The CH3D absorption spectrum in the 1.58 μm transparency window of methane: Empirical line lists at 81 K and 294 K and temperature dependence

In spite of its low isotopic abundance in methane (about 5×10⁻⁴), CH₃D contributes greatly to the very weak absorption in the 1.58 μm methane transparency window. This methane window deserves to be characterized in details because it is important for planetary applications in particular for Titan and the giant planets. In this work, we recorded the CH₃D spectrum by high sensitivity differential absorption spectroscopy (α_min≈5×10⁻⁸ cm⁻¹) both at room temperature and at 81 K. A list of more than 9000 lines was constructed from the 81 K spectrum for the 6099–6530 cm⁻¹ region. In order to get the temperature dependence of the line intensities, the low energy values have to be determined. The rovibrational assignments available in the literature provide low energy values for about 380 strong transitions of the region. This is insufficient to characterize the temperature dependence of the CH₃D absorption between 6200 and 6400 cm⁻¹. In this interval, a list of 5500 lines was constructed from the room temperature spectrum. The empirical energy values of the transitions were derived from the ratio of the intensities at 81 K and 294 K. The exact and empirical lower state energies included in the final line lists provided as Supplementary Material, allow for accounting for the temperature dependence of the CH₃D spectrum in the entire 6099–6530 cm⁻¹ region.Our measurements have been compared to the spectroscopic parameters and assignments available in the literature in particular those adopted in the HITRAN database. Improvements and corrections are proposed for the wavenumber calibration and for some lower state energies.     

High sensitivity absorption spectroscopy of methane at 80 K in the 1.58 μm transparency window: Temperature dependence and importance of the CH3D contribution

The high resolution absorption spectrum of methane in the 1.58 μm transparency window has been recorded at room temperature and at 79 K by CW-Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy using a cryogenic cell and a series of Distributed Feed Back (DFB) diode lasers. The achieved sensitivity (α_min ∼ 3 × 10⁻¹⁰ cm⁻¹) has allowed for a detailed characterization of the 6289-6526 cm⁻¹ region which corresponds to the lowest opacity of the transparency window. A list of 6868 and 4555 transitions with intensities as weak as 1 × 10⁻²⁹ cm/molecule was constructed from the recordings at 297 and 79 K, respectively. By comparison with a spectrum of CH₃D recorded separately by Fourier Transform Spectroscopy, 1282 and 640 transitions of monodeuterated methane, CH₃D, in natural abundance in our sample were identified at 297 and 79 K, respectively.The rotational temperature determined from the intensity distribution of the 3ν₂ band of CH₃D (79.3 K) was found in good agreement with the temperature value previously obtained from the Doppler line broadening. The reduction of the rotational congestion by cooling down to 79 K reveals a spectral region near 6300 cm⁻¹ where CH₃D transitions are dominant.The low energy values of the transitions observed both at 79 K and at room temperature were derived from the variation of their line intensities. These transitions with lower energy determination represent 93.9% and 68.4% of the total absorbance in the region, at 79 K and room temperature, respectively. The quality of the obtained empirical low energy values is demonstrated for CH₄ by the marked propensity of the empirical low J values to be close to integers. The line lists at 79 K and room temperature provided as Supplementary Material allow accounting for the temperature dependence of methane absorption between these two temperatures. The investigated region covering the 5ν₄ band of the ¹²CH₄ isotopologue will be valuable for the theoretical treatment of this band which is the lowest energy band of the icosad.     

Refinements of the WKMC empirical line lists (5852–7919 cm−1) for methane between 80 K and 296 K

