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NASA NTRS1988

Modulated-Voltage Metastable-Ionization Detector

New detector retains sensitivity of conventional ones but automatically reduces voltage to prevent current saturation at higher values, enabling quantitative determination of relative concentrations approaching 100 percent. Detector includes feedback circuitry to prevent current saturation. When detector current begins to exceed threshold, detector high voltage reduced to keep current from rising much more. Recorder output shows detector-current and voltage-reduction signals from gas mixture with constituents both above and below threshold concentration. Those above threshold cause both current and voltage-reduction peaks. Those below threshold give rise to current peaks only.

Carle, Glenn C.↗

NASA NTRS1987

The initiation of grain movement by wind

When air blows across the surface of dry, loose sand, a critical shear velocity must be achieved to initiate motion. Since most natural sediments consist of a range of grain sizes, fluid threshold for any sediment cannot really be defined by a finite value but should be viewed as a threshold range which is a function of the mean size, sorting, and packing of the sediment. In order to investigate the initiation of particle movement by wind, a series of wind tunnel tests were carried out on a range of screened sands and commercially available glass beads of differing size, sorting, and shape characteristics. In addition, individual samples of the glass beads were mixed to produce rather poorly sorted bimodal distributions. Test results suggest the when velocity is slowly increased over the sediment surface the smaller or more exposed grains are first engrained by the fluid drag of the air either in surface creep or in saltation. As velocity continues to rise, the larger more protected grains may also be moved by fluid drag. The data also indicate that predicted values based on the modified Bagnold equation fall within the range of threshold values defined by the transition section of the grain movement/shear velocity plots. Moreover, the predicted values are very similar to the threshold values derived for the point maximum inflection on the curves.

Nickling, William G.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Evaluation of the feasibility of a far-infrared laser based on intersubband transitions in GaAs quantum wells

The threshold current and quantum efficiency are calculated for an FIR injection laser based on intersubband transitions in GaAs single quantum wells. By considering the balance of gain against the free carrier and transverse optical phonon absorption, and the intersubband transition time, the wavelength dependence of the threshold current is calculated. For the wavelength range 50-120 microns, the required threshold currents are the lowest and have reasonable values of 1-10 kA/sq cm. The threshold quantum efficiency in that range is expected to be about 0.0001.

Borenstain, Shmuel I.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Potential of solar-simulator-pumped alexandrite lasers

An attempt was made to pump an alexandrite laser rod using a Tamarak solar simulator and also a tungsten-halogen lamp. A very low optical laser cavity was used to achieve the threshold minimum pumping-power requirement. Lasing was not achieved. The laser threshold optical-power requirement was calculated to be approximately 626 W/sq cm for a gain length of 7.6 cm, whereas the Tamarak simulator produces 1150 W/sq cm over a gain length of 3.3 cm, which is less than the 1442 W/sq cm required to reach laser threshold. The rod was optically pulsed with 200 msec pulses, which allowed the alexandrite rod to operate at near room temperature. The optical intensity-gain-length product to achieve laser threshold should be approximately 35,244 solar constants-cm. In the present setup, this product was 28,111 solar constants-cm.

Deyoung, Russell J.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Identification of Cirrus over Wausau during the 1986 FIRE IFO from ground-based radiometer data

The potential of using irradiation data to indicate episodes of cirrus cloudiness during the daylight hours is explored. Thresholds separating cirrus from other clouds and clear skies are determined using four days of irradiation data, hourly weather observations, sky photographs, sky video, and occasional lidar observations. Data were gathered during the First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Program (ISCCP) Regional Experiment (FIRE) Intensive Field Observations (IFO) cirrus project. Thresholds are tested using data from the remaining 17 days of the IFO. Cirrus episodes are defined as intervals when the sky cover is primarily cirrus. Measurements of incoming shortwave and near infrared full hemispheric and diffuse irradiation, and atmospheric infrared irradiation were made at Wausau, Wisconsin Municipal Airport. Data were collected between October 13 and November 2, 1986 and are one minute averages of ten second samples. Data from October 23 and from October 27 to 29 were used for threshold determination. Using weather observations, lidar output, photographs and video, sky conditions were grouped into three categories: noncirrus cloudy, cirrus, and clear. Irradiation data from all periods falling under each of the sky categories were then examined and thresholds denoting a change from one sky category to another were determined. Variables with only a small amount of overlap between sky categories were selected as key indicators.

