulae, i.e., for densities in the order of 10 4 cm − 3 . The predicted lifetimes of the 2 D 3 / 2 , 5 / 2 o levels are in the order of one hour. Modeling indicates that a 10% uncertainty of the lifetime determination in this case corresponds to a 50% uncertainty of the density diagnostic. The available theoretical lifetime predictions scatter by much more than 10%. Considerations about an experimental approach are presented with the goal of instigating a measurement of the actual level lifetimes.

Neutrino-nucleus cross sections for W -boson and trident production

The physics of neutrino-nucleus cross sections is a critical probe of the Standard Model and beyond. A precise understanding is also needed to accurately deduce astrophysical neutrino spectra. At energies above $\sim 5$ GeV, the cross section is dominated by deep inelastic scattering, mediated by weak bosons. In addition, there are subdominant processes where the hadronic coupling is through virtual photons, $\gamma^\ast$: (on-shell) $W$-boson production (e.g., where the underlying interaction is $\nu_\ell + \gamma^\ast \rightarrow \ell^- + W^+$) and trident production (e.g., where it is $\nu + \gamma^\ast \rightarrow \nu + \ell_1^- + \ell_2^+$). These processes become increasingly relevant at TeV--PeV energies. We undertake the first systematic approach to these processes (and those with hadronic couplings through virtual $W$ and $Z$ bosons), treating them together, avoiding common approximations, considering all neutrino flavors and final states, and covering the energy range $10\,$--$10^8$ GeV. In particular, we present the first complete calculation of $W$-boson production and the first calculation of trident production at TeV--PeV energies. When we use the same assumptions as in prior work, we recover all of their major results. In a companion paper, we show that these processes should be taken into account for IceCube-Gen2.

Laboratory Calibrations of Fe xii–xiv Line-intensity Ratios for Electron Density Diagnostics

Abstract We have used an electron beam ion trap to measure electron-density-diagnostic line-intensity ratios for extreme ultraviolet lines from Fe xii, xiii, and xiv at wavelengths of ≈185–205 and 255–276 Å. These ratios can be used as density diagnostics for astrophysical spectra and are especially relevant to solar physics. We found that density diagnostics using the Fe xiii 196.53/202.04 and the Fe xiv 264.79/274.21 and 270.52A/274.21 line ratios are reliable using the atomic data calculated with the Flexible Atomic Code (FAC). On the other hand, we found a large discrepancy between the FAC theory and experiment for the commonly used Fe xii (186.85 + 186.88)/195.12 line ratio. These FAC theory calculations give results similar to the data tabulated in CHIANTI, which are commonly used to analyze solar observations. Our results suggest that the discrepancies seen between solar coronal density measurements using the Fe xii (186.85 + 186.88)/195.12 and Fe xiii 196.54/202.04 line ratios are likely due to issues with the atomic calculations for Fe xii.

Coulomb (Velocity) Gauge Recommended in Multiconfiguration Calculations of Transition Data Involving Rydberg Series

Astronomical spectroscopy has recently expanded into the near-infrared (nIR) wavelength region, raising the demands on atomic transition data. The interpretation of the observed spectra largely relies on theoretical results, and progress towards the production of accurate theoretical data must continuously be made. Spectrum calculations that target multiple atomic states at the same time are by no means trivial. Further, numerous atomic systems involve Rydberg series, which are associated with additional difficulties. In this work, we demonstrate how the challenges in the computations of Rydberg series can be handled in large-scale multiconfiguration Dirac–Hartree–Fock (MCDHF) and relativistic configuration interaction (RCI) calculations. By paying special attention to the construction of the radial orbital basis that builds the atomic state functions, transition data that are weakly sensitive to the choice of gauge can be obtained. Additionally, we show that the Babushkin gauge should not always be considered as the preferred gauge, and that, in the computations of transition data involving Rydberg series, the Coulomb gauge could be more appropriate for the analysis of astrophysical spectra. To illustrate the above, results from computations of transitions involving Rydberg series in the astrophysically important C IV and C III ions are presented and analyzed.

