Wide Spectral Coverage Research Articles

Global observation by Global Change Observation Mission-Climate (GCOM-C)

The “Global Change Observation Mission-Climate”(GCOM-C) is a project of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for the global and long-term observation of the Earth environment. The GCOM-C is expected to play an important role in monitoring and understanding global climate change. The GCOM-C is a part of the JAXA's GCOM mission which consists of two satellite series, GCOM-C and GCOM-W (Water). Whereas GCOM-W carries a multi-frequency, dual-polarized, passive microwave radiometer named Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) to observe water-related targets such as precipitation, sea surface temperature, soil moisture, and snow depth, GCOM-C carries a multi-spectral optical radiometer named Second Generation Global Imager (SGLI), which has special features of wide spectral coverage from 380nm to 12μm, a high spatial resolution of 250m, a swath width exceeding 1000km, two-direction simultaneous observation, and polarization observation. The GCOM-C mission aims to contribute to improving our knowledge and prediction of the global carbon cycle and radiation budget through high-accuracy observation of global vegetation, ocean color, temperature, cloud, aerosol, and snow and ice through the SGLI observations.

Young stellar populations in type II quasars: timing the onset of star formation and nuclear activity

Despite the emerging morphological evidence that luminous quasar-like AGN are triggered in galaxy mergers, the natures of the triggering mergers and the order of events in the triggering sequence remain uncertain. In this work, we present a detailed study of the stellar populations of the host galaxies of 21 type II quasars, with the aim of understanding the sequence of events between the onset of the merger, the triggering of the associated starburst and the initiation of the quasar activity. To this end, we model high quality, wide spectral coverage, intermediate resolution optical spectra of the type II quasars. We find that of the 21 objects, the higher-order Balmer absorption lines, characteristic of young stellar populations (YSP) , are directly detected in ~62% of the sample. We also fit these spectra using a number of combinations of stellar and/or power-law components, representative of viable formation histories, as well as including the possibility of scattered AGN light. We find that 90 % of the type II quasar host galaxies require the inclusion of a YSP to adequately model their spectra, whilst 71 % of the sample require the inclusion of a YSP with age < 100 Myr. Since the ages of the YSP in most type II quasar host galaxies are comparable with the expected lifetimes of the AGN activity, these results provide strong evidence that the quasars are triggered close to the peaks of the merger-induced starbursts.

High-temperature operation of broadband bidirectional terahertz quantum-cascade lasers.

Terahertz quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) with a broadband gain medium could play an important role for sensing and spectroscopy since then distributed-feedback schemes could be utilized to produce laser arrays on a single semiconductor chip with wide spectral coverage. QCLs can be designed to emit at two different frequencies when biased with opposing electrical polarities. Here, terahertz QCLs with bidirectional operation are developed to achieve broadband lasing from the same semiconductor chip. A three-well design scheme with shallow-well GaAs/Al0.10Ga0.90As superlattices is developed to achieve high-temperature operation for bidirectional QCLs. It is shown that shallow-well heterostructures lead to optimal quantum-transport in the superlattice for bidirectional operation compared to the prevalent GaAs/Al0.15Ga0.85As material system. Broadband lasing in the frequency range of 3.1–3.7 THz is demonstrated for one QCL design, which achieves maximum operating temperatures of 147 K and 128 K respectively in opposing polarities. Dual-color lasing with large frequency separation is demonstrated for a second QCL, that emits at ~3.7 THz and operates up to 121 K in one polarity, and at ~2.7 THz up to 105 K in the opposing polarity. These are the highest operating temperatures achieved for broadband terahertz QCLs at the respective emission frequencies, and could lead to commercial development of broadband terahertz laser arrays.

Warm ionized gas in CALIFA early-type galaxies

The morphological, spectroscopic and kinematical properties of the warm interstellar medium (wim) in early-type galaxies (ETGs) hold key observational constraints to nuclear activity and the buildup history of these massive, quiescent systems. High-quality integral field spectroscopy (IFS) data with a wide spectral and spatial coverage, such as those from the CALIFA survey, offer an unprecedented opportunity for advancing our understanding of the wim in ETGs. This article centers on a 2D investigation of the wim component in 32 nearby (<~150Mpc) ETGs from CALIFA, complementing a previous 1D analysis of the same sample (Papaderos et al. 2013; P13). We include here H\alpha\ intensity and equivalent width (EW) maps and radial profiles, diagnostic emission-line ratios, besides ionized-gas and stellar kinematics. This study is supplemented by \tau-ratio maps as an efficient means to quantify the role of photoionization by pAGB stars, as compared to other mechanisms (e.g., AGN, low-level star formation). Additionally, we extend the tentative classification proposed in P13 by the type i+, which is assigned to a subset of type i ETGs exhibiting ongoing low-level star-formation (SF) in their periphery. This finding along with faint traces of localized SF in the extranuclear component of several of our sample ETGs points to a non-negligible contribution by OB stars to the total ionizing budget. We also demonstrate that, at the typical emission-line detection threshold of ~2\AA in previous studies, most of the extranuclear wim emission in an ETG may evade detection, which could in turn prompt its classification as an entirely gas-devoid system. This study adds further observational evidence for a considerable heterogeneity among ETGs with regard to the physical properties and 2D kinematics of the wim component, and underscores the importance of IFS studies over their entire optical extent.

