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At least 109 records · Page 6

Planetary radio astronomy receiver

The planetary radio astronomy (PRA) experiment on the Voyager spacecraft will measure the amplitude, spectrum, time variations, and polarization of radio emissions over a frequency range of 1.2 kHz to 40.5 MHz with the aid of the PRA receiver (PRAR) and two 10-m orthogonal monopoles. Sensitivity and dynamic range will allow observation of a wide range of Jovian emissions from near earth to encounter. This paper describes the system elements, including the preamp/attenuator/calibrator, the LF polarization discriminator, the four LF-IF amplifier stages, the HF polarization discriminator, the translation LO, the log-IF and detector, the frequency synthesizer, the data processor, control system, power supply, and antennas.

Lang, G. J.↗

Correlation Between Low Frequency Auroral Kilometric Radiation (AKR) and Auroral Structures

Auroral Kilometric Radiation (AKR) is a radio wave emission that has long been associated with auroral activity. AKR is normally observed in the frequency range from -60 - 600 kHz. Low frequency AKR (or LF-AKR) events are characterized as a rapid extension of AKR related emissions to 30 kHz or lower in frequency for typically much less than 10 minutes. LF-AKR emissions predominantly occur within a frequency range of 20 kHz - 30 kHz, but there are LF-AKR related emissions that reach to a frequency of 5 kHz. This study correlates all instances of LF-AKR events during the first four years of observations from the IMAGE spacecraft's Radio Plasma Imager (WI) instrument with auroral observations from the wideband imaging camera (WIC) onboard IMAGE. The correlation between LF-AKR occurrence and WIC auroral observations shows that in the 295 confirmed cases of LF-AKR emissions, bifurcation of the aurora is seen in 74% of the cases. The bifurcation is seen in the dusk and midnight sectors of the auroral oval, where AKR is believed to be generated. The polarization of these LF-AKR emissions has yet to be identified. Although LF-AKR may not be the only phenomena correlated with bifurcated auroral structures, bifurcation will occur in most instances when LF-AKR is observed. The LF-AKR emissions may be an indicator of specific auroral processes sometimes occurring during storm-time conditions in which field-aligned density cavities extend a distance of perhaps 5-6 RE tailward from the Earth for a period of 10 minutes or less.

Paxamickas, Katherine A.↗

Optical motion sensor for resonant-bar gravitational wave antennas

An experiment is described in which an optical method was used to measure fluctuations in the separation between two mirrors of a Fabry-Perot sensor cavity. Noise measurements were made to determine the sensitivity of this device to vibration amplitudes in the frequency range 1.1-2.1 kHz, which is of interest for resonant-bar gravitational wave antennas. The rms spectral noise density for length fluctuations in this range was sq rt 3.7 x 10 exp -15 m/Hz and can be related to electronic noise of the circuitry plus vibrational noise from the environment. The cavity finesse was relatively low at 117, and the power dissipated in the mirrors was estimated to be 1.9 micro-W. On a multimode gravitational wave detector, the sensor cavity would be formed by one reference mirror and by one mirror mounted on the last resonator. For a 1200-kg bar, 1.2-g last resonator system operating at 1600 Hz the sensor described here would exhibit a noise temperature of 18 micro-K; the resolution in h in the case of negligible thermal noise from the mechanical system would be sq rt 3.7 x 10 exp -18/Hz. Improvements in the sensitivity in a quiet antenna-like environment should be possible with higher finesse mirrors.

Richard, J.-P.↗

Detection of a radio emission at 3 kHz in the outer heliosphere

A radio source in the outer heliosphere has been detected by the plasma wave receivers on Voyagers 1 and 2. The radio emission is observed in the frequency range 2-3 kHz, and is above the local solar wind electron plasma frequency whenever supporting plasma density data are available. The maximum spectral density of the emission recorded is about 10 to the -14th V-squared/m-squared/Hz. The bandwidth of the radio noise is about 1 kHz. Possible sources include continuum radiation from Jupiter's distant magnetotail and radiation at the second harmonic of the plasma frequency at the heliopause. If the latter interpretation is correct, these data represent the first remote observations of the heliopause.

