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At least 955 records · Page 53

A note on some statistical properties of rise time parameters used in muon arrival time measurements

Most investigations of the muon arrival time distribution in EAS during the past decade made use of parameters which can collectively be called rise time parameters. The rise time parameter T sub A/B is defined as the time taken for the integrated pulse from a detector to rise from A% to B% of its full amplitude. The use of these parameters are usually restricted to the determination of the radial dependence thereof. This radial dependence of the rise time parameters are usually taken as a signature of the particle interaction characteristics in the shower. As these parameters have a stochastic nature, it seems reasonable that one should also take notice of this aspect of the rise time parameters. A statistical approach to rise time parameters is presented.

Vanderwalt, D. J.↗

Statistics and thermodynamics of fracture

A probabilistic model of the fracture processes unifying the phenomenological study of long term strength of materials, fracture mechanics and statistical approaches to fracture is briefly outlined. The general framework of irreversible thermodynamics is employed to model the deterministic side of the failure phenomenon. The stochastic calculus is used to account for thg failure mechanisms controlled by chance; particularly, the random roughness of fracture surfaces.

Chudnovsky, A.↗

JAWS data collection, analysis highlights, and microburst statistics

Organization, equipment, and the current status of the Joint Airport Weather Studies project initiated in relation to the microburst phenomenon are summarized. Some data collection techniques and preliminary statistics on microburst events recorded by Doppler radar are discussed as well. Radar studies show that microbursts occur much more often than expected, with majority of the events being potentially dangerous to landing or departing aircraft. Seventy events were registered, with the differential velocities ranging from 10 to 48 m/s; headwind/tailwind velocity differentials over 20 m/s are considered seriously hazardous. It is noted that a correlation is yet to be established between the velocity differential and incoherent radar reflectivity.

Mccarthy, J.↗

A statistical-dynamical study of empirically determined modes of atmospheric variability

The observed wintertime intraseasonal variability of the northern hemisphere midtropospheric circulation is analyzed within the framework of an equivalent barotropic model. The data set and the form of the eigenvalue/vector problem in the wave domain are described, and the statistical significance of the empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) is discussed, and some selected modes are briefly described. The anomaly model and the transformation to the EOF domain are presented together with a discussion of the model coefficients and forcing term. The fitting procedure for the parameterized terms are described and the level of correspondence between the modelled and observed streamfunction tendencies as a function of the EOFs is examined. The stability of the time mean flow and other base states is investigated.

Schubert, S. D.↗

Statistical theory of cubic Langmuir turbulence

The cubic direct-interaction approximation is applied to the truncated cubically nonlinear Schroedinger equation. The statistical theory does a satisfactory job in several important respects.

Sun, G.-Z.↗

Defect-phase-dynamics approach to statistical domain-growth problem of clock models

The growth of statistical domains in quenched Ising-like p-state clock models with p = 3 or more is investigated theoretically, reformulating the analysis of Ohta et al. (1982) in terms of a phase variable and studying the dynamics of defects introduced into the phase field when the phase variable becomes multivalued. The resulting defect/phase domain-growth equation is applied to the interpretation of Monte Carlo simulations in two dimensions (Kaski and Gunton, 1983; Grest and Srolovitz, 1984), and problems encountered in the analysis of related Potts models are discussed. In the two-dimensional case, the problem is essentially that of a purely dissipative Coulomb gas, with a sq rt t growth law complicated by vertex-pinning effects at small t.

Kawasaki, K.↗

Statistical comparison of galaxy formation models - The bispectrum

To discriminate between galaxy-formation models that give similar two-point correlation functions, higher moments, specifically the three-point function in transform space or bispectrum, are looked to for an ensemble of numerical simulations. Different behaviors of this statistic are found that can be used to distinguish between classes of models. Up to the uncertainty in identifying the galaxy distribution with the mass distribution in the models, the results seem to prefer the isothermal or the cold-particle models. No model, however, agrees in all detail with the observational bispectrum of the Shane-Wirtanen galaxy catalog.