During the last 4 years, empirical line lists for methane at room temperature and at 80 K were constructed from spectra recorded by (i) differential absorption spectroscopy (DAS) in the high energy part of the tetradecad (5852?6195 cm^?1) and in the icosad (6717–7589 cm^?1) and (ii) high sensitivity CW-Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy (CRDS) in the 1.58 μm and 1.28 μm transparency windows (6165–6750 cm^?1 and 7541–7919 cm^?1, respectively). We have recently constructed the global line lists for methane in “natural” isotopic abundance, covering the spectral region from 5854 to 7919 cm^?1 (Campargue A, Wang L, Kassi S, Mondelain D, Bézard B, Lellouch E, et al., An empirical line list for methane in the 1.26–1.71 μm region for planetary investigations (T=80–300 K). Application to Titan, Icarus 219 (2012) 110–128). These WKMC (Wang, Kassi, Mondelain, Campargue) empirical lists include about 43,000 and 46,420 lines at 80±3 K and 296±3 K, respectively. The “two temperature method” provided lower state energy values, E_emp, for about 24,000 transitions allowing us to account satisfactorily for the temperature dependence of the methane absorption over the considered region. The obtained lists have been already successfully applied in a large range of temperature conditions existing on Titan, Uranus, Pluto, Saturn and Jupiter.In the present contribution, we provide some improvements to our lists by using literature data to extend the set of lower state energy values and by correcting the distortion of the high E_emp values (J>10) due to the temperature gradient existing in the cryogenic cell used for the recordings. The proposed refinements are found to have an overall limited impact but they may be significant in some spectral intervals below 6500 cm^?1.The new version of our lists at 80 K and 296 K is provided as Supplementary Material: the WKMC@80K+ and WKMC@296K lists are adapted for planetary and atmospheric applications, respectively. The WKMC@80K+ list is made applicable over a wider range of temperatures and shows satisfactory extrapolation capabilities up to room temperature. It was obtained by transferring to the 80 K list the 27,580 single lines present only in the 296 K list, with corresponding lower state energy values chosen to make them below the detectivity limit at 80 K.In the discussion, the different line lists and databases available for methane in the near infrared are compared and some suggestions are given.     

The absorption spectrum of methane at 80 and 294 K in the icosad (6717–7589 cm−1): Improved empirical line lists,isotopologue identification and temperature dependence

Using a cryogenic cell and a series of Distributed Feed Back (DFB) diode lasers, new high resolution spectra of methane have been recorded at 80 K and room temperature by differential absorption spectroscopy (DAS) between 6717 and 7589 cm^?1 (1.49–1.32 μm). The investigated spectral region corresponds to the very congested icosad, which is not tractable by theory. Empirical lists of 19,940 and 24,001 lines were constructed from the 80 K and room temperature spectrum, respectively. The room temperature list adds about 8500 features to the empirical list of 15,375 lines at 296 K adopted in the HITRAN database from the original work of L. Brown (Brown, L. Empirical line parameters of methane from 1.1 to 2.1 μm. JQSRT 2005;96:251–70). A number of relatively strong CH₄ lines located near strong water lines were found missing in the HITRAN line list. The improved sensitivity allowed adding more than 7000 lines to our previous list of about 12,000 transitions at 80 K (Campargue A, Wang L, Kassi S, Ma?át M, Votava O. Temperature dependence of the absorption spectrum of CH₄ by high resolution spectroscopy at 81 K: (II) The Icosad region (1.49–1.30 μm). JQSRT 2010;111:1141–51). In order to facilitate identification of the transitions of the different methane isotopologues present in “natural” isotopic abundance, spectra of highly enriched CH₃D and ¹³CH₄ samples were recorded with the same experimental setup, both at room temperature and at 80 K.From the variation of the line strengths between 80 K and 294 K, the low energy values of about 12,000 transitions were determined. They allow accounting for the temperature dependence of 84 and 93% of the methane absorbance in the region, at room temperature and 80 K, respectively. As a result, we provide as supplementary material two complete line lists at 80 K and 294 K, including CH₃D and ¹³CH₄ identification and lower state energy values.     

Global modeling of OCO and OCO absolute line intensities in the 1.35 μm region

In our recent contribution, (K.F. Song, S. Kassi, S.A. Tashkun, V.I. Perevalov, A. Campargue, J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transf. 111 (2010) 332-344), line intensities have been measured for 2 and 6 bands of the ¹⁶O¹²C¹⁷O and ¹⁶O¹²C¹⁸O isotopologues detected in the range 7123-7917 cm⁻¹ using Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy. The present note describes the global fitting of these measured intensities, and derivation of sets of effective dipole moment parameters for these isotopologues. These parameters allow reproducing the intensities of the measured very weak lines (2 × 10⁻²⁹-7 × 10⁻²⁸ cm/molecule) with an RMS of residuals on the order of 6%.     

