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At least 577 records · Page 32

Stability of matrix equations arising in electromagnetics

Many problems in electromagnetics can be formulated as a Fredholm equation of the first kind. In these problems it is desired to determine some function f(x) from its integral transform g(y). Except for special cases for which an explicit inverse operator is known, the equation is usually discretized by the method of moments into a matrix equation Af = g, which is then solved on a computer. A method of calculating the sensitivity of the solution of Af = g due to errors in either the vector g or the matrix A is developed. The usefulness of this method is demonstrated with problems from antenna theory, scattering theory, and remote sensing.

Klein, C.↗

Cosmic ray radial intensity gradients measured by Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11

The paper reports revised and updated measurements of the cosmic ray radial intensity gradient made with Pioneer 10 and 11 over the radial range 1-5 AU in differential energy windows from 10-70 MeV/nucleon, and for the integral intensity exceeding 70 MeV/nucleon. In most cases small positive gradients are found of the order of a few percent per AU, with evidence for significant temporal variations. Spectral studies show the presence of the 'anomalous' helium component below 50 MeV at all radial distances from 1-5 AU.

Mckibben, R. B.↗

A digital computer simulation and study of a direct-energy-transfer power-conditioning system

An investigation of the behavior of the power-conditioning system as a whole is a necessity to ensure the integrity of the aggregate system in the case of space applications. An approach for conducting such an investigation is considered. A description is given of the application of a general digital analog simulator program to the study of an aggregate power-conditioning system which is being developed for use on the International Ultraviolet Explorer spacecraft. The function of the direct energy transfer system studied involves a coupling of a solar array through a main distribution bus to the spacecraft electrical loads.

Burns, W. W., III↗

Impedance characteristics of coaxial and planar magnetoplasma capacitors

A theory has been developed for the impedance of a homogeneous magnetoplasma enclosed between two specular reflecting coaxial electrodes, with a static magnetic field parallel to the electrode axes. The parallel-plate magnetoplasma capacitor is treated as a sub-case. Starting with the Vlasov equation, an integral equation is derived for the electric field. Solving this equation, and integrating to obtain the voltage, gives the capacitor impedance. This includes a capacitive component, and a resistive component expressing the Landau damping associated with the open orbits of electrons reflected at the electrodes. A direct numerical solution of the field integral equation has been carried out for a range of values of magnetic field, plasma density, and signal frequency. The values of impedance so obtained are compared with the predictions of macroscopic theory, and of an approximate microscopic theory in which open orbits are ignored and solutions are obtained using finite Fourier transform methods. The mathematical relations between these theories are demonstrated.

Harker, K. J.↗

Discrepancies between theoretical and empirical models of the flaring solar chromosphere and their possible resolution

Possible sources of pronounced discrepancy between empirical and theoretical models of the solar chromosphere during flares are discussed. It is noted that a principal source of uncertainty in empirical models is the inhomogeneity of the spectral data on which they are based. With theoretical models, probably the most important source of error is neglect of the radiative coupling of upper and lower chromospheric regions. A new procedure for studying flare energy input is suggested wherein the required input is derived from the empirical model chromosphere. This procedure is applied to the electron-heated case, and it is found that the integral equation defining the flare energy deposition rate can be inverted analytically to yield the injected electron flux energy spectrum from knowledge of the energy balance in the empirical atmosphere. Recent empirical model results are analyzed in this manner, and the calculated injected electron flux spectrum is compared with that needed for hard X-ray bursts in moderately large flares.

Emslie, A. G.↗

Large deflections of a cantilever beam under arbitrarily directed tip load

The nonlinear beam equation was integrated numerically in a direct fashion to obtain results for large deflections of cantilevers under tip loads of arbitrary direction. A short BASIC computer program for performing this integration is presented. Results for selected load cases are presented. The numerical process is performed rapidly on a modern microcomputer, and comparisons with results from closed form solutions show that the process is accurate.