Fry, J. N.↗

Statistical analysis of astronomical data containing upper bounds - General methods and examples drawn from X-ray astronomy

Statistical procedures taken from the field of survival analysis have been adapted to astronomical usage and have been applied to a sample of stars in the B-V color range between 0.1 and 0.5 with measured soft X-ray luminosities and projected equatorial velocities. The two-sample problem and linear regression problem with arbitrarily censored data were studied. A new method for determining the linear regression between two random variables in the presence of arbitrary censoring has been developed which can also be used for a likelihood-ratio test for the independence of two random variables and for principal-component analysis in the presence of arbitrary censoring. The required numerical computations can be carried out straightforwardly and rapidly.

Schmitt, J. H. M. M.↗

Statistical methods for astronomical data with upper limits. I - Univariate distributions

The statistical treatment of univariate censored data is discussed. A heuristic derivation of the Kaplan-Meier maximum-likelihood estimator from first principles is presented which results in an expression amenable to analytic error analysis. Methods for comparing two or more censored samples are given along with simple computational examples, stressing the fact that most astronomical problems involve upper limits while the standard mathematical methods require lower limits. The application of univariate survival analysis to six data sets in the recent astrophysical literature is described, and various aspects of the use of survival analysis in astronomy, such as the limitations of various two-sample tests and the role of parametric modelling, are discussed.

Feigelson, E. D.↗

Composite statistical method for modeling wind gusts for aircraft simulation

This paper discusses the application of three statistical methods in combination to model wind gusts for use in aircraft flight simulation. The approach combines principal components analysis, time series analysis and probability distribution model to analyze and simulate wind gust components. Comparisons are given between wind gust components generated by the model and components measured onboard an aircraft.

Schiess, J. R.↗

Gamma-ray burst statistics - Guidance or deception?

An evaluation is made of efforts to statistically ascertain the distance scale of gamma-ray bursts. The Venera 11 and 12 KONUS experiment peak count flux P sampling is noted to be incomplete for the longest and shortest bursts. This may be due to the effect being either a real physical limit to the burst population, or an artifact. Current data favor the latter explanation. Where N is the annual rate of bursts with a fluence exceeding S ergs/sq cm, it is shown that an unbounded, isotropic, homogeneous burst source distribution must have d log N/d log P of less than -3/2, for all P independent of any intrinsic P distribution or the existence and relative distance of any separate burst classes. The KONUS data are consistent with earlier conclusions that bursts are distributed on a large galactic scale.

Jennings, M. C.↗

Statistical Signal Analysis for Systems with Interferenced Inputs

A new approach is introduced, based on statistical signal analysis, which overcomes the error due to input signal interference. The model analyzed is given. The input signals u sub 1 (t) and u sub 2 (t) are assumed to be unknown. The measurable signals x sub 1 (t) and x sub 2 (t) are interferened according to the frequency response functions, H sub 12 (f) and H sub 21 (f). The goal of the analysis was to evaluate the power output due to each input, u sub 1 (t) and u sub 2 (t), for the case where both are applied to the same time. In addition, all frequency response functions are calculated. The interferenced system is described by a set of five equations with six unknown functions. An IBM XT Personal Computer, which was interfaced with the FFT, was used to solve the set of equations. The software was tested on an electrical two-input, one-output system. The results were excellent. The research presented includes the analysis of the acoustic radiation from a rectangular plate with two force inputs and the sound pressure as an output signal.

Bai, R. M.↗

Statistical analysis of direct-strike lightning data (1980 to 1982)

Electromagnetic measurements are being made during direct lightning strikes by NASA Langley Center using a specially instrumented F-106B aircraft. The research is to aid refinement, characterization, and understanding of the lightning-aircraft interaction process and the lightning hazards to aircraft. Statistical methods are applied to characterize some aspects of the lightning data obtained from 176 strikes to the aircraft. Specific attention is given to the problem of estimating the upper extreme quantiles of the distributions of peak-to-peak values for currents and rates of change in the magnetic and flux densities. A formal treatment via a general location-scale family of models allows the estimation method to be adapted to the realized shapes the distributions. The shapes are examined by probability plotting methods.