Robinson, David A.↗

NASA NTRS1990

The Design of Optical Sensor for the Pinhole/Occulter Facility

Three optical sight sensor systems were designed, built and tested. Two optical lines of sight sensor system are capable of measuring the absolute pointing angle to the sun. The system is for use with the Pinhole/Occulter Facility (P/OF), a solar hard x ray experiment to be flown from Space Shuttle or Space Station. The sensor consists of a pinhole camera with two pairs of perpendicularly mounted linear photodiode arrays to detect the intensity distribution of the solar image produced by the pinhole, track and hold circuitry for data reduction, an analog to digital converter, and a microcomputer. The deflection of the image center is calculated from these data using an approximation for the solar image. A second system consists of a pinhole camera with a pair of perpendicularly mounted linear photodiode arrays, amplification circuitry, threshold detection circuitry, and a microcomputer board. The deflection of the image is calculated by knowing the position of each pixel of the photodiode array and merely counting the pixel numbers until threshold is surpassed. A third optical sensor system is capable of measuring the internal vibration of the P/OF between the mask and base. The system consists of a white light source, a mirror and a pair of perpendicularly mounted linear photodiode arrays to detect the intensity distribution of the solar image produced by the mirror, amplification circuitry, threshold detection circuitry, and a microcomputer board. The deflection of the image and hence the vibration of the structure is calculated by knowing the position of each pixel of the photodiode array and merely counting the pixel numbers until threshold is surpassed.

Greene, Michael E.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Laser damage of HR, AR-coatings, monolayers and bare surfaces at 1064 nm

Laser induced damage thresholds and morphologies were investigated in a variety of uncoated and coated surfaces, including monolayers and multi-layers of different chemical compositions. Both antireflective (AR) and highly reflective (HR) were tested. Testing was done at 1064 nm with 25 picosecond and 8 nanosecond YAG/Nd laser single pulses. Spot diameter in the experiments varied from 0.09 to 0.22 mm. The laser damage measurement procedure consisted of 1-on-1 (single laser pulse in the selected site) and N-on-1 experiments including repeated irradiation by pulses of the same fluence and subsequently raised from pulse to pulse fluence until damage occurred. The highest picosecond damage thresholds of commercially available coatings averaged 12 - 14 J/sq cm, 50 percent less than thresholds obtained in bare fused silica. Some coatings and bare surfaces revealed a palpable preconditioning effect (an increase in threshold of 1.2 to 1.8 times). Picosecond and nanosecond data were compared to draw conclusions about pulse width dependence. An attempt was made to classify damage morphologies according to the type of coating, class of irradiating, and damage level.

Garnov, S. V.↗

NASA NTRS1993

GaAs-based optoelectronic neurons

An integrated, optoelectronic, variable thresholding neuron implemented monolithically in GaAs integrated circuit and exhibiting high differential optical gain and low power consumption is presented. Two alternative embodiments each comprise an LED monolithically integrated with a detector and two transistors. One of the transistors is responsive to a bias voltage applied to its gate for varying the threshold of the neuron. One embodiment is implemented as an LED monolithically integrated with a double heterojunction bipolar phototransistor (detector) and two metal semiconductor field effect transistors (MESFET's) on a single GaAs substrate and another embodiment is implemented as an LED monolithically integrated with three MESFET's (one of which is an optical FET detector) on a single GaAs substrate. The first noted embodiment exhibits a differential optical gain of 6 and an optical switching energy of 10 pJ. The second embodiment has a differential optical gain of 80 and an optical switching energy of 38 pJ. Power consumption is 2.4 and 1.8 mW, respectively. Input 'light' power needed to turn on the LED is 2 micro-W and 54 nW, respectively. In both embodiments the detector is in series with a biasing MESFET and saturates the other MESFET upon detecting light above a threshold level. The saturated MESFET turns on the LED. Voltage applied to the biasing MESFET gate controls the threshold.