The water-vapor continuum and selective absorption in the 3-5 μm spectral region at temperatures from 311 to 363 K

The pure water-vapor continuum absorption in the 2.88 to 5.18 μm spectral region has been measured using a Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer at a resolution of 0.1 cm⁻¹. The sample temperatures and pressures varied from 311 to 363 K and from 2.8 kPa (21 Torr) to 34.5 kPa (259 Torr), respectively. The path lengths used in the study ranged from 68 to 116 m. Under these conditions, the continuum absorption in the middle of the 4 μm window is quite detectable reaching as high as 4%. The spectral processing included calculations to fit and remove the H₂O ro-vibrational structure. In the region around 5 μm, the absorption coefficients obtained are in good agreement with those of the commonly used MT_CKD continuum model. However at shorter wavelengths, the observed values significantly deviate from the model. Inspection of the present data as well as that of previous measurements leads to the conclusion that the MT_CKD model despite the latest updates significantly underestimates the rate of the continuum temperature dependence over the 4 μm atmospheric window. Line strengths for 189 H₂O transitions were obtained from the spectral processing. The deviation of these measured intensities from those listed in the HITRAN database is randomly scattered around zero to within several percents and no systematic trends were detected.     

Temperature-dependent absorptance of painted aluminum, stainless steel 304, and titanium for 1.07 μm and 10.6 μm laser beams

We measured the temperature-dependent absorptance of metals (Al, Ti, SS304) for continuous beams from 1.07 μm fiber laser and 10.6 μm CO₂ laser using power sensors and infrared (IR) pyrometers. The absorptance measurements were repeated for metals with three different paint coatings. For measurements at elevated temperatures up to the melting point, integrating sphere is not practical since high temperature radiation from a heated target disturbs weak output from the sphere considerably. Our results provide how each metal, whether coated or uncoated, absorbs the infrared beams as temperature is elevated to a melting point. A polynomial approximation to the measured absorptance of each target is provided for modeling of the laser-metal interaction at elevated temperatures.     

The absorption spectrum of water in the 1.25 μm transparency window (7408–7920 cm)

The absorption spectrum of water vapor in “natural” isotopic abundance has been recorded between 7408 and 7920 cm⁻¹ by high sensitivity cw-cavity ring down spectroscopy (CW-CRDS). This region covers the low energy part of the 1.25 μm transparency window and corresponds to weak water absorption of the first hexad of interacting vibrational bands. The achieved sensitivity – on the order of α_min ∼ 2 × 10⁻¹⁰ cm⁻¹ – has allowed one to newly measure 2028 weak transitions with intensities down to 2 × 10⁻²⁹ cm/molecule at 296 K i.e. more than two orders of magnitude lower than previous observations. Three hundred and fourty-one new and corrected energy levels belonging to 26 vibrational states of H₂¹⁶O, H₂¹⁸O, H₂¹⁷O, and HD¹⁶O could be determined from the vibration–rotation analysis based on variational calculations by Schwenke and Partridge. The previous investigations in the studied region by Fourier Transform Spectroscopy and existing databases have been critically evaluated. The most complete list for water in the region is provided as Supplementary Material.     

New line intensity measurements for C2H2 around 7.7 μm and HITRAN format line list for applications

Absolute intensities of 467 lines are measured in 9 bands of the 7.7 μm spectral region of the ¹²C₂H₂ molecule, with an average accuracy of 5%. For each band, the vibrational transition dipole moment squared and Herman-Wallis coefficients are obtained in order to model the rotational dependence of the transition dipole moment squared. These results are used to calculate a line list for atmospheric or astrophysical applications. Merged in the line list set up in a previous work for the 8 strongest bands around 7.7 μm [5], these new data give now a quasi-exhaustive view of the ¹²C₂H₂ spectrum in the involved spectral region.     

