Near infra-red absorption spectroscopy for astrophysically significant ions

Area of Science:

• Laboratory astrophysics
• Atomic spectroscopy
• Plasma physics

Background:

• Accurate atomic data are crucial for interpreting astronomical observations.
• Sophisticated ground and space-based spectrometers require precise atomic structure information.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and demonstrate a novel laboratory astrophysics experiment for obtaining photoabsorption spectra.
• To measure spectral lines of neutral and near-neutral atomic species in the near-infrared (NIR) region.
• To highlight the need for new atomic structure data in multi-messenger astronomy.

Main Methods:

• A laser-produced plasma containing target ions was probed using a supercontinuum fiber laser.
• Absorption spectra were recorded using a 0.75-m spectrograph and a CMOS camera.
• Spectra of yttrium plasmas were obtained 11 microseconds after formation in the 700-1100 nm range.

Main Results:

• Photoabsorption spectra of yttrium plasmas were successfully recorded in the NIR region.
• Between 708 to 832 nm, 26 previously identified spectral lines and 29 previously unidentified lines were detected.
• The experiment demonstrates the capability to identify new spectral features.

Conclusions:

• The developed technique is effective for generating photoabsorption spectra in laboratory plasmas.
• The identification of new spectral lines provides valuable data for atomic structure databases.
• This research supports the advancement of astronomical observations by providing essential atomic data.