Mccomb, H. E., Jr.↗

Energy deposition rates by charged particles

A summary of measurements of the precipitation of electrons and positive ions (in the keV-MeV range) detected aboard eight rockets launched within the Energy Budget Campaign from Northern Scandinavia is given, together with corresponding satellite data. In some cases strong temporal variations of the downgoing integral fluxes were observed. The fluxes provide the background for the calculated ion production rates and altitude profiles of the energy deposition into the atmosphere at different levels of geomagnetic disturbance and cosmic noise absorption. The derived ion production rates by eneretic particles are compared to other night-time ionisation sources.

Torkar, K. M.↗

Formationkeeping of Spacecraft via Differential Drag

This paper examines the use of differential drag in the formationkeeping of spacecraft. In many future space missions one satellite will be required to fly in a specific position with respect to another satellite; this action is referred to as formationkeeping. In this study, differential drag is the difference in drag between the two satellites. Reasons to use differential drag as an actuator for formationkeeping include the avoidance of jet plume impingement effects on closely spaced satellites and possible fuel savings. The equations of relative motion between the two satellites are derived and a mathematical transformation is made to reduce the formationkeeping problem to the simultaneous solution of a double integrator and a harmonic oscillator. A two-part control law is developed that simultaneously and dependently solves the double oscillator and harmonic integrator. Results are presented of eight test cases being driven to a target position; two different simulations are used. The validity of assumptions made in the derivation of the control law is examined in the comparison of similar test cases run through different simulations. The control law developed can drive a satellite from an initial position to a target position and maintain the satellite at that location.

Leonard, Carolina Lee↗

Optical system design, analysis, and production for advanced technology systems; Proceedings of the Meeting, Innsbruck, Austria, Apr. 15-17, 1986

The present conference considers topics in the fields of optical systems design software, the design and analysis of optical systems, illustrative cases of advanced optical system design, the integration of optical designs into greater systems, and optical fabrication and testing techniques. Attention is given to an extended range diffraction-based merit function for lens design optimization, an assessment of technologies for stray light control and evaluation, the automated characterization of IR systems' spatial resolution, a spectrum of design techniques based on aberration theory, a three-field IR telescope, a large aperture zoom lens for 16-mm motion picture cameras, and the use of concave holographic gratings as monochomators. Also discussed are the use of aspherics in optical systems, glass choice procedures for periscope design, the fabrication and testing of unconventional optics, low mass mirrors for large optics, and the diamond grinding of optical surfaces on aspheric lens molds.

Fischer, Robert E.↗

Detection of signals by the digital integrate-and-dump filter with offset sampling

The Integrate and Dump Filter (IDF) is used as a matched filter for the detection of signals in additive white Gaussian noise. The performance of the digital integrate and dump filter is evaluated. The case considered is when symbol times are known and the sampling clock is free running at a constant rate, i.e., the sampling clock is not phase locked to the symbol clock. Degradations in the output signal to noise ratio of the digital implementation due to sampling rate, sampling offset, and finite bandwidth, resulting from the anti-aliasing low pass prefilter, are computed and compared with those of the analog counterpart. It is shown that the digital IDF performs within 0.6 dB of the ideal analog IDF whenever the prefilter bandwidth exceeds four times the symbol rate and when sampling is performed at the Nyquist rate. The loss can be reduced to 0.3 dB by doubling the sampling rate, where 0.2 dB loss results from finite bandwidth and 0.1 dB results from the digital IDF.

Sadr, R.↗

Contingency support using adaptive telemetry extractor and expert system technologies

The 'telemetry analysis logic for operations support' prototype system constitutes an expert system that is charged with contingency planning for the NASA Hubble Space Telescope (HST); this system has demonstrated the feasibility of using an adaptive telemetry extractor/reformatter that is integrated with an expert system. A test case generated by a simulator has demonstrated the reduction of the time required for analysis of a complex series of failures to a few minutes, from the hour usually required. The HST's telemetry extractor will be able to read real-time engineering telemetry streams and disk-based data. Telemetry format changes will be handled almost instantaneously.