Quantitative performance characterization of three-dimensional noncontact fluorescence molecular tomography.

Fluorescent proteins and dyes are routine tools for biological research to describe the behavior of genes, proteins, and cells, as well as more complex physiological dynamics such as vessel permeability and pharmacokinetics. The use of these probes in whole body in vivo imaging would allow extending the range and scope of current biomedical applications and would be of great interest. In order to comply with a wide variety of application demands, in vivo imaging platform requirements span from wide spectral coverage to precise quantification capabilities. Fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) detects and reconstructs in three dimensions the distribution of a fluorophore in vivo. Noncontact FMT allows fast scanning of an excitation source and noninvasive measurement of emitted fluorescent light using a virtual array detector operating in free space. Here, a rigorous process is defined that fully characterizes the performance of a custom-built horizontal noncontact FMT setup. Dynamic range, sensitivity, and quantitative accuracy across the visible spectrum were evaluated using fluorophores with emissions between 520 and 660 nm. These results demonstrate that high-performance quantitative three-dimensional visible light FMT allowed the detection of challenging mesenteric lymph nodes in vivo and the comparison of spectrally distinct fluorescent reporters in cell culture.

Design and application of Au decorated ZnO/TiO2 as a stable photocatalyst for wide spectral coverage.

A ternary nanostructured photocatalyst consisting of ZnO/TiO2/Au was designed to achieve an enhanced solar absorption due to the coupling of surface enhanced plasmonic absorption of metal and semiconductor excitons. TiO2 coated ZnO rods with an aspect ratio of 8-12 were decorated with citrate capped gold nanoparticles for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in simulated waste water under solar irradiation. Simulated waste water was prepared so as to get a mixture exhibiting a wide range of spectral distribution in the UV-visible region by deliberately mixing congo red, methylene blue and malachite green. Photo-oxidation of few phenolic compounds such as phenol, 4-chlorophenol and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons viz. anthracene and phenanthrene were also investigated in order to rule out the visible light sensitization of the dye molecules and confirm the photocatalytic efficacy of the ternary composite for a wide range of water pollutants under simulated solar irradiation. The composite exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity and photoelectrochemical stability upon UV and visible light exposure. This enhanced efficiency was also corroborated with the photocarrier lifetime and chronoamperometric studies. Under simulated solar irradiation, UV light induced well separated charge carriers coupled with the visible light induced local surface plasmon resonance of AuNPs to exert significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity in a broad spectral region. This type of material may evolve as a novel photocatalyst for the efficient removal of organic contaminants in waste water and photoelectrochemical water splitting under the solar spectrum.

Synthesis and photovoltaic properties of low bandgap dimeric perylene diimide based non-fullerene acceptors

Non-fullerene organic acceptors have attracted increasing attention in recent years. One of the challenges in the synthesis of non-fullerene organic acceptors is to tune the absorption spectrum and molecular frontier orbitals, affording low bandgap molecules with improved absorption of the near-infrared solar photons. In this paper, we present the synthesis, optoelectronic and photovoltaic properties of a series of dimeric perylene diimide (PDI) based non-fullerene acceptors. These PDI dimers are bridged by oligothiophene (T) from 1T to 6T. With the increase of the oligothienyl size, the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy is raised from −5.65 to −5.10 eV, while that of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbit (LUMO) is kept constant at −3.84 eV, affording narrow bandgap from 1.81 to 1.26 eV. The absorption from the oligothiophene occurs between 350 and 500 nm, which is complementary to that from its bridged PDI units, leading to a wide spectral coverage from 350 to 850 nm. The optimal dihedral angle between the bridged two perylene planes is dependent on the oligothienyl size, varying from 5° to 30°. The solubility of the dimers depends on the oligothienyl size and can be tuned by the alkyl chains on the bridged thienyl units. The possible applications as the solution-processable non-fullerene organic acceptor is primarily studied using commercial P3HT as the blend donor. The photovoltaic results indicate that 1T, 4T and 6T all yield a higher efficiency of ∼1.2%, whereas 2T, 3T and 5T all give a lower efficiency of <0.5%. The difference in the cell performance is related with the tradeoff between the differences of absorption, HOMO level and film-morphology between these dimers.

