Water on the sun

Spectroscopic-network-assisted precision spectroscopy and its application to water

Frequency combs and cavity-enhanced optical techniques have revolutionized molecular spectroscopy: their combination allows recording saturated Doppler-free lines with ultrahigh precision. Network theory, based on the generalized Ritz principle, offers a powerful tool for the intelligent design and validation of such precision-spectroscopy experiments and the subsequent derivation of accurate energy differences. As a proof of concept, 156 carefully-selected near-infrared transitions are detected for H₂¹⁶O, a benchmark system of molecular spectroscopy, at kHz accuracy. These measurements, augmented with 28 extremely-accurate literature lines to ensure overall connectivity, allow the precise determination of the lowest ortho-H₂¹⁶O energy, now set at 23.794 361 22(25) cm⁻¹, and 160 energy levels with similarly high accuracy. Based on the limited number of observed transitions, 1219 calibration-quality lines are obtained in a wide wavenumber interval, which can be used to improve spectroscopic databases and applied to frequency metrology, astrophysics, atmospheric sensing, and combustion chemistry.

Precision-spectroscopy techniques can accurately measure lines in constrained frequency and intensity ranges. The authors propose a spectroscopic-network-assisted precision spectroscopy method by which transitions measured in a narrow range provide information in other, extended regions of the spectrum.

In situ chemical analysis of geology samples by a rapid simultaneous ultraviolet/visible/near-infrared (UVN) + longwave-infrared laser induced breakdown spectroscopy detection system at standoff distance

The standoff detection range of the simultaneous ultraviolet/visible/near-infrared (UVN) + longwave-Infrared (LWIR) Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) detection system has been successfully extended from merely 10 cm to ≥ 1 meter by adopting a reflecting telescope collection scheme and UVN + LWIR LIBS emission signatures were acquired in various atmospheres from soil and mineral samples. This system simultaneously captured emission signatures from atomic, and simple and complex molecular target species existing in or near the same laser-induce plasma plume within micro-seconds. These pioneer standoff measurements of UVN + LWIR LIBS signatures have revealed an abundance of plasma-generated sample molecular emitting species in their vapor state along with atomic ones which gave intense and distinct signature emissions in both UVN (conventional LIBS) and LWIR (LWIR LIBS) spectral regions. A HITRAN simulation estimates the temperatures of those vapor molecular species to be around 2500 K. Laser-induced plasma emissions in the LWIR region provided direct information on the molecular components of the sample substances. The demonstrable capability of the LWIR LIBS on in situ characterization of carbon- and oxygen-rich materials is expected to find important applications in water discovery and organic materials signatures detection and identification. As a result laser ablation spectroscopy will be greatly augmented in both fundamental knowledge of and capability for chemical analysis.

Rotovibrational states of the water molecule on the sun

The infrared spectrum of water observed in sunspots is complex and dense, with bands separated by approximately 0.01 cm^-1. For top asymmetrical molecules, there is no theoretical approach that allows for the calculation of rotovibrational energy with such precision. Experimentally derived rotovibracional energy levels of water at high temperatures combined with variational calculations have been used for the band assignments. These energy levels are employed to refine the analysis of a small portion of the infrared absorption spectrum. Such procedure has allowed for the identification of additional 55 bands to the 70 already identified as rotovibrational transitions of the water molecule. Our new assignments, which include pure and cross transitions, offer additional evidence of the existence of water on the sun, but above all they illustrate the complexity of the solar spectrum that involves states with higher levels of rotational excitation. Given the conditions on the sun, more molecules of water would occur in excited electronic states, which include apolar and paramagnetic states, generating intense bands in the spectrum. Since there is an analytical solution for the rotovibrational transitions of linear molecules, we were able to identify 16 bands relative to the excited electronic states ¹B₂ and ³A₁ in the sunspot spectrum. Density functional B3LYP/AUG-cc-pVTZ calculations of the electric and magnetic dipole are employed to discuss some consequences of the presence of excited states of water in the dynamics of sunspots and solar magnetic field.