Bryant, Thomas↗

Effects of using a posteriori methods for the conservation of integral invariants

The nature and effect of using a posteriori adjustments to nonconservative finite-difference schemes to enforce integral invariants of the corresponding analytic system are examined. The method of a posteriori integral constraint restoration is analyzed for the case of linear advection, and the harmonic response associated with the a posteriori adjustments is examined in detail. The conservative properties of the shallow water system are reviewed, and the constraint restoration algorithm applied to the shallow water equations are described. A comparison is made between forecasts obtained using implicit and a posteriori methods for the conservation of mass, energy, and potential enstrophy in the complete nonlinear shallow-water system.

Takacs, Lawrence L.↗

Determination of rotor derivatives and rotor hub force and moment derivatives from flight measurements with the RSRA compound helicopter

A case study of the application of an integrated rotorcraft identification method to the linear modeling of rotor system dynamics and rotor hub loads is presented. Applying the method to flight data obtained from the RSRA compound helicopter, the rotor derivatives in the rotor state dynamic equation are identified along with blade equivalent damping and spring periodic coefficients. A rigid blade flapping equation of motion can be derived from the identified rotor state equation. It is shown that the concept of rotor hub load derivatives is useful for small maneuvering loads. The hub load derivatives can be used to relate the hub dynamic load to rotor/fuselage motion and applied inputs.

Wang, Ji C.↗

Two alternate proofs of Wang's lune formula for sparse distributed memory and an integral approximation

In Kanerva's Sparse Distributed Memory, writing to and reading from the memory are done in relation to spheres in an n-dimensional binary vector space. Thus it is important to know how many points are in the intersection of two spheres in this space. Two proofs are given of Wang's formula for spheres of unequal radii, and an integral approximation for the intersection in this case.

Jaeckel, Louis A.↗

Infrared fluorescence efficiencies for the nu1 and nu5 bands of formaldehyde in the solar radiation field

Formaldehyde scattering strengths have been determined for equilibrium distributions of 100 K, 50 K, 20 K, and for the the non-LTE case of an essentially fully relaxed distribution. Integrated band g factors of 2.89 x 10 to the -4th photons/s per molecule for nu1 and 3.83 x 10 to the -4th for nu 5 are obtained. The results indicate that the most promising regions to search for cometary H2CO are at about 2782/cm, at 2794.5/cm, and at about 2835/cm.

Reuter, D. C.↗

Part B: Pattern control of horn antennas

During this period, the computations of the impedance elements were completed. These include interactions between the two electric current modes, the elecric current mode and the magnetic current mode, and the two magnetic current modes. An accurate and efficient formulation of computing interactions between electric current mode and magnetic current mode was accomplished. This, together with other subroutines allows for the fill-in of all the elements in the matrix. After the fill-in of the impedance elements in the matrix, the forward problem is accomplished. That is, given the specification of the horn and the excitating waveguide mode, the radiation pattern of the antenna based on the integral equation can be obtained. An example case was run for a standard X-band gain-horn (DBG-520). The H- and E-plane patterns of this horn antenna with perfectly conducting walls are compared with the gain pattern available from the manufacturer for up to the first side lobe. Good agreements are obtained although the cross polarization has not yet been accounted for. The effect of the lossy coating on the radiation pattern was also investigated. The resulting E-plane pattern shows about 3-dB improvement in the first sidelobe and 4-dB improvement in the second sidelobe.

Balanis, Constantine A.↗

A computer architecture for intelligent machines

The Theory of Intelligent Machines proposes a hierarchical organization for the functions of an autonomous robot based on the Principle of Increasing Precision With Decreasing Intelligence. An analytic formulation of this theory using information-theoretic measures of uncertainty for each level of the intelligent machine has been developed in recent years. A computer architecture that implements the lower two levels of the intelligent machine is presented. The architecture supports an event-driven programming paradigm that is independent of the underlying computer architecture and operating system. Details of Execution Level controllers for motion and vision systems are addressed, as well as the Petri net transducer software used to implement Coordination Level functions. Extensions to UNIX and VxWorks operating systems which enable the development of a heterogeneous, distributed application are described. A case study illustrates how this computer architecture integrates real-time and higher-level control of manipulator and vision systems.

Lefebvre, D. R.↗