Vibrational‐vibrational and vibrational‐thermal energy transfers of CO2 with N2 from MIPAS high‐resolution limb spectra

AbstractWe present a retrieval of several vibrational‐vibrational (V V) and vibrational‐thermal (V‐T) collisional rate coefficients affecting the populations of the CO2 levels emitting at 10, 4.3 and 2.7 μm from high‐resolution limb atmospheric spectra taken by Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS). This instrument has a high spectral resolution (0.0625 cm−1) and a wide spectral coverage (from 685 to 2410 cm−1) that allow measuring and discriminating among the many bands originating the atmospheric 4.3 μm radiance. Also its high sensitivity allows measuring the atmospheric limb emission in a wide altitude range, from 20 to 170 km in its middle and upper atmosphere modes, and hence obtain information on the temperature dependence of the collisional rates. In particular, we retrieve the rate coefficients and their temperature dependence in the 130–250 K range of the following processes: with vd=2v1+v2=2,3, and 4; with and Δl = 0; and with Δvd=0 and Δl ≠ 0. In addition we have also retrieved the thermal relaxation of CO2(v3) into the v1 and v2 modes, e.g., with Δvd=2–4 and Δv3=−1 and the efficiency of the excitation of N2(1) by O(1D). All of them were retrieved with a much better accuracy than were known before. The new rates have very important effects on the atmospheric limb radiance in the 10, 4.3 and 2.7 μm spectral regions (5–8% at 4.3 μm) and allow a more accurate inversion of the CO2 volume mixing ratio in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere from measurements taken in those spectral regions.

Novel time-of-flight fiber dispersion measurement technique using supercontinuum light sources and acousto-optical tunable filters.

Long-distance fiber links require precise knowledge of fiber dispersion characteristics. Similar dispersion characteristics are necessary for supercontinuum broadband laser absorption spectroscopy (SCLAS) to allow proper data evaluation and species concentration determination, as well as numerous other applications. In this work, a time-of-flight approach to measuring the dispersion characteristic of fibers with supercontinuum laser light sources (SCLs) and acousto-optical tunable filters (AOTFs) is presented. Broadband emission of the SCL is filtered with a narrowband AOTF and dispersed in time by the fiber under test. By using the wavelength-specific delay, the dispersion characteristic can be calculated. The technique is especially suited for longer fibers and was verified against a state-of-the-art phase-shift-based dispersion measurement system. Advantages of the new approach include solely utilizing SCLAS system components, as well as a high level of automation and wide spectral coverage, ranging from 1100 to 1700nm in a single measurement setup.

Real-time stand-off spatial detection and identification of gases and vapor using external-cavity quantum cascade laser open-path spectrometer

An open-path spectrometer for fast spatial detection and identification of gaseous plumes in a realistic environmental conditions is presented. Gases are released in a 500 m3 hall; detection and identification is performed by spectroscopic means—measuring the light spectral absorption (at 8 to 10 μm) by shining an external-cavity quantum cascade laser beam through the inspected volume. Real-time identification is demonstrated for gas plumes of CH2FCF3 (R134a) and CHF3 at a distance of 30 m round trip with a minimum identification level of 0.2 ppm (response times of 2 to 10 s). The relatively wide spectral coverage allows a high probability of detection (PD) and low probability for a false alarm to be obtained in these realistic conditions. It is also demonstrated that the use of several lines-of-sight improves PD as gas spreading in the hall in these conditions is slow and unpredictable.

Excited-State Vibrational Coherence in Perylene Bisimide Probed by Femtosecond Broadband Pump-Probe Spectroscopy.

Broadband laser pulses with ultrashort duration are capable of triggering impulsive excitation of the superposition of vibrational eigenstates, giving rise to quantum beating signals originating from coherent wave packet motions along the potential energy surface. In this work, coherent vibrational wave packet dynamics of an N,N'-bis(2,6-dimethylphenyl)perylene bisimide (DMP-PBI) were investigated by femtosecond broadband pump-probe spectroscopy which features fast and balanced data acquisition with a wide spectral coverage of >200 nm. Clear modulations were observed in the envelope of the stimulated emission decay profiles of DMP-PBI with the oscillation frequencies of 140 and 275 cm(-1). Fast Fourier transform analysis of each oscillatory mode revealed characteristic phase jumps near the maxima of the steady-state fluorescence, indicating that the observed vibrational coherence originates from an excited-state wave packet motion. Quantum calculations of the normal modes at the low-frequency region suggest that low-frequency C-C (C═C) stretching motions accompanied by deformation of the dimethylphenyl substituents are responsible for the manifestation of such coherent wave packet dynamics.