Lin, Steven H.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Spatiotemporal behavior and nonlinear dynamics in a phase conjugate resonator

The work described can be divided into two parts. The first part is an investigation of the transient behavior and stability property of a phase conjugate resonator (PCR) below threshold. The second part is an experimental and theoretical study of the PCR's spatiotemporal dynamics above threshold. The time-dependent coupled wave equations for four-wave mixing (FWM) in a photorefractive crystal, with two distinct interaction regions caused by feedback from an ordinary mirror, was used to model the transient dynamics of a PCR below threshold. The conditions for self-oscillation were determined and the solutions were used to define the PCR's transfer function and analyze its stability. Experimental results for the buildup and decay times confirmed qualitatively the predicted behavior. Experiments were carried out above threshold to study the spatiotemporal dynamics of the PCR as a function of Pragg detuning and the resonator's Fresnel number. The existence of optical vortices in the wavefront were identified by optical interferometry. It was possible to describe the transverse dynamics and the spatiotemporal instabilities by modeling the three-dimensional-coupled wave equations in photorefractive FWM using a truncated modal expansion approach.

Liu, Siuying Raymond↗

NASA NTRS1994

Measurand transient signal suppressor

A transient signal suppressor for use in a controls system which is adapted to respond to a change in a physical parameter whenever it crosses a predetermined threshold value in a selected direction of increasing or decreasing values with respect to the threshold value and is sustained for a selected discrete time interval is presented. The suppressor includes a sensor transducer for sensing the physical parameter and generating an electrical input signal whenever the sensed physical parameter crosses the threshold level in the selected direction. A manually operated switch is provided for adapting the suppressor to produce an output drive signal whenever the physical parameter crosses the threshold value in the selected direction of increasing or decreasing values. A time delay circuit is selectively adjustable for suppressing the transducer input signal for a preselected one of a plurality of available discrete suppression time and producing an output signal only if the input signal is sustained for a time greater than the selected suppression time. An electronic gate is coupled to receive the transducer input signal and the timer output signal and produce an output drive signal for energizing a control relay whenever the transducer input is a non-transient signal which is sustained beyond the selected time interval.

Bozeman, Richard J., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1994

A visual detection model for DCT coefficient quantization

The discrete cosine transform (DCT) is widely used in image compression and is part of the JPEG and MPEG compression standards. The degree of compression and the amount of distortion in the decompressed image are controlled by the quantization of the transform coefficients. The standards do not specify how the DCT coefficients should be quantized. One approach is to set the quantization level for each coefficient so that the quantization error is near the threshold of visibility. Results from previous work are combined to form the current best detection model for DCT coefficient quantization noise. This model predicts sensitivity as a function of display parameters, enabling quantization matrices to be designed for display situations varying in luminance, veiling light, and spatial frequency related conditions (pixel size, viewing distance, and aspect ratio). It also allows arbitrary color space directions for the representation of color. A model-based method of optimizing the quantization matrix for an individual image was developed. The model described above provides visual thresholds for each DCT frequency. These thresholds are adjusted within each block for visual light adaptation and contrast masking. For given quantization matrix, the DCT quantization errors are scaled by the adjusted thresholds to yield perceptual errors. These errors are pooled nonlinearly over the image to yield total perceptual error. With this model one may estimate the quantization matrix for a particular image that yields minimum bit rate for a given total perceptual error, or minimum perceptual error for a given bit rate. Custom matrices for a number of images show clear improvement over image-independent matrices. Custom matrices are compatible with the JPEG standard, which requires transmission of the quantization matrix.

Ahumada, Albert J., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Optical implementation of inner product neural associative memory

An optical implementation of an inner-product neural associative memory is realized with a first spatial light modulator for entering an initial two-dimensional N-tuple vector and for entering a thresholded output vector image after each iteration until convergence is reached, and a second spatial light modulator for entering M weighted vectors of inner-product scalars multiplied with each of the M stored vectors, where the inner-product scalars are produced by multiplication of the initial input vector in the first iterative cycle (and thresholded vectors in subsequent iterative cycles) with each of the M stored vectors, and the weighted vectors are produced by multiplication of the scalars with corresponding ones of the stored vectors. A Hughes liquid crystal light valve is used for the dual function of summing the weighted vectors and thresholding the sum vector. The thresholded vector is then entered through the first spatial light modulator for reiteration of the process cycle until convergence is reached.

