63 research outputs found
Portable remote laser sensor for methane leak detection
A portable laser system for remote detection of methane gas leaks and concentrations is disclosed. The system transmitter includes first and second lasers, tuned respectively to a wavelength coincident with a strong absorption line of methane and a reference wavelength which is weakly absorbed by methane gas. The system receiver includes a spherical mirror for collecting the reflected laser radiation and focusing the collected radiation through a narrowband optical filter onto an optial detector. The filter is tuned to the wavelength of the two lasers, and rejects background noise. The output of the optical detector is processed by a lock-in detector synchronized to the chopper, and which measures the difference between the first wavelength signal and the reference wavelength signal
Reconnaissance of the HR 8799 exosolar system. II. Astrometry and orbital motion
This is the final version of the article. Available from the American Astronomical Society / IOP Publishing via the DOI in this record.We present an analysis of the orbital motion of the four substellar objects orbiting HR 8799. Our study relies on the published astrometric history of this system augmented with an epoch obtained with the Project 1640 coronagraph with an integral field spectrograph (IFS) installed at the Palomar Hale telescope. We first focus on the intricacies associated with astrometric estimation using the combination of an extreme adaptive optics system (PALM-3000), a coronagraph, and an IFS. We introduce two new algorithms. The first one retrieves the stellar focal plane position when the star is occulted by a coronagraphic stop. The second one yields precise astrometric and spectrophotometric estimates of faint point sources even when they are initially buried in the speckle noise. The second part of our paper is devoted to studying orbital motion in this system. In order to complement the orbital architectures discussed in the literature, we determine an ensemble of likely Keplerian orbits for HR 8799bcde, using a Bayesian analysis with maximally vague priors regarding the overall configuration of the system. Although the astrometric history is currently too scarce to formally rule out coplanarity, HR 8799d appears to be misaligned with respect to the most likely planes of HR 8799bce orbits. This misalignment is sufficient to question the strictly coplanar assumption made by various authors when identifying a Laplace resonance as a potential architecture. Finally, we establish a high likelihood that HR 8799de have dynamical masses below 13 MJup, using a loose dynamical survival argument based on geometric close encounters. We illustrate how future dynamical analyses will further constrain dynamical masses in the entire system
Direct spectrum of the benchmark t dwarf HD 19467 B
This is the final version of the article. Available from the American Astronomical Society / IOP Publishing via the DOI in this record.HD 19467 B is presently the only directly imaged T dwarf companion known to induce a measurable Doppler acceleration around a solar-type star. We present spectroscopy measurements of this important benchmark object taken with the Project 1640 integral field unit at Palomar Observatory. Our high-contrast R ≈ 30 observations obtained simultaneously across the JH bands confirm the cold nature of the companion as reported from the discovery article and determine its spectral type for the first time. Fitting the measured spectral energy distribution to SpeX/IRTF T dwarf standards and synthetic spectra from BT-Settl atmospheric models, we find that HD 19467 B is a T5.5 ± 1 dwarf with effective temperature Teff = 978+20 -43 K. Our observations reveal significant methane absorption affirming its substellar nature. HD 19467 B shows promise to become the first T dwarf that simultaneously reveals its mass, age, and metallicity independent from the spectrum of light that it emits.The TrenDS high-contrast imaging program is supported by NASA Origins of Solar Systems grant NNX13AB03G and the NASA Early Career Fellowship program. A portion of this work was supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Numbers AST-0215793, 0334916, 0520822, 0804417 and 1245018. This work was partially supported by NASA ADAP grant 11-ADAP11-0169 and NSF award AST 1211568. A portion of the research in this Letter was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. J.A. is supported by the National Physical Science Consortium. This research has benefitted from the SpeX Prism Spectral Libraries, maintained by Adam Burgasser.1
Project 1640 Observations of Brown Dwarf GJ 758 B: Near-infrared Spectrum and Atmospheric Modeling
The nearby Sun-like star GJ 758 hosts a cold substellar companion, GJ 758 B,
at a projected separation of 30 AU, previously detected in
high-contrast multi-band photometric observations. In order to better constrain
the companion's physical characteristics, we acquired the first low-resolution
() near-infrared spectrum of it using the high-contrast