Estimating the angular power spectrum of the gravitational-wave background in the presence of shot noise

There has been much recent interest in studying anisotropies in the astrophysical gravitational-wave (GW) background, as these could provide us with interesting new information about galaxy clustering and large-scale structure. However, this information is obscured by shot noise, caused by the finite number of GW sources that contribute to the background at any given time. We develop a new method for estimating the angular spectrum of anisotropies, based on the principle of combining statistically-independent data segments. We show that this gives an unbiased estimate of the true, astrophysical spectrum, removing the offset due to shot noise power, and that in the limit of many data segments, it is the most efficient (i.e. lowest-variance) estimator possible.

Shot noise in the astrophysical gravitational-wave background

We calculate the shot noise induced in the anisotropies of the astrophysical gravitational-wave background by finite sampling of both the galaxy distribution and the compact binary coalescence event rate. This leads to a white noise term in the angular power spectrum ${C}_{\ensuremath{\ell}}$, for which we derive a simple analytical expression. Failing to account for this term (as previous analyses have done) biases any measurement of the ${C}_{\ensuremath{\ell}}$'s. We find that the shot noise dominates over the true astrophysical power spectrum in any reasonable observing scenario, and that only with very long observing times and removal of a large number of foreground sources can the true power spectrum be recovered.

Atomic and molecular spectral line shapes in laboratory and selected astrophysical plasma

This work elaborates on laboratory measurements of hydrogen Balmer series lines and diatomic molecular species in laser-plasma. Comparisons with astrophysical white dwarf spectra, recorded at various observatories and the Hubble space telescope, point out direct applications of experimental results. The recorded general relativity gravitational- or Einstein-shift of the atomic lines allows one to infer the ratio of mass and radius. The Stark-effect redshifts of hydrogen alpha and hydrogen beta lines investigated with time-resolved emission spectroscopy are usually one order of magnitude larger than the gravitational shift. In view of white dwarf atmospheres dominated by hydrogen and the associated absorption spectra, averaging the laser-induced plasma data reveals spectral line shapes that mask the redshift caused by the Stark effect. The available white dwarf data indicate that the collected radiation propagated through regions of different density in the star’s atmosphere. Diatomic spectra are typically recorded as white dwarfs further progress in their transformation.

Observational black hole spectroscopy: A time-domain multimode analysis of GW150914

The detection of the least damped quasi-normal mode from the remnant of the gravitational wave event GW150914 realised the long sought possibility to observationally study the properties of quasi-stationary black hole spacetimes through gravitational waves. Past literature has extensively explored this possibility and the emerging field has been named "black hole spectroscopy". In this study, we present results regarding the ringdown spectrum of GW150914, obtained by application of Bayesian inference to identify and characterise the ringdown modes. We employ a pure time-domain analysis method which infers from the data the time of transition between the non-linear and quasi-linear regime of the post-merger emission in concert with all other parameters characterising the source. We find that the data provides no evidence for the presence of more than one quasi-normal mode. However, from the central frequency and damping time posteriors alone, no unambiguous identification of a single mode is possible. More in-depth analysis adopting a ringdown model based on results in perturbation theory over the Kerr metric, confirms that the data do not provide enough evidence to discriminate among an $l=2$ and the $l=3$ subset of modes. Our work provides the first comprehensive agnostic framework to observationally investigate astrophysical black holes' ringdown spectra.

High-precision methanol spectroscopy with a widely tunable SI-traceable frequency-comb-based mid-infrared QCL

There is an increasing demand for precise molecular spectroscopy, in particular in the mid-infrared fingerprint window that hosts a considerable number of vibrational signatures, whether it be for modeling our atmosphere, interpreting astrophysical spectra or testing fundamental physics. We present a high-resolution mid-infrared spectrometer traceable to primary frequency standards. It combines a widely tunable ultra-narrow Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL), an optical frequency comb and a compact multipass cell. The QCL frequency is stabilized onto a comb controlled with a remote near-infrared ultra-stable laser, transferred through a fiber link. The resulting QCL frequency stability is below 10-15 from 0.1 to 10s and its frequency uncertainty of 4x10-14 is given by the remote frequency standards. Continuous tuning over ~400 MHz is reported. We use the apparatus to perform saturated absorption spectroscopy of methanol in the low-pressure multipass cell and demonstrate a statistical uncertainty at the kHz level on transition center frequencies, confirming its potential for driving the next generation technology required for precise spectroscopic measurements.