Characterization of InGaN Solar Cells

The III-V materials are extensively studied for optoelectronic applications in the blue and UV spectral regions. InGaN ternary alloy is considered for its wide spectral coverage, good electrical characteristics and appreciable resistance to high electrical currents. For this purpose, the operation of InGaN photovoltaic cells was studied by 2D numerical simulation under AM1.5 spectrum illumination, using the software Silvaco and the two environments Athena/Atlas.

PHOTOSPHERE EMISSION IN THE X-RAY FLARES OFSWIFTGAMMA-RAY BURSTS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FIREBALL PROPERTIES

X-ray flares of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are usually observed in the soft X-ray range and the spectral coverage is limited. In this paper, we present an analysis of 32 GRB X-ray flares that are simultaneously observed by both BAT and XRT on board the Swift mission, so a joint spectral analysis with a wider spectral coverage is possible. Our results show that the joint spectra of 19 flares are fitted with the absorbed single power-law or the Band function models. More interestingly, the joint spectra of the other 13 X-ray flares are fitted with the absorbed single power-law model plus a black body (BB) component. Phenomenally, the observed spectra of these 13 flares are analogous to several GRBs with a thermal component, but only with a much lower temperature of $kT=1\sim 3$ keV. Assuming that the thermal emission is the photosphere emission of the GRB fireball, we derive the fireball properties of the 13 flares that have redshift measurements, such as the bulk Lorentz factor $\Gamma_{\rm ph}$ of the outflow. The derived $\Gamma_{\rm ph}$ range from $50$ to $150$ and a relation of $\Gamma_{\rm ph}$ to the thermal emission luminosity is found. It is consistent with the $\Gamma_0-L_{\rm iso}$ relation that are derived for the prompt gamma-ray emission. We discuss the physical implications of these results within the content of jet composition and radiation mechanism of GRBs and X-ray flares.

ABIOTIC OZONE AND OXYGEN IN ATMOSPHERES SIMILAR TO PREBIOTIC EARTH

The search for life on planets outside our solar system will use spectroscopic identification of atmospheric biosignatures. The most robust remotely-detectable potential biosignature is considered to be the detection of oxygen (O_2) or ozone (O_3) simultaneous to methane (CH_4) at levels indicating fluxes from the planetary surface in excess of those that could be produced abiotically. Here, we use an altitude-dependent photochemical model with the enhanced lower boundary conditions necessary to carefully explore abiotic O_2 and O_3 production on lifeless planets with a wide variety of volcanic gas fluxes and stellar energy distributions. On some of these worlds, we predict limited O_2 and O_3 build up, caused by fast chemical production of these gases. This results in detectable abiotic O_3 and CH_4 features in the UV-visible, but no detectable abiotic O_2 features. Thus, simultaneous detection of O_3 and CH_4 by a UV-visible mission is not a strong biosignature without proper contextual information. Discrimination between biological and abiotic sources of O_2 and O_3 is possible through analysis of the stellar and atmospheric context - particularly redox state and O atom inventory - of the planet in question. Specifically, understanding the spectral characteristics of the star and obtaining a broad wavelength range for planetary spectra should allow more robust identification of false positives for life. This highlights the importance of wide spectral coverage for future exoplanet characterization missions. Specifically, discrimination between true- and false-positives may require spectral observations that extend into infrared wavelengths, and provide contextual information on the planet's atmospheric chemistry.

Extended nebular emission in CALIFA early-type galaxies

AbstractThe morphological, spectroscopic and kinematical properties of the warm interstellar medium (wim) in early-type galaxies (ETGs) hold key observational constraints to nuclear activity and the buildup history of these massive quiescent systems. High-quality integral field spectroscopy (IFS) data with a wide spectral and spatial coverage, such as those from the CALIFA survey, offer a precious opportunity for advancing our understanding in this respect. We use deep IFS data from CALIFA (califa.caha.es) to study thewimover the entire extent and optical spectral range of 32 nearby ETGs. We find that all ETGs in our sample show faint (Hα equivalent width EW(Hα)∼0.5 … 2 Å) extranuclear nebular emission extending out to ≥2 Petrosian50radii. Confirming and strengthening our conclusions in Papaderoset al. (2013, hereafter P13) we argue that ETGs span a broadcontinuoussequence with regard to the properties of theirwim, and they can be roughly subdivided into two characteristic classes. The first one (type i) comprises ETGs with a nearly constant EW(Hα)∼1–3 Å in their extranuclear component, in quantitative agreement with (even though, no proof for) the hypothesis of photoionization by the post-AGB stellar component being the main driver of extendedwimemission. The second class (type ii) consists of virtuallywim-evacuated ETGs with a large Lyman continuum (Lyc) photon escape fraction and a very low (≤0.5 Å) EW(Hα) in their nuclear zone. These two ETG classes appear indistinguishable from one another by their LINER-specific emission-line ratios. Additionally, here we extend the classification by P13 by the class i+ which stands for a subset of type i ETGs with low-level star-forming activity in contiguous spiral-arm like features in their outermost periphery. These faint features, together with traces of localized star formation in several type i&amp;i+ systems point to a non-negligible contribution from young massive stars to the global ionizing photon budget in ETGs.