hyperspectral imaging instrument Project 1640 on Palomar Observatory's 5-m Hale
telescope. We obtained simultaneous images in 32 wavelength channels covering
the , , and bands (952-1770 nm), and used data processing
techniques based on principal component analysis to efficiently subtract
chromatic background speckle-noise. GJ 758 B was detected in four epochs during
2013 and 2014. Basic astrometric measurements confirm its apparent northwest
trajectory relative to the primary star, with no clear signs of orbital
curvature. Spectra of SpeX/IRTF observed T dwarfs were compared to the combined
spectrum of GJ 758 B, with minimization suggesting a best fit for
spectral type T7.01.0, but with a shallow minimum over T5-T8. Fitting of
synthetic spectra from the BT-Settl13 model atmospheres gives an effective
temperature K and surface gravity dex (cgs). Our derived best-fit spectral type and effective temperature
from modeling of the low-resolution spectrum suggest a slightly earlier and
hotter companion than previous findings from photometric data, but do not rule
out current results, and confirm GJ 758 B as one of the coolest sub-stellar
companions to a Sun-like star to date
Establishing Alpha Oph as a Prototype Rotator: Improved Astrometric Orbit
The nearby star Alpha Oph (Ras Alhague) is a rapidly rotating A5IV star
spinning at ~89% of its breakup velocity. This system has been imaged
extensively by interferometric techniques, giving a precise geometric model of
the star's oblateness and the resulting temperature variation on the stellar
surface. Fortuitously, Alpha Oph has a previously known stellar companion, and
characterization of the orbit provides an independent, dynamically-based check
of both the host star and the companion mass. Such measurements are crucial to
constrain models of such rapidly rotating stars. In this study, we combine
eight years of Adaptive Optics imaging data from the Palomar, AEOS, and CFHT
telescopes to derive an improved, astrometric characterization of the companion
orbit. We also use photometry from these observations to derive a model-based
estimate of the companion mass. A fit was performed on the photocenter motion
of this system to extract a component mass ratio. We find masses of
2.40^{0.23}_{0.37} solar masses and 0.85^{0.06}_{0.04} solar masses for Alpha
Oph A and Alpha Oph B, respectively. Previous orbital studies of this system
found a mass too high for this system, inconsistent with stellar evolutionary
calculations. Our measurements of the host star mass are more consistent with
these evolutionary calculations, but with slightly higher uncertainties. In
addition to the dynamically-derived masses, we use IJHK photometry to derive a
model-based mass for Alpha Oph B, of 0.77 +/- 0.05 solar masses marginally
consistent with the dynamical masses derived from our orbit. Our model fits
predict a periastron passage on 2012 April 19, with the two components having a
~50 milliarcsec separation from March to May 2012. A modest amount of
interferometric and radial velocity data during this period could provide a
mass determination of this star at the few percent level.Comment: Accepted to ApJ, 6 pages, 4 figure
The cognitive neuroscience of prehension: recent developments
Prehension, the capacity to reach and grasp, is the key behavior that allows humans to change their environment. It continues to serve as a remarkable experimental test case for probing the cognitive architecture of goal-oriented action. This review focuses on recent experimental evidence that enhances or modifies how we might conceptualize the neural substrates of prehension. Emphasis is placed on studies that consider how precision grasps are selected and transformed into motor commands. Then, the mechanisms that extract action relevant information from vision and touch are considered. These include consideration of how parallel perceptual networks within parietal cortex, along with the ventral stream, are connected and share information to achieve common motor goals. On-line control of grasping action is discussed within a state estimation framework. The review ends with a consideration about how prehension fits within larger action repertoires that solve more complex goals and the possible cortical architectures needed to organize these actions
Interferometric Observations of Rapidly Rotating Stars
Optical interferometry provides us with a unique opportunity to improve our
understanding of stellar structure and evolution. Through direct observation of
rotationally distorted photospheres at sub-milliarcsecond scales, we are now
able to characterize latitude dependencies of stellar radius, temperature
structure, and even energy transport. These detailed new views of stars are
leading to revised thinking in a broad array of associated topics, such as
spectroscopy, stellar evolution, and exoplanet detection. As newly advanced
techniques and instrumentation mature, this topic in astronomy is poised to
greatly expand in depth and influence.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&AR
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