Molecular opacities for exoplanets

Spectroscopic observations of exoplanets are now possible by transit methods and direct emission. Spectroscopic requirements for exoplanets are reviewed based on existing measurements and model predictions for hot Jupiters and super-Earths. Molecular opacities needed to simulate astronomical observations can be obtained from laboratory measurements, ab initio calculations or a combination of the two approaches. This discussion article focuses mainly on laboratory measurements of hot molecules as needed for exoplanet spectroscopy.

Adaptive real-time dual-comb spectroscopy

The spectrum of a laser frequency comb consists of several hundred thousand equally spaced lines over a broad spectral bandwidth. Such frequency combs have revolutionized optical frequency metrology and they now hold much promise for significant advances in a growing number of applications including molecular spectroscopy. Despite an intriguing potential for the measurement of molecular spectra spanning tens of nanometres within tens of microseconds at Doppler-limited resolution, the development of dual-comb spectroscopy is hindered by the demanding stability requirements of the laser combs. Here we overcome this difficulty and experimentally demonstrate a concept of real-time dual-comb spectroscopy, which compensates for laser instabilities by electronic signal processing. It only uses free-running mode-locked lasers without any phase-lock electronics. We record spectra spanning the full bandwidth of near-infrared fibre lasers with Doppler-limited line profiles highly suitable for measurements of concentrations or line intensities. Our new technique of adaptive dual-comb spectroscopy offers a powerful transdisciplinary instrument for analytical sciences.

The precision of frequency combs makes them the ideal tool for applications in areas such as optical metrology. Here, Ideguchi et al. demonstrate real-time spectroscopy with frequency combs where laser instabilities are electronically compensated, and which is based on commercially available components.

Adaptive real-time dual-comb spectroscopy

The spectrum of a laser frequency comb consists of several hundred thousand equally spaced lines over a broad spectral bandwidth. Such frequency combs have revolutionized optical frequency metrology and they now hold much promise for significant advances in a growing number of applications including molecular spectroscopy. Despite an intriguing potential for the measurement of molecular spectra spanning tens of nanometres within tens of microseconds at Doppler-limited resolution, the development of dual-comb spectroscopy is hindered by the demanding stability requirements of the laser combs. Here we overcome this difficulty and experimentally demonstrate a concept of real-time dual-comb spectroscopy, which compensates for laser instabilities by electronic signal processing. It only uses free-running mode-locked lasers without any phase-lock electronics. We record spectra spanning the full bandwidth of near-infrared fibre lasers with Doppler-limited line profiles highly suitable for measurements of concentrations or line intensities. Our new technique of adaptive dual-comb spectroscopy offers a powerful transdisciplinary instrument for analytical sciences.

A database of water transitions from experiment and theory (IUPAC Technical Report)

The report and results of an IUPAC Task Group (TG) formed in 2004 on “A Database of Water Transitions from Experiment and Theory” (Project No. 2004-035-1-100) are presented. Energy levels and recommended labels involving exact and approximate quantum numbers for the main isotopologues of water in the gas phase, H216O, H218O, H217O, HD16O, HD18O, HD17O, D216O, D218O, and D217O, are determined from measured transition frequencies. The transition frequencies and energy levels are validated using first-principles nuclear motion computations and the MARVEL (measured active rotational–vibrational energy levels) approach. The extensive data including lines and levels are required for analysis and synthesis of spectra, thermochemical applications, the construction of theoretical models, and the removal of spectral contamination by ubiquitous water lines. These datasets can also be used to assess where measurements are lacking for each isotopologue and to provide accurate frequencies for many yet-to-be measured transitions. The lack of high-quality frequency calibration standards in the near infrared is identified as an issue that has hindered the determination of high-accuracy energy levels at higher frequencies. The generation of spectra using the MARVEL energy levels combined with transition intensities computed using high accuracy ab initio dipole moment surfaces are discussed. A recommendation of the TG is for further work to identify a single, suitable model to represent pressure- (and temperature-) dependent line profiles more accurately than Voigt profiles.

