Soft X-Ray Absorption by High-Redshift Intergalactic Helium

The role played by the intergalactic medium (IGM) in the X-ray absorption towards high-redshift sources has recently drawn more attention in spectral analysis studies. Here, we study the X-ray absorption towards 15 flat-spectrum radio quasars at z > 2, relying on high counting statistic (≳10 000 photons) provided by XMM-Newton, with additional NuSTAR (and simultaneous Swift-XRT) observations when available. Blazars can be confidently considered to have negligible X-ray absorption along the line of sight within the host galaxy, likely swept by the kpc-scale relativistic jet. This makes our sources ideal for testing the absorption component along the IGM. Our new approach is to revisit the origin of the soft X-ray spectral hardening observed in high-z blazars in terms of X-ray absorption occurring along the IGM, with the help of a low-z sample used as comparison. We have verified that the presence of absorption in excess of the Galactic value is the preferred explanation to explain the observed hardening, while intrinsic energy breaks, predicted by blazars’ emission models, can easily occur out of the observing energy band in most sources. First, we performed an indirect analysis comparing the inferred amount of absorption in excess of the Galactic value with a simulated IGM absorption contribution, that increases with redshift and includes both a minimum component from diffuse IGM metals, and the additional contribution of discrete denser intervening regions. Then, we directly investigated the warm-hot IGM with a spectral model on the best candidates of our sample, obtaining an average IGM density of n0 = 1.01−0.72+0.53 × 10−7 cm−3 and temperature of log(T/K) = 6.45−2.12+0.51. A more dedicated study is currently beyond our reach, but our results can be used as a stepping stone for future more accurate analysis, involving Athena.

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X-ray microanalysis of thin specimens in the transmission electron microscope at voltages up to 1000 Kv.

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100109847 ◽

1978 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 540-541

Author(s):

G. Cliff ◽

M.J. Nasir ◽

G.W. Lorimer ◽

N. Ridley

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscope ◽

Transmission Electron Microscope ◽

Weight Fraction ◽

Present Series ◽

Constant Independent ◽

X Ray ◽

Transmission Electron ◽

Series Of Experiments ◽

Image Position ◽

X Ray Absorption

In a specimen which is transmission thin to 100 kV electrons - a sample in which X-ray absorption is so insignificant that it can be neglected and where fluorescence effects can generally be ignored (1,2) - a ratio of characteristic X-ray intensities, I1/I2 can be converted into a weight fraction ratio, C1/C2, using the equationwhere k12 is, at a given voltage, a constant independent of composition or thickness, k12 values can be determined experimentally from thin standards (3) or calculated (4,6). Both experimental and calculated k12 values have been obtained for K(11<Z>19),kα(Z>19) and some Lα radiation (3,6) at 100 kV. The object of the present series of experiments was to experimentally determine k12 values at voltages between 200 and 1000 kV and to compare these with calculated values.The experiments were carried out on an AEI-EM7 HVEM fitted with an energy dispersive X-ray detector.

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SIGMAL: A Program for Calculating L-Shell lonization Cross-Sections

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100097600 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 39 ◽

pp. 198-199 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

R.F. Egerton

Keyword(s):

Cross Sections ◽

Fortran Program ◽

Absorption Data ◽

X Ray ◽

Atomic Electrons ◽

Energy Dependent ◽

Hydrogenic Model ◽

Electron Energy Loss ◽

X Ray Absorption ◽

Shell Ionization

SIGMAL is a short (∼ 100-line) Fortran program designed to rapidly compute cross-sections for L-shell ionization, particularly the partial crosssections required in quantitative electron energy-loss microanalysis. The program is based on a hydrogenic model, the L1 and L23 subshells being represented by scaled Coulombic wave functions, which allows the generalized oscillator strength (GOS) to be expressed analytically. In this basic form, the model predicts too large a cross-section at energies near to the ionization edge (see Fig. 1), due mainly to the fact that the screening effect of the atomic electrons is assumed constant over the L-shell region. This can be remedied by applying an energy-dependent correction to the GOS or to the effective nuclear charge, resulting in much closer agreement with experimental X-ray absorption data and with more sophisticated calculations (see Fig. 1 ).

