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Author Krasnopolsky, Vladimir A.; Maillard, Jean Pierre; C. Owen, Tobias
Title Detection of methane in the martian atmosphere: evidence for life? Type Journal Article
Year 2004 Publication Icarus Abbreviated Journal Icarus
Volume 172 Issue 2 Pages 537-547
Keywords FTS, Mars atmosphere, methane absorption lines, IR spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, landfill gas
Abstract Using the Fourier Transform Spectrometer at the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope, we observed a spectrum of Mars at the P-branch of the strongest CH4 band at 3.3 μm with resolving power of 180,000 for the apodized spectrum. Summing up the spectral intervals at the expected positions of the 15 strongest Doppler-shifted martian lines, we detected the absorption by martian methane at a 3.7 sigma level which is exactly centered in the summed spectrum. The observed CH4 mixing ratio is 10±3 ppb. Total photochemical loss of CH4 in the martian atmosphere is equal to View the MathML source, the CH4 lifetime is 340 years and methane should be uniformly mixed in the atmosphere. Heterogeneous loss of atmospheric methane is probably negligible, while the sink of CH4 during its diffusion through the regolith may be significant. There are no processes of CH4 formation in the atmosphere, so the photochemical loss must therefore be balanced by abiogenic and biogenic sources. Outgassing from Mars is weak, the latest volcanism is at least 10 million years old, and thermal emission imaging from the Mars Odyssey orbiter does not reveal any hot spots on Mars. Hydrothermal systems can hardly be warmer than the room temperature at which production of methane is very low in terrestrial waters. Therefore a significant production of hydrothermal and magmatic methane is not very likely on Mars. The calculated average production of CH4 by cometary impacts is 2% of the methane loss. Production of methane by meteorites and interplanetary dust does not exceed 4% of the methane loss. Methane cannot originate from an extinct biosphere, as in the case of “natural gas” on Earth, given the exceedingly low limits on organic matter set by the Viking landers and the dry recent history which has been extremely hostile to the macroscopic life needed to generate the gas. Therefore, methanogenesis by living subterranean organisms is a plausible explanation for this discovery. Our estimates of the biomass and its production using the measured CH4 abundance show that the martian biota may be extremely scarce and Mars may be generally sterile except for some oases.
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Call Number Serial 879
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Author Lobanov, Yury; Shcherbatenko, Michael; Shurakov, Alexander; Rodin, Alexander V.; Klimchuk, Artem; Nadezhdinsky, Alexander I.; Maslennikov, Sergey; Larionov, Pavel; Finkel, Matvey; Semenov, Alexander; Verevkin, Aleksandr A.; Voronov, Boris M.; Ponurovsky, Yakov; Klapwijk, Teunis M.; Gol'tsman, Gregory N.
Title Heterodyne detection at near-infrared wavelengths with a superconducting NbN hot-electron bolometer mixer Type Journal Article
Year 2014 Publication Opt. Lett. Abbreviated Journal
Volume 39 Issue 6 Pages 1429-1432
Keywords HEB, zebra, IR, infrared
Abstract We report on the development of a highly sensitive optical receiver for heterodyne IR spectroscopy at the communication wavelength of 1.5 μm (200 THz) by use of a superconducting hot-electron bolometer. The results are important for the resolution of narrow spectral molecular lines in the near-IR range for the study of astronomical objects, as well as for quantum optical tomography and fiber-optic sensing. Receiver configuration as well as fiber-to-detector light coupling designs are discussed. Light absorption of the superconducting detectors was enhanced by nano-optical antennas, which were coupled to optical fibers. An intermediate frequency (IF) bandwidth of about 3 GHz was found in agreement with measurements at 300 GHz, and a noise figure of about 25 dB was obtained that was only 10 dB above the quantum limit.
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Call Number Serial 906
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Author Beck, M.; Klammer, M.; Rousseau, I.; Gol’tsman, G. N.; Diamant, I.; Dagan, Y.; Demsar, J.
Title Probing superconducting gap dynamics with THz pulses Type Conference Article
Year 2015 Publication CLEO Abbreviated Journal CLEO
Volume Issue Pages SM3H.3 (1 to 2)
Keywords superconducting gap; electric fields; femtosecond pulses; near infrared radiation; picosecond pulses; superconductors; thin films
Abstract We studied superconducting gap dynamics in a BCS superconductor NbN and electron doped cuprate superconductor PCCO following excitation with near-infrared (NIR) and narrow band THz pulses. Systematic studies on PCCO imply very selective electron-phonon coupling.
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Publisher Optical Society of America Place of Publication Editor
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Call Number Serial 1345
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Author Marsili, F.; Bitauld, D.; Divochiy, A.; Gaggero, A.; Leoni, R.; Mattioli, F.; Korneev, A.; Seleznev, V.; Kaurova, N.; Minaeva, O.; Gol’tsman, G.; Lagoudakis, K.G.; Benkahoul, M.; Lévy, F.; Fiore, A.
Title Superconducting nanowire photon number resolving detector at telecom wavelength Type Conference Article
Year 2008 Publication CLEO/QELS Abbreviated Journal CLEO/QELS
Volume Issue Pages Qmj1 (1 to 2)
Keywords PNR SSPD; SNSPD; Detectors; Infrared; Low light level; Diode lasers; Photons; Scanning electron microscopy; Superconductors; Ti:sapphire lasers
Abstract We demonstrate a photon-number-resolving (PNR) detector, based on parallel superconducting nanowires, capable of resolving up to 5 photons in the telecommunication wavelength range, with sensitivity and speed far exceeding existing approaches.
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Publisher Optical Society of America Place of Publication Editor
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Call Number Marsili:08 Serial 1243
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Author Korneev, A.; Divochiy, A.; Marsili, F.; Bitauld, D.; Fiore, A.; Seleznev, V.; Kaurova, N.; Tarkhov, M.; Minaeva, O.; Chulkova, G.; Smirnov, K.; Gaggero, A.; Leoni, R.; Mattioli, F.; Lagoudakis, K.; Benkhaoul, M.; Levy, F.; Goltsman, G.
Title Superconducting photon number resolving counter for near infrared applications Type Conference Article
Year 2008 Publication Proc. SPIE Abbreviated Journal Proc. SPIE
Volume 7138 Issue Pages 713828 (1 to 5)
Keywords PNR SSPD; SNSPD; Nanowire superconducting single-photon detector, ultrathin NbN film, infrared
Abstract We present a novel concept of photon number resolving detector based on 120-nm-wide superconducting stripes made of 4-nm-thick NbN film and connected in parallel (PNR-SSPD). The detector consisting of 5 strips demonstrate a capability to resolve up to 4 photons absorbed simultaneously with the single-photon quantum efficiency of 2.5% and negligibly low dark count rate.
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Publisher Spie Place of Publication Editor Tománek, P.; Senderáková, D.; Hrabovský, M.
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Call Number 10.1117/12.818079 Serial 1241
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