Kurth, W. S.↗

Investigation of effects of microphone position and orientation on near-ground noise measurements

Three ground level microphone mounting techniques (flush mounting, inverting the microphone over a plate, and lying the microphone on a plate) were compared over a frequency range from 315 Hz to 20 kHz and over a wide range of incidence angles in the Langley Jet-Noise Laboratory anechoic room. The flush mounted microphone, when compared with a free field microphone, exhibited approximate pressure doubling up to a frequency of 10 kHz. At frequencies less than 4 kHz, the inverted and lying microphones were in good agreement with the flush mounted microphone, and their 1/3-octave-band response spectra were fairly insensitive to the position of the microphone. At higher frequencies, the geometry of the microphone and its mounting became important. The inverted microphone 0.5 times the diameter above the plate gave the flattest response compared with the flush mounted microphone. Nondimensional analysis of the inverted and lying results showed that for Kappa H cos theta 0.7 the response of the microphones approached that of the flush mounted microphone.

Willshire, W. L., Jr.↗

Heliospheric 2-3 kHz radio emissions and their relationship to large Forbush decreases

Two intense heliospheric 2-3 kHz radio emission events have been observed by Voyagers 1 and 2, the first in 1983-84 and the second in 1992-93. These radio emission events occurred about 400 days after large Forbush decreases in mid-1982 and mid-1991. Since Forbush decreases are indicative of a strong interplanetary shock propagating outward through the heliosphere, this temporal relationship provides strong evidence that the radio emissions are triggered by the interaction of a shock with one of the outer boundaries of the heliosphere. From the travel time and the known speed of the shock, the distance to the interaction region can be estimated and is well beyond 100 AU. At this great distance the plasma frequency at the terminal shock (100 to 200 Hz) is believed to be too small to explain the observed emission frequencies, which extend up to 3.6 kHz. For this reason, we have proposed that the interaction takes place at or near the heliopause, where remote sensing measurements show that the plasma frequency is in a suitable range (approximately 3 kHz) for explaining the radio emission. From the travel time and shock propagation speed, the radial distance to the heliopause has been calculated for various candidate solar events. After taking into account the likely deceleration of the shock, the heliopause is estimated to be in the range from about 110 to 160 AU.

Gurnett, D. A.↗

Wide Temperature Characteristics of Transverse Magnetically Annealed Amorphous Tapes for High Frequency Aerospace Magnetics

100 kHz core loss and magnetization properties of sample transverse magnetically annealed, cobalt-based amorphous and iron-based nanocrystalline tape wound magnetic cores are presented over the temperature range of -150 to 150 C, at selected values of B(sub peak). For B-fields not close to saturation, the core loss is not sensitive to temperature in this range and is as low as seen in the best MnZn power ferrites at their optimum temperatures. Frequency resolved characteristics are given over the range of 50 kHz to 1 MHz, at B(sub peak) = 0.1 T and 50 C only. A linear permeability model is used to interpret and present the magnetization characteristics and several figures of merit applicable to inductor materials arc reviewed. This linear modeling shows that, due to their high permeabilities, these cores must he gapped in order to make up high Q or high current inductors. However, they should serve well, as is, for high frequency, anti ratcheting transformer applications.

Niedra, Janis M.↗

Absolute Position Encoders With Vertical Image Binning

Improved optoelectronic patternrecognition encoders that measure rotary and linear 1-dimensional positions at conversion rates (numbers of readings per unit time) exceeding 20 kHz have been invented. Heretofore, optoelectronic pattern-recognition absoluteposition encoders have been limited to conversion rates <15 Hz -- too low for emerging industrial applications in which conversion rates ranging from 1 kHz to as much as 100 kHz are required. The high conversion rates of the improved encoders are made possible, in part, by use of vertically compressible or binnable (as described below) scale patterns in combination with modified readout sequences of the image sensors [charge-coupled devices (CCDs)] used to read the scale patterns. The modified readout sequences and the processing of the images thus read out are amenable to implementation by use of modern, high-speed, ultra-compact microprocessors and digital signal processors or field-programmable gate arrays. This combination of improvements makes it possible to greatly increase conversion rates through substantial reductions in all three components of conversion time: exposure time, image-readout time, and image-processing time.