Liu, Hua-Kuang↗

NASA NTRS1994

Temporal study of the current collected by a Langmuir probe biased to high voltages in the wake behind a conducting body

The temporal evolution of the voltage-current characteristic of a spherical Langmuir probe in the near-wake region of a conducting body is investigated in a pulsed plasma device. Measurements of the current collected by a sphere placed on axis behind a conducting disk are presented as a function of the bias voltage and time. The bias voltage on the collecting sphere is large enough, ranging from +500 to -3000 V, to attract ions or electrons across the wake region. In addition, plasma potential profiles as a function of sphere bias voltage and time throughout the nearwake and midwake region are presented. It is found that for a negative sphere bias a threshold voltage exists for current collection. This threshold voltage decreases during the formation of the wake behind the conducting disk. Potential measurements indicate that the sheath region around the negatively biased sphere contracts as the wake region establishes itself. This contraction of the sheath region increases the electric field attracting ions to the sphere and decreases the threshold voltage for current collection. For positive sphere bias voltage the current collected by the sphere does not exhibit a threshold voltage but is monotonically increasing.

Meassick, S.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Processing Motion Signals in Complex Environments

Motion information is critical for human locomotion and scene segmentation. Currently we have excellent neurophysiological models that are able to predict human detection and discrimination of local signals. Local motion signals are insufficient by themselves to guide human locomotion and to provide information about depth, object boundaries and surface structure. My research is aimed at understanding the mechanisms underlying the combination of motion signals across space and time. A target moving on an extended trajectory amidst noise dots in Brownian motion is much more detectable than the sum of signals generated by independent motion energy units responding to the trajectory segments. This result suggests that facilitation occurs between motion units tuned to similar directions, lying along the trajectory path. We investigated whether the interaction between local motion units along the motion direction is mediated by contrast. One possibility is that contrast-driven signals from motion units early in the trajectory sequence are added to signals in subsequent units. If this were the case, then units later in the sequence would have a larger signal than those earlier in the sequence. To test this possibility, we compared contrast discrimination thresholds for the first and third patches of a triplet of sequentially presented Gabor patches, aligned along the motion direction. According to this simple additive model, contrast increment thresholds for the third patch should be higher than thresholds for the first patch.The lack of a measurable effect on contrast thresholds for these various manipulations suggests that the pooling of signals along a trajectory is not mediated by contrast-driven signals. Instead, these results are consistent with models that propose that the facilitation of trajectory signals is achieved by a second-level network that chooses the strongest local motion signals and combines them if they occur in a spatio-temporal sequence consistent with a trajectory. These results parallel the lack of increased apparent contrast along a static contour made up of similarly oriented elements.

Verghese, Preeti↗

NASA NTRS2001

Robust Fault Detection Using Robust Z1 Estimation and Fuzzy Logic

This research considers the application of robust Z(sub 1), estimation in conjunction with fuzzy logic to robust fault detection for an aircraft fight control system. It begins with the development of robust Z(sub 1) estimators based on multiplier theory and then develops a fixed threshold approach to fault detection (FD). It then considers the use of fuzzy logic for robust residual evaluation and FD. Due to modeling errors and unmeasurable disturbances, it is difficult to distinguish between the effects of an actual fault and those caused by uncertainty and disturbance. Hence, it is the aim of a robust FD system to be sensitive to faults while remaining insensitive to uncertainty and disturbances. While fixed thresholds only allow a decision on whether a fault has or has not occurred, it is more valuable to have the residual evaluation lead to a conclusion related to the degree of, or probability of, a fault. Fuzzy logic is a viable means of determining the degree of a fault and allows the introduction of human observations that may not be incorporated in the rigorous threshold theory. Hence, fuzzy logic can provide a more reliable and informative fault detection process. Using an aircraft flight control system, the results of FD using robust Z(sub 1) estimation with a fixed threshold are demonstrated. FD that combines robust Z(sub 1) estimation and fuzzy logic is also demonstrated. It is seen that combining the robust estimator with fuzzy logic proves to be advantageous in increasing the sensitivity to smaller faults while remaining insensitive to uncertainty and disturbances.