Benchmarked atomic data for astrophysics

AbstractThe recent calculations of atomic data for ions of astrophysical interest are reviewed with a focus on work performed in Cambridge. The calculations have been benchmarked against high-resolution laboratory and astrophysical spectra. A framework for assessing uncertainties in atomic data has also been developed. Long-standing discrepancies in predicted spectral line intensities have been resolved, and a significant number of levels in coronal ions have finally been identified, improving the modelling of the extreme-ultraviolet and soft X-ray spectral regions. Recent improvements based on collisional-radiative modelling are presented. They are relevant for the modelling of satellite lines in the X-rays and for solving the long-standing problems in the chromosphere-corona transition in stellar atmospheres.

Recent advances in experimental laboratory astrophysics for stellar astrophysics applications and future data needs

AbstractAccurate atomic data for line wavelengths, energy levels, line broadening such as hyperfine structure and isotope structure, and f-values, particularly for the line rich iron group elements, are needed for stellar astrophysics applications, and examples of recent measurements are given. These atomic data are essential for determination of elemental abundances in astronomical objects. With modern facilities, telescopes and spectrographs, access to underexplored regions (IR, UV, VUV), and improved stellar atmosphere models (3D, NLTE), and extremely large datasets, astronomers are tackling problems ranging from studying Galactic chemical evolution, to low mass stars and exoplanets. Such advances require improved accuracy and completeness of the atomic database for analyses of astrophysical spectra.

CHIANTI—An Atomic Database for Emission Lines. XV. Version 9, Improvements for the X-Ray Satellite Lines

Abstract CHIANTI contains a large quantity of atomic data for the analysis of astrophysical spectra. Programs are available in IDL and Python to perform calculation of the expected emergent spectrum from these sources. The database includes atomic energy levels, wavelengths, radiative transition probabilities, rate coefficients for collisional excitation, ionization, and recombination, as well as data to calculate free–free, free–bound, and two-photon continuum emission. In Version 9, we improve the modeling of the satellite lines at X-ray wavelengths by explicitly including autoionization and dielectronic recombination processes in the calculation of level populations for select members of the lithium isoelectronic sequence and Fe xviii–xxiii. In addition, existing data sets are updated, new ions are added, and new total recombination rates for several Fe ions are included. All data and IDL programs are freely available at http://www.chiantidatabase.org or through SolarSoft, and the Python code ChiantiPy is also freely available at https://github.com/chianti-atomic/ChiantiPy.

Benchmarking Atomic Data from Large-scale Multiconfiguration Dirac–Hartree–Fock Calculations for Astrophysics: S-like Ions from Cr ix to Cu xiv

Abstract We present a consistent set of calculated energies and E1, M1, E2, M2 radiative transition data for the main n = 3 levels from the 3s 23p 4, 3p 6, , , , , and configurations for S-like ions from Cr ix to Cu xiv. The fully relativistic multiconfiguration Dirac–Hartree–Fock method implemented in the GRASP2K code is used to perform the present calculations. The excitation energies of the lowest 47 levels from the , , and configurations, producing the strongest lines, are found to be in good agreement, reaching spectroscopic accuracy, with the latest experimental values for Fe xi evaluated by Del Zanna. Our energies can reliably be used to identify in astrophysical and laboratory spectra the levels in other S-like ions, which are mostly unknown. On the contrary, significant discrepancies with the 3s3p 43d levels were found, emphasizing the need for more detailed experimental studies. A few new tentative identifications are suggested. The benchmarks we present indicate that our consistent set of radiative data is accurate and can be used for spectral line modeling.