Leviton, Douglas B.↗

Unsteady separation in sharp fin-induced shock wave/turbulent boundary layer interaction at Mach 5

Fluctuating wall-pressure measurements are made in shock-wave/turbulent-boundary-layer interactions generated by sharp/unswept fins at angles of attack of 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, and 28 degrees at Mach 5. The experiment was conducted under approximately adiabatic wall temperature conditions. The mean and rms pressure distributions can be collapsed in conical coordinates. The wall-pressure signal near separation is intermittent for all angles of attack (16-28 deg) and is qualitatively similar to that measured in unswept flows. However, the shock frequencies are higher - about 5 kHz compared to 0.5-1 kHz. Over the range of sweepbacks examined, from 25-55 deg, the spectral content of the fluctuating pressures does not change. Thus, the increase in separation-shock frequency from 1 to 5 kHz occurs at lower interaction sweepback and is not a continuous process with increasing sweepback. Power spectra at the position of maximum rms in the intermittent region for interactions in different incoming boundary layers have the same center frequency. The maximum rms in the intermittent region correlates with interaction sweepback, not with overall inviscid pressure rise.

Schmisseur, J. D.↗

A linear voltage-tunable distributed null device.

A linear voltage-tunable null device was predicted, fabricated, and tested. This filter is conceptually a distributed parameter RC representation of the channel of a MOSFET in a network configuration with a second MOSFET that is treated as a variable resistor. Classical transmission-line theory is used to predict a linear tuning curve with applied bias for the device. This concept was used to design a null device having a null that is linearly tunable in the range of 100 kHz. Such devices were fabricated and tested. Typical MOS processing steps were used and the resulting structures are compatible with the planar technology. The compatibility leads towards extension of this work to different frequency ranges for other specific applications.

Benz, H. F.↗

Radio sounding of the magnetosphere from a lunar-based VLF array

Using a lunar-based active radio transmitter and receiver system operating in the 'free space' wave modes, we can obtain much information on the structures and dynamics of remote magnetospheric plasma regions in a way similar to ionosondes. Powerful, narrow-band electromagnetic pulses can be transmitted over a wide frequency range (from 10 kHz to 1 MHz). The signals would be refracted and reflected off magnetospheric structures such as the plasmapause, plasmasheet, magnetopause, and the high and low latitude boundary layers. With a series of long dipole antennas, ranging in size from 400 m to 20 km with an output voltage ranging from 6 kV to less than 0.2 kV, a target plasma region at up to 100 R(sub E) can be explored. We illustrate this remote sensing technique by using the plasmasphere as a remote target, and modeling the propagations of the sounder transmitted and received pulses by ray tracing calculations.

Green, James L.↗

Cement sensors with acoustic bandgaps using carbon nanotubes

Cement is widely used in wellbores to stabilize the steel casing used in wellbore operations for oil and gas production, enhanced geothermal systems and carbon sequestration, and to limit fluid movement between sub-surface strata. Flaws such as microcracks in wellbore cement can lead to leakage along the wellbore compromising wellbore integrity. There is an increasing need for methods to monitor cement crack propagation in wellbore environments. In this study, we develop and report the first cementitious sensors capable of exhibiting high frequency acoustic bandgaps (ABGs) using carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Computational simulations of a sensor unit cell are used to design cement-multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) sensors that show a wide bandgap. When the cement-MWCNTs sensors is embedded in cement specimens, bandgaps were measured experimentally under 300 kHz and under 600 kHz, consistent with the computationally predicted bandgaps in the range of 290–360 kHz, 410–460 kHz and 515–585 kHz. These bandgap features were absent in homogeneous cement specimens. X-ray tomographic reconstructions showed microscopic debonding at cement-MWCNTs sensor interface. Frequency response analysis of a three-dimensional computational model indicated a shift of frequency of minimum transmission due to the interface debonding, but no perturbation of bandgap response was observed. Here, the cement-MWCNTs sensors developed in this study show the potential of a packed CNT inclusion material in cementitious matrix to create ABGs in a cement matrix.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Portable Airborne Laser System Measures Forest-Canopy Height