Temperature dependence of the absorption spectrum of CH4 by high resolution spectroscopy at 81 K: (II) The icosad region (1.49-1.30 μm)

The high resolution absorption spectrum of methane has been recorded at liquid nitrogen temperature by differential absorption spectroscopy between 6717 and 7351 cm⁻¹ (1.49-1.36 μm) using a cryogenic cell and a series of distributed feed back (DFB) diode lasers. The investigated spectral region corresponds to the very congested low energy part of the icosad for which the HITRAN database provides neither rovibrational assignments nor the lower state energies. The positions and strengths at 81 K of 9389 transitions were obtained from the spectrum analysis. The minimum value of the measured line intensities (at 81 K) is on the order of 10⁻²⁶ cm/molecule. From the variation of the line strength between 81 K and 296 K, the low energy values of a total of 4646 transitions were determined. They represent 79.4% and 68.4% of the total absorbance in the region at 81 and 296 K, respectively, and include 28 transitions assigned to the ν₂+4ν₄ band near 6765 cm⁻¹. The reliability of the method based on the association of lines with coinciding centers in the 81 K and 296 K spectra is discussed. The results of the present analysis have been combined with previously analyzed high energy part of the icosad dominated by the ν₂+2ν₃ band near 7510 cm⁻¹. The line list for the whole icosad (6717-7655 cm⁻¹) consists of 12 865 transitions at 81 K.     

The switch of the worst case on NBTI and hot-carrier reliability for 0.13 μm pMOSFETs

This investigation describes experiments on two sizes of p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect-transistors (pMOSFETs), to study the negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) and hot-carrier (HC) induced degradation. This work demonstrates that the worst condition for pMOSFETs under HC tests occurs in CHC (channel HC, stressed at V_g = V_d) mode at high temperature. This study also shows that the worst degradation of pMOSFETs should occur in NBTI. This inference is based on a comparison of results for forward saturation current (I_ds,f) and reverse saturation current (I_ds,r) obtained in NBTI and HC tests.     

Experimental low energy values of CH4 transitions near 1.33 μm by absorption spectroscopy at 81 K

The high resolution absorption spectrum of methane has been recorded at liquid nitrogen temperature by direct absorption spectroscopy between 1.36 and 1.30 μm (7351-7655 cm⁻¹) using a cryogenic cell and a series of distributed feed back (DFB) diode lasers. The investigated spectral range corresponds to the high energy part of the icosad dominated by the ν₂+2ν₃ band near 7510 cm⁻¹. The positions and strengths at 81 K of 3473 transitions were obtained from the spectrum analysis. The minimum value of the measured line intensities (at 81 K) is on the order of 10⁻²⁶ cm/molecule, i.e. significantly lower than the intensity cut off of the HITRAN database in the region (4×10⁻²⁵ cm/molecule at 296 K). From the variation of the line strength between 81 and 296 K, the low energy values of 1273 transitions could be determined. They represent 69% and 81% of the absorbance in the region at 296 and 81 K, respectively. The obtained results are discussed in relation with the few rovibrational assignments previously reported in the region.     

Fresnel absorption of 1 μm- and 10 μm-laser beams at the keyhole wall during laser beam welding: Comparison between smooth and wavy surfaces

The angle-dependent absorption of laser beams at metal surfaces is described by the Fresnel-equations. During keyhole laser welding the essential interaction takes place at very striping angles of incidence of the order of 1-8 degrees at the front of the vapour capillary, called the keyhole. For a smooth vapour capillary, laser beams with a wavelength of about 1 μm operate in a Fresnel-regime where the absorptance increases with the angle of incidence at the wall, towards the weak Brewster-angle maximum. In contrast, for 10 μm-lasers high absorptance around the more pronounced Brewster-angle peak takes place. From high speed imaging keyhole surface waves were observed. Mathematical modelling of the laser-keyhole interaction demonstrates that already relatively little waviness of the melt surface at the keyhole strongly modulates the angles of incidence and in turn the Fresnel-absorption due to varying angles of incidence, soon also leading to shadow zones. Due to this local variation of the angle of incidence the absorptance tends towards the angle-averaged value, with the consequence that for 1 μm-lasers the direct absorptance and in turn the penetration depth increases, particularly at low welding speed, while for 10 μm-lasers it generally decreases.     