Curry, Tramone↗

NASA NTRS1995

Speed Discrimination: Multiple Stimuli Appear Better Than One

We reported that for a 21FC task with multiple moving grating patches (Gabors) in each interval, thresholds for speed discrimination decreased with the number of patches, while increasing the area of a single grating produced no such effect. Furthermore, this decrease occurred regardless of the spacing of the patches about a circle of eccentricity 4 degrees, i.e., whether they were maximally separated or almost touching. These results suggest that it is the multiple, discrete grating patches that cause thresholds to decrease, rather than the spatial arrangement. To test this hypothesis, we measured the effect of dividing a large grating into four quadrants, by superimposing a mean-luminance cross on it. The mean speed discrimination thresholds (Weber Fractions) for four observers were 19, 15, and 11 plus or minus 2%, for the single large grating, the grating with cross, and the 4 maximally-separated, small gratings, respectively. Thus, breaking up a single large grating into multiple parts caused thresholds to improve, despite the fact that less of the original patch was visible. To investigate the possible contribution of total bounding contour length, we measured the effect of coalescing three small grating patches into a single banana-shaped patch, while keeping the total contour length constant. These two conditions were compared to a single, circular Gabor patch of equivalent area that had (necessarily) a smaller contour length. Preliminary data from 3 of 4 observers were similar for the small-grating and banana configurations, but increased for the single, large grating, suggesting that contour length might play a role. We are also investigating the role of low-level factors pertinent to the large grating, such as the pooling of signals from motion units at different eccentricities, and the stimulation of extended inhibitory motion surrounds, as well as the possible contribution of topdown influences that segment the stimulus into distinct objects.

Verghese, Preeti↗

NASA NTRS2001

Comparative Analysis of Daytime Fire Detection Algorithms, Using AVHRR Data for the 1995 Fire Season in Canda: Perspective for MODIS

Two fixed-threshold Canada Centre for Remote Sensing and European Space Agency (CCRS and ESA) and three contextual GIGLIO, International Geosphere and Biosphere Project, and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (GIGLIO, IGBP, and MODIS) algorithms were used for fire detection with Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data acquired over Canada during the 1995 fire season. The CCRS algorithm was developed for the boreal ecosystem, while the other four are for global application. The MODIS algorithm, although developed specifically for use with the MODIS sensor data, was applied to AVHRR in this study for comparative purposes. Fire detection accuracy assessment for the algorithms was based on comparisons with available 1995 burned area ground survey maps covering five Canadian provinces. Overall accuracy estimations in terms of omission (CCRS=46%, ESA=81%, GIGLIO=75%, IGBP=51%, MODIS=81%) and commission (CCRS=0.35%, ESA=0.08%, GIGLIO=0.56%, IGBP=0.75%, MODIS=0.08%) errors over forested areas revealed large differences in performance between the algorithms, with no relevance to type (fixed-threshold or contextual). CCRS performed best in detecting real forest fires, with the least omission error, while ESA and MODIS produced the highest omission error, probably because of their relatively high threshold values designed for global application. The commission error values appear small because the area of pixels falsely identified by each algorithm was expressed as a ratio of the vast unburned forest area. More detailed study shows that most commission errors in all the algorithms were incurred in nonforest agricultural areas, especially on days with very high surface temperatures. The advantage of the high thresholds in ESA and MODIS was that they incurred the least commission errors.

Ichoku, Charles↗

NASA NTRS2002

Interannual Variability of Martian Global Dust Storms: Simulations with a Low-Order Model of the General Circulation

We present simulations of the interannual variability of martian global dust storms (GDSs) with a simplified low-order model (LOM) of the general circulation. The simplified model allows one to conduct computationally fast long-term simulations of the martian climate system. The LOM is constructed by Galerkin projection of a 2D (zonally averaged) general circulation model (GCM) onto a truncated set of basis functions. The resulting LOM consists of 12 coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations describing atmospheric dynamics and dust transport within the Hadley cell. The forcing of the model is described by simplified physics based on Newtonian cooling and Rayleigh friction. The atmosphere and surface are coupled: atmospheric heating depends on the dustiness of the atmosphere, and the surface dust source depends on the strength of the atmospheric winds. Parameters of the model are tuned to fit the output of the NASA AMES GCM and the fit is generally very good. Interannual variability of GDSs is possible in the IBM, but only when stochastic forcing is added to the model. The stochastic forcing could be provided by transient weather systems or some surface process such as redistribution of the sand particles in storm generating zones on the surface. The results are sensitive to the value of the saltation threshold, which hints at a possible feedback between saltation threshold and dust storm activity. According to this hypothesis, erodable material builds up its a result of a local process, whose effect is to lower the saltation threshold until a GDS occurs. The saltation threshold adjusts its value so that dust storms are barely able to occur.

Pankine, A. A.↗