(PALS) is a combination of laser ranging, video imaging, positioning, and data-processing subsystems designed for measuring the heights of forest canopies along linear transects from tens to thousands of kilometers long. Unlike prior laser ranging systems designed to serve the same purpose, the PALS is not restricted to use aboard a single aircraft of a specific type: the PALS fits into two large suitcases that can be carried to any convenient location, and the PALS can be installed in almost any local aircraft for hire, thereby making it possible to sample remote forests at relatively low cost. The initial cost and the cost of repairing the PALS are also lower because the PALS hardware consists mostly of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) units that can easily be replaced in the field. The COTS units include a laser ranging transceiver, a charge-coupled-device camera that images the laser-illuminated targets, a differential Global Positioning System (dGPS) receiver capable of operation within the Wide Area Augmentation System, a video titler, a video cassette recorder (VCR), and a laptop computer equipped with two serial ports. The VCR and computer are powered by batteries; the other units are powered at 12 VDC from the 28-VDC aircraft power system via a low-pass filter and a voltage converter. The dGPS receiver feeds location and time data, at an update rate of 0.5 Hz, to the video titler and the computer. The laser ranging transceiver, operating at a sampling rate of 2 kHz, feeds its serial range and amplitude data stream to the computer. The analog video signal from the CCD camera is fed into the video titler wherein the signal is annotated with position and time information. The titler then forwards the annotated signal to the VCR for recording on 8-mm tapes. The dGPS and laser range and amplitude serial data streams are processed by software that displays the laser trace and the dGPS information as they are fed into the computer, subsamples the laser range and amplitude data, interleaves the subsampled data with the dGPS information, and records the resulting interleaved data stream.

Nelson, Ross↗

The prevalence of second harmonic radiation in type III bursts observed at kilometric wavelengths.

We present the analysis of 64 type III solar bursts that drifted from 3.5 MHz down to the range 350-50 kHz between March 1968 and February 1970. Bursts arrival times were predicted by a simple model and then compared with observations. The results show that, as the bursts drift, the fundamental often disappears below a certain frequency range while the second harmonic remains. Below about 1 MHz, the second harmonic occurrence predominates. Recognizing this fact we deduce a mean velocity of 0.32c plus or minus 0.02c for the exciter particles, where the uncertainty is the standard error and c the velocity of light in vacuum; the electron density model used is comparable to a solar wind model.

Haddock, F. T.↗

Review of measurements of the RF spectrum of radiation from lightning

A review is presented of the measurements reported in the literature of the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation from lightning in the frequency range from 1 kHz to 1 GHz. Measurements have been made either by monitoring the power received at individual frequencies using a narrow bandwidth recording device or by recording the transient (time dependent) radiation with a wide bandwidth device and then Fourier transforming the waveform to obtain a spectrum. Measurements of the first type were made extensively in the 1950's and 1960's and several composite spectra have been deduced by normalizing the data of different investigators to common units of bandwidth and distance. The composite spectra tend to peak near 5 kHz and then decrease roughly as 1/(frequency) up to nearly 100 MHz where scatter in the data make the behaviour uncertain. The spectrum obtained with measurements of the second type is similar. Recent experiments have extended the frequency range covered to several 10's of MHz and include spectra for return strokes, the stepped leader and for some intracloud processes. The spectrum of first return strokes obtained in this manner is very similar to the spectrum of the composite flash obtained from the narrowband measurements.