Beam characteristics of fiber-based supercontinuum light sources with mirror- and lens-based beam collimators.

Commercially available supercontinuum light sources that cover most of the solar spectrum are well suited for instrumentation, where a well-collimated beam with wide spectral coverage is needed. Typically, the optical power is emitted from a single-mode photonic-crystal fiber and the output can either be collimated using a proprietary, permanently integrated, lens-based collimator or with a customer-provided, off-axis parabolic mirror. Here, we evaluate both approaches and conclude that, superior beam quality and collimation over the whole spectral range can be obtained with an off-axis parabolic mirror, however at the price of a more complex and bulky system requiring additional user alignment.

An improvement in fast radiative transfer calculation of FengYun satellite by Planck weighting correction

A unified regression method to calculate fast transmittance coefficients is used in fast radiative transfer calculation of satellite infrared channel by a convoluted transmittances database from LBL (Line_By_Line) model. Comparison is performed between the fast calculated brightness temperature and LBL calculations for VISSR/FY-2F and IRAS/FY-3B. The examination indicates that STD (Standard Deviation) of fast calculated brightness temperature in window channels are much larger than the values in sounding channels. The lower atmosphere the channel detects, the larger the STD is available. And the largest the STD is less than 0.4 K. In this paper, a discussion is given to the improvement of fast radiative transfer calculation brought about by Planck weighted correction for convoluted channels' transmittances. Analysis shows that overlap between 2350 cm-1 and spectral response filter of the channel is a requirement to the Planck weighted correction. It is shown that STDs of brightness temperature between LBL calculation and fast computation are decreased by 25% after Planck weighted correction. And the improvement is available only for such channels with an overlap between their filter function and 2350 cm-1. Also it is indicated that the improvement from Planck weighted correction could be used not only to the imaging channels that have wide spectral coverage, but also to the sounding channels with very narrow spectral fields.

分波段式中阶梯光栅原子发射光谱仪

Limited by the development of detectors, the Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry(ICP-AES) based on an echelle spectrograph is difficult to complete the multiple element measurement at a wider spectral coverage. This paper focuses on the improvement of an existing echelle spectrograph. It designs a new wider band echelle spectrograph suitable for ICP-AES to measure multiple elements simultaneously. By changing the incident angle of the prism, the wavelength of system is extented 200-900 nm with a spectral resolution of 25 000, which breaks the limitation of existing detector sizes, and realizes rapid and simultaneous measurement for multiple elements at a wider spectral range.By combination the Echelle spectrograph and a ICP, several specimens are measured and analyzed. Experiments show that the ICP-AES with Echelle spectrograph is available to detect multiple elements within a short time correctly, and the wavelength precision is better than 0.01 nm. The wavelength range, optical spectral resolution and the precision of wavelength calibration of the Echelle spectrograph meet the design needs.

Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy of human liver samples with Wilson’s disease

Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is an elemental analytical technique with various applications. The paper demonstrates the first LIBS measurements of human liver samples for the purpose of detecting the higher copper content related with the advanced stage of Wilson’s disease. These measurements were implemented using a Nd:YAG laser working at the wavelength of 532 nm and an echelle type spectrometer equipped with an intensified CCD camera allowing for a wide spectral range coverage (200–950 nm) and rapid camera gating (minimum gating time of 5 ns). Seven liver samples with suspected Wilson’s disease and five reference samples were investigated. The main parameter of interest was the Cu/C ratio obtained at first from spectra and secondly directly from an iCCD image. Our experiment is a pilot study, which shows LIBS analysis of human liver samples for the purpose of detecting the normal and higher copper content for the first time. The method proved to be a quick and a low-cost approach for the detection of pathological accumulation of copper in the affected tissue.

Focus on photonics and biomedical optics

Focus on photonics and biomedical optics