Articles tagged with Infrared Radiation
Scientists have made the first detection of water in the atmosphere of a hot Jupiter, tau Boötis b, using a novel technique that expands on the radial velocity method. The study confirms the presence of water vapor and also reveals the planet's mass, which was previously difficult to determine.
Researchers at NIST and JPL have designed a detector array that can extract more information than usual from single particles of light. The new device can record signal timing, enabling the use of pulse position modulation to encode multiple bits of information in space optical communications.
Researchers have discovered a new, red-light-sensitive opsin called Chrimson that enables the independent control of two brain populations. The new opsin was found in a screen of algae and can mediate neural activity in response to red light with high precision.
A new hand-held optical device can scan a patient's entire retina in seconds, detecting early signs of diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and macular degeneration. This innovation enables primary care physicians to screen a wider population outside traditional specialist offices.
Researchers discovered argon hydride ions in the Crab Nebula, a supernova remnant, using ESA's Herschel Space Observatory. The findings support theories on how argon forms in nature and provide evidence for the formation of noble gas molecules in space.
UPV/EHU researchers have developed a new source of light emitter based on defective boron nitride nanotubes, which can emit light across the whole spectrum from infrared to far ultraviolet and control it in a simple way. The device functions on the basis of natural defects in the nanotube, enabling controlled emission.
Researchers at NIST developed a novel method for measuring laser power by reflecting light off a mirrored scale, simplifying calibration and enabling on-site measurements. The technique enables accurate and fast measurement of high-power lasers with reduced costs.
Researchers at Joint Quantum Institute report direct observation of topological effects for light in two dimensions, creating ultrastable quantum 'playgrounds.' Photonic edge states exhibit persistent flow and near immunity against defects, similar to quantum Hall effect for electrons.
Researchers created a heat-resistant thermal emitter that can convert heat into infrared light, enhancing the efficiency of solar cells. The new material remains stable at temperatures up to 2500 F, surpassing earlier prototypes.
A team of researchers from MIT has generated the first map of clouds on an exoplanet, Kepler 7b, which reveals a dense layer of clouds on one hemisphere. The study suggests that this cloud cover creates an atmosphere conducive to further cloud formation and regulates the planet's temperature.
Researchers at the University of Illinois developed nano-antennas that can detect molecules resonating in the infrared spectrum. The antennas concentrate long-wavelength light into ultra-subwavelength volumes, enhancing detection of small materials with standard IR spectrometers.
Tropical Storm Manuel caused powerful thunderstorms that dropped heavy rainfall in southwestern Mexico. The remnants of the storm continued to bring heavy rains to the region after dissipation on Sept. 16.
Tropical Storm Pewa weakened temporarily due to adverse atmospheric conditions in the Northwestern Pacific. The storm's convection and thunderstorms have deepened, with cloud top temperatures reaching as low as -63F/-52C.
Tropical Storm Trami appears very large in infrared data from NASA's Aqua satellite, spanning over two-thirds the size of the Philippines. The massive storm is now making a U-turn in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean.
The OSIRIS-REx mission will study asteroid Bennu in detail before returning with a sample of material from its surface. The spacecraft will map the asteroid's composition from orbit using spectrometers to identify key elements like water, metals, and organic carbon.
Researchers at HZDR and University of Regensburg have developed a fast and reliable detector for terahertz pulses using graphene. The detector can measure the arrival time of light pulses with high accuracy, covering a wide wavelength range from ultraviolet to far infrared.
Researchers have discovered a quantum unit of photon absorption, dubbed 'AQ', that is general to all 2D semiconductors. This discovery could lead to exotic new optoelectronic and photonic technologies.
NASA's AIRS instrument captured an infrared image of newborn Tropical Storm Dorian on July 25, revealing strong storms and heavy rains near the center and a band of thunderstorms south of it. The storm is moving west-northwest across the Atlantic, with forecasters expecting fluctuations in intensity over the next couple of days.
A team of astrophysicists discovered the extent to which quasars and black holes shape their galaxies. They found that quasar radiation can illuminate gas up to a galaxy's boundaries, influencing star formation and galaxy growth. The study uses observations from the Southern African Large Telescope and NASA's WISE space telescope.