Radiation↗

Electrochemical performance of ionic polymer metal composite under tensile loading

Abstract Cracks in polymer composites can lead to premature failure, which can be disastrous for polymer-based energy storage devices. Detecting these cracks is essential to guarantee the reliability and safety of such devices. However, detecting cracks in composite polymers such as ionic polymer metal composites (IPMCs) is a challenging task, which makes it difficult to ensure their performance and safety. The overall goal of this study is to investigate the effect of cracks or damage caused by tensile loading on the mechanical properties and electrochemical characteristics of IPMC based capacitors. During tensile testing, the deformation of the IPMC strips causes changes in the ion distribution and concentration in the polymer matrix, influencing the performance of the material. The measurements were conducted utilizing electrochemical impedance spectroscopy at a room temperature ( 21 ∘ C ) and frequency range of 10 KHz to 1 Hz. The method utilized in this study proved to be easy and quick with consistent results. The IPMC capacitor was found to increase its capacitance after major cracking in the Pt electrodes from high tensile mechanical loads. Furthermore, at lower frequency range (<100 Hz), the real ( ε ′ ) and imaginary ( ε ′ ′ ) part of permittivity increase with the addition of loads. This displays that the dielectric property of the material is affected due to the increasing of the loads. It is concluded that, at frequencies above 100 Hz, the permittivity is weakly load dependent.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Cryogenic RF characterization of the MAGO cavity for high-frequency gravitational-wave detection

Superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities are promising resonant sensors for gravitational-wave detection in the kHz-MHz frequency range. We report the cryogenic RF characterization of a prototype superconducting niobium cavity with an unconventional geometry designed for narrow electromagnetic mode separation. Following an adapted surface preparation procedure, cryogenic tests were performed at Fermilab and DESY at temperatures down to 2 K. Mechanical tuning at room temperature achieved a mode splitting of approximately 11 kHz at cryogenic temperature. High electromagnetic quality factors consistent with previous prototype cavities were measured. The measurements further revealed phase transfer characteristics relevant for stable low-level RF control as well as indications of mode coupling potentially caused by one-point multipacting. In addition, first cryogenic measurements of the mechanical eigenmodes yielded mechanical quality factors significantly below commonly assumed theoretical values. These results demonstrate the successful application of established SRF preparation and characterization techniques to a non-standard resonator geometry and provide important experimental input for the development of future SRF-based gravitational-wave detectors.

Dokuyucu, Can [DESY]↗

Next steps in high-repetition-rate laser development for Thomson scattering

Design of a next generation high-rep-rate laser system is underway, aiming for a maximum rep rate of 100 kHz for 1 ms. This will be a "pulse-burst" laser, which is a type of heat-capacity laser. Heat-capacity laser operation is characterized by a burst of pulses of limited duration, with burst length ≤100 ms and pulse rep rate ≥1 kHz. Waste heat accumulates in the laser rod during the burst. This heat is deposited evenly throughout the rod volume, with very little heat removed during the burst, such that temperature rises evenly across the rod radius. Thus beam distortion due to thermal gradients is small. Heat is removed from the rod after the burst, with typically tens of seconds between bursts. Pulse-burst operation of flashlamp pumped Nd:YAG lasers is a cost-effective route to high-rep-rate capability. Pulse-burst laser systems with "fast burst" rep rates in the range of 10–20 kHz have been built for the Thomson scattering diagnostics on MST, NSTX-U, and LHD. For Thomson scattering diagnostic application, the typical requirements are 1064 nm, 1–2 J/pulse, ≤30 ns FWHM pulse, with a top-hat beam profile. A major requirement for this next generation laser system is flexibility in burst sequence programs, ranging from 1 kHz for 100 ms to 100 kHz for 1 ms, and a variety of scenarios in between so that operation can be tailored to plasma experiment requirements. Flashlamp pumping will be used for this next generation laser because it is inexpensive and flexible. A new switch-regulated flashlamp driver will provide improved flashlamp control at lower cost. Additional design issues such as the optimum flashlamp pumping spectrum and optimum Nd doping will be addressed. The use of commercial off-the-shelf components will be maximized in this laser system so that pulse-burst systems can be developed and built by others for new applications.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