Investigation of 2.0 μm emission in Tm and Ho co-doped oxyfluoride tellurite glass

This paper reports 2.0 μm emission properties of Tm³⁺/Ho³⁺ co-doped oxyfluoride tellurite glass exited by 808 nm laser diode (LD). Mid-infrared transmittance property of glass was investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. The real chemical composition of investigated glass was identified by X-ray photoelectric spectroscopy (XPS). Thermal stability of the glass was determined by differential thermal analysis (DTA) measurement. The Judd-Ofelt parameters, spontaneous radiative transition probabilities, branching ratios and radiative lifetime of Ho³⁺ were calculated based on the absorption spectra by using Judd-Ofelt theory. Results indicate that the maximum 2.0 μm emission intensity attributed to the ⁵I₇→⁵I₈ transition of Ho³⁺ was achieved at 1.5 mol% Tm₂O₃ and 1 mol% Ho₂O₃ concentrations in oxyfluoride tellurite glass. OH⁻ absorption at 3000 cm⁻¹ was greatly depressed by introduction of 10 mol% F⁻. The maximum absorption and stimulated emission cross-section of Ho³⁺ near 2.0 μm are 7.0×10⁻²¹ cm² at 1950 nm and 8.8×10⁻²¹ cm² at 2048 nm, respectively. The calculated radiative lifetime of 4.4 ms for ⁵I₇→⁵I₈ transition and large stimulated emission cross-section of the Tm³⁺/Ho³⁺ co-doped oxyfluoride tellurite glass indicate that the glass has a potential application in efficient 2.0 μm laser.     

Spectral line parameters including temperature dependences of self- and air-broadening in the 2←0 band of CO at 2.3 μm

Temperature dependences of pressure-broadened half-width and pressure-induced shift coefficients along with accurate positions and intensities have been determined for transitions in the 2←0 band of ¹²C¹⁶O from analyzing high-resolution and high signal-to-noise spectra recorded with two different Fourier transform spectrometers. A total of 28 spectra, 16 self-broadened and 12 air-broadened, recorded using high-purity (≥99.5% ¹²C-enriched) CO samples and CO diluted with dry air (research grade) at different temperatures and pressures, were analyzed simultaneously to maximize the accuracy of the retrieved parameters. The sample temperatures ranged from 150 to 298 K and the total pressures varied between 5 and 700 Torr. A multispectrum nonlinear least squares spectrum fitting technique was used to adjust the rovibrational constants (G, B, D, etc.) and intensity parameters (including Herman–Wallis coefficients), rather than determining individual line positions and intensities. Self- and air-broadened Lorentz half-width coefficients, their temperature dependence exponents, self- and air-pressure-induced shift coefficients, their temperature dependences, self- and air- line mixing coefficients, their temperature dependences and speed dependence have been retrieved from the analysis. Speed-dependent line shapes with line mixing employing off-diagonal relaxation matrix element formalism were needed to minimize the fit residuals. This study presents a precise and complete set of spectral line parameters that consistently reproduce the spectrum of carbon monoxide over terrestrial atmospheric conditions.     

Mid-infrared (3.5-5.5 μm) spectroscopic properties of Pr-doped Ge-Ga-Sb-Se glasses and optical fibers

Spectroscopic properties of Pr³⁺-doped selenide glasses and optical fibers were investigated for their mid-infrared applications in the spectral range of 3.5-5.5 μm. Optimal concentration of Pr³⁺ was decided, and sensitizers for improved spontaneous emission of Pr³⁺: (³F₂, ³H₆), ³H₅→³H₄ transition were examined. Spectral deconvolution analysis with corrected emission bands revealed effective interaction of the excited energy states. Optical fibers doped with Pr³⁺ were fabricated and their spectroscopic properties were measured. Pumping scheme and energy transfer mechanism of the selenide fiber were investigated and discussed for its practical use.     