Research led by Aomawa Shields found that planets orbiting cool stars absorb near-infrared light, warming the planet. In contrast, hotter stars' visible light is reflected by ice, cooling the planet. This interaction affects planetary habitability and may prioritize planets around cooler stars for life detection.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed the thinnest absorber of visible light, using gold nanodots to absorb almost 100% of reddish-orange light. The technology could lead to improved solar cell efficiency and reduced material costs.
A NASA team has successfully grown uniform layers of carbon nanotubes using atomic layer deposition, enabling the growth of these forests on three-dimensional components like baffles and tubes. This innovation promises to make spacecraft instruments more sensitive without enlarging their size.
Rice University and Sandia National Laboratories have created a solid-state electronic device that detects polarized light across the visible and infrared spectrum. The new photodetector uses aligned carbon nanotubes to provide intrinsic polarization sensing, unlike traditional methods which rely on filters or gratings.
The new technique, PTIR, allows precise measurement of plasmonic nanomaterials at the nanoscale without affecting their function. Researchers can image hot spots and dark modes in plasmonic resonators with high spatial resolution.
For the first time, Hubble has measured the visible color of an exoplanet, revealing HD 189733b to be a deep azure blue due to its hazy and turbulent atmosphere. The planet's atmosphere is scorching with temperatures over 1000 degrees Celsius and features glass rain.
Physicists at NIST create high-Q resonators in a minute, significantly reducing production time. The technique enables the mass production of compact frequency combs for various applications.
A new laser system can analyze reflected infrared light to determine a target's chemical composition, improving military surveillance capabilities. This technology could also enhance full-body airport screening.
The Landsat satellite has been collecting millions of images for over 40 years, providing a wealth of data on Earth's surface. With the launch of Landsat 8, scientists can now access images that are accurate and consistent with previous missions, allowing for more detailed analysis and research.
A study using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and Spitzer Space Telescope data suggests that black holes are responsible for at least 20% of the cosmic infrared background. This finding indicates intense activity from black holes feeding on gas during the epoch of the first stars.
Researchers at TUM developed a new laser technology that produces compact, efficient ultrashort pulses. The technology uses a 'rainbow' buffer to reshape continuous wave output into short intense pulses, enabling applications in biomedical imaging, material processing, and communications.
New work from Carnegie scientists reveals the details of a surprising new form of solid hydrogen under high pressure and temperature conditions. The research found that hydrogen takes a form with two different types of molecules, one interacting weakly with neighbors and the other forming planar sheets.
The NASA-NOAA Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite captured lightning observations after the tornado dissipated, revealing that the thunderstorm complex was still active at night. The storm system continued through the region, with another satellite capturing an image of the powerful storm at night.
A team of Penn engineers has created a new infrared sensor using nanoantennas, allowing for more sensitive detection and compact designs. The device works by connecting mechanical motion to temperature changes, reducing the need for bulky equipment and expensive materials.
A new tool developed by UT Arlington physicist Samarendra Mohanty has the potential to map and track neuronal interactions in the brain. The fiber-optic, two-photon, optogenetic stimulator uses low-energy near-infrared light to precisely excite neurons, allowing researchers to understand how brain connections function.
A NASA-funded team will develop a miniature instrument to measure the amount of solar energy reflected by Earth and emitted as infrared radiation. The team aims to understand the Earth's energy balance, which is critical to climate science.
Researchers have found a way to modify the optical transparency of single-walled carbon nanotube films in a controlled pattern by adding an ionic liquid, enabling applications such as Smart Windows and more efficient electronics.
A NASA satellite captured a clear image of the growing Springs Fire in California using its highly sensitive instrument. The fire consumed over 28,000 acres of brush before being brought under control by firefighting efforts.
Astronomers detected a record-breaking gamma-ray burst from a dying star in a distant galaxy, producing the highest-energy light ever recorded. The GRB, GRB 130427A, lasted for hours and was detectable by multiple telescopes on the ground and space-based observations.
A team of astronomers has discovered a massive galaxy producing stars at an unprecedented rate of 2,000 times greater than the Milky Way. This 'maximum-starburst' galaxy, called HFLS3, is the earliest known starburst galaxy, dating back to 880 million years after the Big Bang.
The Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) has released its first images of Earth, revealing stunning natural-color scenes and thermal infrared bands. The new data will aid in water management by detecting temperature differences across the land surface.
A recent NIST test found that nearly 90% of green laser pointers and about 44% of red pointers tested were out of compliance with federal safety regulations. The tests also showed that many commercial laser pointers emit more visible power than allowed under the Code of Federal Regulations.