Lee, L. D.↗

Statistical correlation analysis for comparing vibration data from test and analysis

A theory was developed to compare vibration modes obtained by NASTRAN analysis with those obtained experimentally. Because many more analytical modes can be obtained than experimental modes, the analytical set was treated as expansion functions for putting both sources in comparative form. The dimensional symmetry was developed for three general cases: nonsymmetric whole model compared with a nonsymmetric whole structural test, symmetric analytical portion compared with a symmetric experimental portion, and analytical symmetric portion with a whole experimental test. The theory was coded and a statistical correlation program was installed as a utility. The theory is established with small classical structures.

Butler, T. G.↗

Statistical methodologies for the control of dynamic remapping

Following an initial mapping of a problem onto a multiprocessor machine or computer network, system performance often deteriorates with time. In order to maintain high performance, it may be necessary to remap the problem. The decision to remap must take into account measurements of performance deterioration, the cost of remapping, and the estimated benefits achieved by remapping. We examine the tradeoff between the costs and the benefits of remapping two qualitatively different kinds of problems. One problem assumes that performance deteriorates gradually, the other assumes that performance deteriorates suddenly. We consider a variety of policies for governing when to remap. In order to evaluate these policies, statistical models of problem behaviors are developed. Simulation results are presented which compare simple policies with computationally expensive optimal decision policies; these results demonstrate that for each problem type, the proposed simple policies are effective and robust.

Saltz, J. H.↗

A statistical analysis of the Einstein normal galaxy sample. I - Spiral and irregular galaxies

The results of a statistical analysis of 48 spiral and irregular galaxies observed with the Einstein Observatory are reported. It is found that the X-ray luminosity is not directly correlated with the mass of the galaxies, but is strongly correlated with the blue luminosity. This suggests that most X-ray sources, including low-mass binaries, are binary systems belonging to both old disk and young arm Population I components. A real bulge population of X-ray sources exists that can contribute significantly to the X-ray luminosity of early-type spirals. The X-ray emission from a sample of 29 relatively isolated, normal elliptical and S0 galaxies is also studied, and the results are compared to those for the above sample to investigate the origin of the X-ray emission in early-type galaxies and the possible emission mechanisms. The influence of a powerful radio source and the onset of nuclear activity are also examined.

Fabbiano, G.↗

Calculation of recoil implantation profiles using known range statistics

A method has been developed to calculate the depth distribution of recoil atoms that result from ion implantation onto a substrate covered with a thin surface layer. The calculation includes first order recoils considering projected range straggles, and lateral straggles of recoils but neglecting lateral straggles of projectiles. Projectile range distributions at intermediate energies in the surface layer are deduced from look-up tables of known range statistics. A great saving of computing time and human effort is thus attained in comparison with existing procedures. The method is used to calculate recoil profiles of oxygen from implantation of arsenic through SiO2 and of nitrogen from implantation of phosphorus through Si3N4 films on silicon. The calculated recoil profiles are in good agreement with results obtained by other investigators using the Boltzmann transport equation and they also compare very well with available experimental results in the literature. The deviation between calculated and experimental results is discussed in relation to lateral straggles. From this discussion, a range of surface layer thickness for which the method applies is recommended.

Fung, C. D.↗

An attribute-driven statistics generator for use in a G.I.S. environment

When performing research using digital geographic information it is often useful to produce quantitative characterizations of the data, usually within some constraints. In the research environment the different combinations of required data and constraints can often become quite complex. This paper describes a technique that gives the researcher a powerful and flexible way to set up many possible combinations of data and constraints without having to perform numerous intermediate steps or create temporary data bands. This method provides an efficient way to produce descriptive statistics in such situations.

Thomas, R. W.↗