New CW-CRDS measurements and global modeling of CO2 absolute line intensities in the 1.6 μm region

Line intensities of ¹²C¹⁶O₂ transitions have been measured by CW-Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy in four wavenumber intervals near 1.6 μm. Intensity values of 952 transitions ranging from 1.10 × 10⁻²⁸ to 4.94 × 10⁻²⁵ cm/molecule were retrieved with an average accuracy of 4%. These transitions belong to a total of 30 bands corresponding to the ΔP = 9 series of transitions. The achieved sensitivity (noise equivalent absorption α_min ∼ 3 × 10⁻¹⁰ cm⁻¹) allows lowering by more than two orders of magnitude the lower intensity values measured in the region. Comparison with the values included in the JPL database [R.A. Toth, L.R. Brown, C.E. Miller, V. Malathi Devi, D.C. Benner, J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transf. 109 (2008) 906-921] shows residuals exceeding one order of magnitude for weak lines. The measured intensities together with a selection of experimental intensities available in the literature were used to extend and refine the set of effective dipole moment parameters for the ΔP = 9 series of transitions of the principal isotopologue of carbon dioxide. The refined parameters allow reproducing, within the experimental uncertainties, the whole set of intensity measurements which extends over nearly six orders of magnitude (1.10 × 10⁻²⁸-6.12 × 10⁻²³ cm/molecule). Combining the CW-CRDS line positions with the calculated line intensities, a line list has been generated for the whole 5851-7045 cm⁻¹ region and is provided as Supplementary Material. The obtained effective dipole moment parameters have also been used to generate the ΔP = 9 series of transitions included in the new version of the CDSD database. The comparison of the CDSD line intensities with the values provided by the HITRAN-2004 database shows discrepancies up to 80% for some of the bands while discrepancies up to three orders of magnitude are noted for the weakest bands included in the JPL database.     

Spectral broadening and luminescence quenching of 1.53 μm emission in Er-doped zinc tellurite glass

The emission spectra and the lifetime of the lasing transition ⁴I_13/2→⁴I_15/2 in Er³⁺-doped TeO₂-ZnO binary glass have been studied. The investigation includes Raman scattering spectroscopy as well as optical absorption, luminescence, and lifetime measurements techniques. The influence of erbium concentration on the line-shape of this electron transition has been analyzed. It was observed that the increasing of Er³⁺ ion concentration, in the 0.2-4 mol% range, results in a structural changes and a significant spectral broadening of the 1.53 μm emission band. Reabsorption has been evoked to explain the broadening of the ⁴I_13/2→⁴I_15/2 emission line. In the paper, is also reported the effect of the erbium content on the emission intensity of the ⁴I_13/2→⁴I_15/2 transition as well as on the lifetime of the ⁴I_13/2 level. Based on the electrical-dipole interaction theory, the luminescence concentration quenching mechanism by hydroxyl groups is analyzed. The data suggest that <10% of hydroxyl groups are coupled to erbium ions in the zinc tellurite glass network.     

Design, characterization and evaluation of high performance 2.8 μm pitch zero space microlens

Utilization of the zero space microlens technology can significantly improve the image quality of CMOS sensors. In this study, we present systematical data of design, simulation, characterization and silicon level testing during the initial stage of development of the zero space microlens based CMOS imaging technology. The optimal structure of zero space microlens was obtained based on the simulation results. Sample CMOS image sensors with a 2.8 μm pitch zero space microlens above each pixel have been successfully fabricated based on 0.18 μm CMOS technology. Using AFM (atomic force microscopy) and sensor test platform, the structural and optical properties of both space microlens and zero space microlens have been characterized, and their performances have been evaluated respectively. Both AFM results and silicon tests have demonstrated that the 2.8 μm pitch zero space microlens can remarkably improve the pixel sensitivity and pixel array non-uniformity, and reduce the optical crosstalk. Compared to the space 2.8 μm square microlens, the zero space microlens shows 78.83% (68.42% and 75.93%) enhancement of photosensitivity and increment of pixel non-uniformity up to 20% (45.6% and 30.77%) for R (G and B), and reduction of the optical crosstalk up to 44.49%, under 45 lux light and 30 ms exposure time. In addition, the zero space microlens has also shown a great potential in further reducing pixel size down to less than 2.8 μm and meanwhile improving imaging performance of CMOS image sensors.