Astronomers have discovered the closest star system to the Sun, located 6.5 light years from Earth, making it an ideal target for planet-hunting expeditions. The star system consists of a pair of brown dwarfs, which are too small in mass to ignite hydrogen fusion.
Astronomers have captured a striking image of a spiral galaxy distorted by gravitational lensing, resembling an alien from the classic computer game 'Space Invaders'. The foreground cluster of galaxies acts as a natural lens to magnify and brighten light from background galaxies, creating this surreal landscape.
Researchers at ICFO have discovered that graphene can convert a single photon into multiple excited electrons, generating larger electrical signals. This feature makes graphene an ideal building block for devices relying on converting light into electricity, with potential applications in solar cells and efficient light detection.
Researchers from KIT and the University of Toronto have successfully manufactured highly efficient light-emitting diodes using silicon nanocrystals. The SiLEDs can produce light in various colors and have a surprising long-term stability, making them an attractive alternative to existing LEDs.
Scientists have created a method to melt specific fibers in polymers by applying light to aligned nanorods, leading to stronger and more resilient materials. The technique utilizes the photothermal effect of gold nanorods to convert light into heat, allowing for precise control over material processing.
Researchers at Duke University have developed a brain prosthetic that allows rats to sense infrared light as a tactile sensation, enabling them to navigate virtual environments and recognize textures. This breakthrough could lead to the development of neural prosthetics for quadriplegics to regain sensory perception.
Duke researchers develop a brain-machine interface that enables rats to detect and track infrared light, demonstrating the first time a sense has been augmented in adult animals. The breakthrough suggests new possibilities for restoring vision or sensing in people with damaged brains.
Astronomers have uncovered a mysterious infant star with strobe-like flashes, revealing insights into the early stages of star formation. The flashes are thought to be caused by periodic interactions between two newly formed stars in a binary system.
Researchers have determined the mass of the disk surrounding young star TW Hydrae, a prototypical planetary nursery, with a lower limit of 52 Jupiter masses. This new value is larger than previous estimates and suggests that planets similar to those in our solar system can form in this system.
A team of astronomers has observed an unusual 'baby' star, LRLL 54361, periodically emitting infrared light bursts, hinting at the presence of a companion star. The discovery provides a rare chance to study what appears to be a developing binary star system.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a novel chip-scale instrument using carbon nanotubes to measure laser power with high accuracy. The mini-radiometer achieves this by absorbing light over a broad range of wavelengths and converting it to heat, allowing for precise measurements.
Researchers at TUM developed a cost-effective process to improve CMOS sensor performance using ultra-thin organic films. Spray-coating was found to be the most effective method, resulting in up to three times more sensitivity to light than conventional sensors.
Researchers at Umeå University have developed a new imaging method using optical projection tomography (OPT) in the near-infrared spectrum to study insulin-producing cells in diabetes. This technology allows for the examination of larger organs, including the rat pancreas, and can track specific cell types simultaneously.
Astronomers have found gamma-ray flares originating 70 light-years away from a galaxy's central black hole, contradicting the long-held theory that such events occur only close to the black hole. The 2011 flares from galaxy 4C +71.07 provide the clearest evidence of this phenomenon.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have found that Vega, a star used as a reference point for measuring other stars' brightness, is approximately 200 million years older than previously estimated. The star's rotation rate and mass were also precisely measured using the Michigan Infrared Combiner tool.
The NASA-NOAA Suomi NPP satellite has released a global composite image that shows the glow of natural and human-made sources across the planet. The high-resolution images reveal valuable data for researchers studying weather conditions, such as fog and low clouds, that are difficult to detect with traditional sensors.
A team of researchers at MIT analyzed light from a quasar, which is the most distant object known, to study the era of the first stars and galaxies. They found no evidence of heavy elements in the surrounding gaseous cloud, suggesting that the quasar dates back to an era nearing the universe's first stars.
A new study claims that forest canopy structure is a more important factor in infrared reflection than leaf nitrogen levels. The researchers found that the complex arrangement of leaves within a forest can mask the effect of individual leaf nitrogen levels on infrared radiation.
Researchers at Harvard University have developed a new device that can absorb 99.75% of infrared light on demand, using a tunable material with exceptional optical properties. The device has wide-ranging applications in thermal imaging, spectroscopy, and energy harvesting.