Global spectroscopy of the water monomer

Given the large energy required for its electronic excitation, the most important properties of the water molecule are governed by its ground potential energy surface (PES). Novel experiments are now able to probe this surface over a very extended energy range, requiring new theoretical procedures for their interpretation. As part of this study, a new, accurate, global spectroscopic-quality PES and a new, accurate, global dipole moment surface are developed. They are used for the computation of the high-resolution spectrum of water up to the first dissociation limit and beyond as well as for the determination of Stark coefficients for high-lying states. The water PES has been determined by combined ab initio and semi-empirical studies. As a first step, a very accurate, global, ab initio PES was determined using the all-electron, internally contracted multi-reference configuration interaction technique together with a large Gaussian basis set. Scalar relativistic energy corrections are also determined in order to move the energy determinations close to the relativistic complete basis set full configuration interaction limit. The electronic energies were computed for a set of about 2500 geometries, covering carefully selected configurations from equilibrium up to dissociation. Nuclear motion computations using this PES reproduce the observed energy levels up to 39 000 cm(-1) with an accuracy of better than 10 cm(-1). Line positions and widths of resonant states above dissociation show an agreement with experiment of about 50 cm(-1). An improved semi-empirical PES is produced by fitting the ab initio PES to accurate experimental data, resulting in greatly improved accuracy, with a maximum deviation of about 1 cm(-1) for all vibrational band origins. Theoretical results based on this semi-empirical surface are compared with experimental data for energies starting at 27 000 cm(-1), going all the way up to dissociation at about 41 000 cm(-1) and a few hundred wavenumbers beyond it.

State-resolved spectroscopy of high vibrational levels of water up to the dissociative continuum

We summarize here our experimental studies of the high rovibrational energy levels of water. The use of double-resonance vibrational overtone excitation followed by energy-selective photofragmentation and laser-induced fluorescence detection of OH fragments allowed us to measure previously inaccessible rovibrational energies above the seventh OH-stretch overtone. Extension of the experimental approach to triple-resonance excitation provides access to rovibrational levels via transitions with significant transition dipole moments (mainly OH-stretch overtones) up to the dissociation threshold of the O-H bond. A collisionally assisted excitation scheme enables us to probe vibrations that are not readily accessible via pure laser excitation. Observation of the continuous absorption onset yields a precise value for the O-H bond dissociation threshold, 41 145.94 ± 0.15 cm(-1). Finally, we detect long-lived resonances as sharp peaks in spectra above the dissociation threshold.

Approaching the full set of energy levels of water

We report here the measurements of rovibrational levels in the electronic ground state of water molecule at the previously inaccessible energies above 26,000 cm(-1). The use of laser double-resonance overtone excitation extends this limit to 34,200 cm(-1), which corresponds to 83% of the water dissociation energy. We use experimental data to generate a semiempirical potential energy surface that now allows prediction of water levels with sub-cm(-1) accuracy at any energy up to the new limit.

A 3000K laboratory emission spectrum of water

An emission spectrum of hot water with a temperature of about 3000 K is obtained using an oxy-acetylene torch. This spectrum contains a very large number of transitions. The spectrum, along with previous cooler laboratory emission spectra and an absorption spectrum recorded from a sunspot, is analyzed in the 500-2000 cm(-1) region. Use of a calculated variational linelist for water allows significant progress to be made on assigning transitions involving highly excited vibrational and rotational states. In particular emission from rotationally excited states up to J=42 and vibrational levels with up to eight quanta of bending motion are assigned.

Cavity-Ring-Down Spectroscopy on Water Vapor in the Range 555-604 nm

The method of pulsed cavity-ring-down spectroscopy was employed to record the water vapor absorption spectrum in the wavelength range 555-604 nm. The spectrum consists of 1830 lines, calibrated against the iodine standard with an accuracy of 0.01 cm(-1); 800 of these lines are not obtained in the HITRAN 96 database, while 243 are not included in the newly recorded Fourier transform spectrum of the Reims group. Of the set of hitherto unobserved lines, 111 could be given an assignment in terms of rovibrational quantum numbers from a comparison with first principles calculations. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

Observation of pure rotational absorption spectra in the nu2 band of hot H(2)O in flames

We present measurements of absorption spectra of hot-water vapor generated in a propane-air flame in the far-infrared region of the spectrum from 0.1 to 3.5 THz (3.3 to 117cm(-1)). Transitions within the rotational manifold of both the ground and the nu(2)=1 vibrational levels were observed. The measurements are in good agreement with calculations of the predicted absorption spectra at 1300 K based on tabulated line intensities, whereas predicted theoretical line widths were found to be approximately one third too narrow.