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point-Analysis Using the Extrapolation Method in the Analytical Electron microscope

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100135757 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

pp. 430-431

Author(s):

Zenji Horita ◽

Ryuzo Nishimachi ◽

Takeshi Sano ◽

Minoru Nemoto

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscope ◽

Extrapolation Method ◽

X Ray ◽

Absorption Correction ◽

Point Analysis ◽

Analytical Electron ◽

Analytical Electron Microscope ◽

Data Points ◽

Identical Composition ◽

X Ray Absorption

Absorption correction is often required in quantitative x-ray microanalysis of thin specimens using the analytical electron microscope. For such correction, it is convenient to use the extrapolation method[l] because the thickness, density and mass absorption coefficient are not necessary in the method. The characteristic x-ray intensities measured for the analysis are only requirement for the absorption correction. However, to achieve extrapolation, it is imperative to obtain data points more than two at different thicknesses in the identical composition. Thus, the method encounters difficulty in analyzing a region equivalent to beam size or the specimen with uniform thickness. The purpose of this study is to modify the method so that extrapolation becomes feasible in such limited conditions. Applicability of the new form is examined by using a standard sample and then it is applied to quantification of phases in a Ni-Al-W ternary alloy.The earlier equation for the extrapolation method was formulated based on the facts that the magnitude of x-ray absorption increases with increasing thickness and that the intensity of a characteristic x-ray exhibiting negligible absorption in the specimen is used as a measure of thickness.

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EXELFS Studies of Carbon Fibers

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100133953 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

pp. 72-73

Author(s):

V. Serin ◽

K. Hssein ◽

G. Zanchi ◽

J. Sévely

Keyword(s):

Carbon Fibers ◽

Energy Analysis ◽

Electron Excitation ◽

Complex Structures ◽

High Modulus ◽

Promising Technique ◽

X Ray ◽

Fine Structures ◽

X Ray Absorption

The present developments of electron energy analysis in the microscopes by E.E.L.S. allow an accurate recording of the spectra and of their different complex structures associated with the inner shell electron excitation by the incident electrons (1). Among these structures, the Extended Energy Loss Fine Structures (EXELFS) are of particular interest. They are equivalent to the well known EXAFS oscillations in X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Due to the EELS characteristic, the Fourier analysis of EXELFS oscillations appears as a promising technique for the characterization of composite materials, the major constituents of which are low Z elements. Using EXELFS, we have developed a microstructural study of carbon fibers. This analysis concerns the carbon K edge, which appears in the spectra at 285 eV. The purpose of the paper is to compare the local short range order, determined by this way in the case of Courtauld HTS and P100 ex-polyacrylonitrile carbon fibers, which are high tensile strength (HTS) and high modulus (HM) fibers respectively.

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Improving soil remediation through characterization

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100138300 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 53 ◽

pp. 386-387

Author(s):

E. C. Buck ◽

N. L. Dietz ◽

J. K. Bates

Keyword(s):

Dust Particles ◽

Radiochemical Analysis ◽

Solid Product ◽

Uranium Contamination ◽

Physical Separation ◽

X Ray ◽

Rocky Flats ◽

Remediation Strategies ◽

Bearing Materials ◽

X Ray Absorption

Operations at former weapons processing facilities in the U. S. have resulted in a large volume of radionuclidecontaminated soils and residues. In an effort to improve remediation strategies and meet environmental regulations, radionuclide-bearing particles in contaminant soils from Fernald in Ohio and the Rocky Flats Plant (RFP) in Colorado have been characterized by electron microscopy. The object of these studies was to determine the form of the contaminant radionuclide, so that it properties could be established [1]. Physical separation and radiochemical analysis determined that uranium contamination at Fernald was not present exclusively in any one size/density fraction [2]. The uranium-contamination resulted from aqueous and solid product spills, air-borne dust particles, and from the operation of an incinerator on site. At RFP the contamination was from the incineration of Pu-bearing materials. Further analysis by x-ray absorption spectroscopy indicated that the majority of the uranium was in the 6+ oxidation state [3].

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Chemical and orientational imaging of polymeric samples

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100168074 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 52 ◽

pp. 68-69

Author(s):

H. Ade ◽

B. Hsiao ◽

G. Mitchell ◽

E. Rightor ◽

A. P. Smith ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ethylene Terephthalate ◽

National Laboratory ◽

Brookhaven National Laboratory ◽

Carbonyl Groups ◽

Aromatic Rings ◽

Edge Structure ◽

X Ray ◽

Scanning Transmission ◽

Polymeric Samples ◽

X Ray Absorption

We have used the Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscope at beamline X1A (X1-STXM) at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) to acquire high resolution, chemical and orientation sensitive images of polymeric samples as well as point spectra from 0.1 μm areas. This sensitivity is achieved by exploiting the X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) of the carbon K edge. One of the most illustrative example of the chemical sensitivity achievable is provided by images of a polycarbonate/pol(ethylene terephthalate) (70/30 PC/PET) blend. Contrast reversal at high overall contrast is observed between images acquired at 285.36 and 285.69 eV (Fig. 1). Contrast in these images is achieved by exploring subtle differences between resonances associated with the π bonds (sp hybridization) of the aromatic groups of each polymer. PET has a split peak associated with these aromatic groups, due to the proximity of its carbonyl groups to its aromatic rings, whereas PC has only a single peak.

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