Water in Betelgeuse and Antares

Absorption lines of hot water have been identified in the infrared spectra of Betelgeuse (alpha Orionis) and Antares (alpha Scorpii) near 12.3 micrometers (811 to 819 wavenumbers). The water lines originate in the atmospheres of the stars, not in their circumstellar material. The spectra are similar in structure to umbral sunspot spectra. Pure rotation water lines of this type will occur throughout the spectra of cool stars at wavelengths greater than 10 micrometers. From the water spectra, the upper limit for the temperature in the line formation region in both stars is 2800 kelvin. The water column density in both stars is (3 +/- 2) x 10(18) molecules per square centimeter, yielding an abundance relative to atomic hydrogen of n(H2O)/n(H) approximately 10(-)7.

High-Temperature Rotational Transitions of Water in Sunspot and Laboratory Spectra

Assignments are presented for spectra of hot water obtained in absorption in sunspots (T approximately 3000&deg;C and 750 </= nu; </= 1010 cm-1) and in emission in the laboratory (T approximately 1550&deg;C and 370 </= nu; </= 930 cm-1). These assignments are made using variational nuclear motion calculations based on a high-level ab initio electronic surface, with allowance for both adiabatic and nonadiabatic corrections to the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. Some 3000 of the 4700 transitions observed in the laboratory spectrum are assigned as well as 1687 transitions observed in the sunspot spectrum. All strong lines are now assigned in the sunspot measurements. These transitions involve mostly high-lying rotational levels within the (0,0,0), (0,1,0), (0,2,0), (1,0,0), and (0,0,1) vibrational states. Transitions within the (0,3,0), (0,4,0), (1,1,0), (0,1,1), (0,2,1), (1,1,1), (1,2,0), and (1,0,1) states are also assigned. For most bands the range of Ka values observed is significantly extended, usually doubled. New features observed include numerous cases where the closely degenerate levels JKaKc and JKaKc+1 with high Ka are split by Coriolis interactions. Comparisons are made with the recent line list of Partridge and Schwenke (1997, J. Chem. Phys. 106, 4618). Copyright 1997 Academic Press. Copyright 1997Academic Press

The Spectrum of Hot Water: Rotational Transitions and Difference Bands in the (020), (100), and (001) Vibrational States

Analysis of the hot H2 16O spectrum, presented by Polyansky et al. (1996, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 176, 305-315), is extended to higher vibrational states. Three hundred thirty mainly strong lines are assigned to pure rotational transitions in the (100), (001), and (020) vibrational states. These lines, which involve significantly higher rotational energy levels than were known previously, are assigned using high-accuracy variational calculations. Transitions in (020) are assigned up to Ka = 18, compared with the maximum Ka of 10 known previously. Crossings of vibration-rotation energy levels result in the observation of extra intensity-stealing transitions. In particular, this leads to the assignment of (020)-(100) and (100)-(020) rotational difference band transitions in addition to the conventional pure rotational lines in (020) and (100) states. These extra lines increase the number of transitions and they are likely to complicate the pure rotational water spectrum in higher excited vibrational states to an even greater extent. A few lines from our previous work on the pure rotational spectrum of hot water in the (000) and (010) vibrational states are also reassigned and some further assignments are made. Copyright 1997 Academic Press. Copyright 1997Academic Press

Water on the sun: line assignments based on variational calculations

The infrared spectrum of hot water observed in a sunspot has been assigned. The high temperature of the sunspot (3200 K) gave rise to a highly congested pure rotational spectrum in the 10-micrometer region that involved energy levels at least halfway to dissociation. Traditional spectroscopy, based on perturbation theory, is inadequate for this problem. Instead, accurate variational solutions of the vibration-rotation Schrödinger equation were used to make assignments, revealing unexpected features, including rotational difference bands and fewer degeneracies than anticipated. These results indicate that a shift away from perturbation theory to first principles calculations is necessary in order to assign spectra of hot polyatomic molecules such as water.