False alarm analysis of the envelope detection GO-CFAR processor

The greatest of constant false alarm rate processor (GO CFAR) is a useful architecture for adaptively setting a radar detection threshold in the presence of clutter edges. The GO CFAR input is often the envelope detected in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) channels of the baseband signal (x_e=√(I²+Q²)). This envelope detection can also be approximated using x=a max{|I|,|Q|}+b min{|I|,|Q|} which requires less complex hardware (a and b are simple multiplying coefficients). The envelope GO CFAR processor and several envelope approximation GO CFAR processors are compared in terms of the probability of false alarm (PFA) performance. Closed-form expressions which describe the PFA performance are given and their accuracy evaluated. It is shown that for all cases, the PFA is proportional to the number of reference cells n for small threshold multiplier T and inversely proportional to n for large T. A region of intersection occurs where the PFA is the same for two different values of n. For example, at T'=1.68 in the |I|+|Q| GO CFAR (a=1, b=1) the PFA for n=1 is equal to the optimal n=∞ fixed-threshold PFA (PFA=0.112)     

快速反应部队对于台海作战的影响——台湾观点

随着中国集中于军事现代化，解放军越来越重视如何在局部高技术条件下获得决定性作战优势，特别是美军近年来在历次区域性冲突中展现的快速部署和战场掌握能力更是让意图借助速战速决避免美国必然的介入，为了能够在短时间内消除台湾的有抵抗和作战意志，解放军显然须要另辟蹊径才能够在第一时间直捣黄龙，避免陷入传统军事作战的泥沼。     

Earth encounter velocities for interplanetary meteoroids

The speed distribution of meteoroids encountering the Earth is shown to be similar for all meteoroid masses in the range 1 g to 10⁻¹² g. The speed distribution of interplanetary meteoroids encountering the Earth has usually been inferred from meteor observations. This paper reviews commonly quoted distributions and introduces more recent estimates. The influence quoted measurement uncertainties have on the distribution of Earth encounter velocities presented by Sekanina and Southworth (1975) and Erickson (1968) is presented. The Divine (1993) model of interplanetary meteoroids fits a set of orbital distributions to a wide range of spacecraft and ground based dust detector observations. By ‘flying’ the Earth through this model the distribution of geocentric encounter velocities has been obtained for typical particle masses, 10⁻⁹ and 10⁻¹² g while those at 10⁻⁴ and 10⁻⁵ g are shown to be in error.     

Instrument Data Processing Unit for THEMIS

The Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) mission is a NASA Medium-class Explorer (MIDEX) mission, launched on February 17, 2007. The mission employs five identical micro-satellites, or “probes,” which line-up along the Earth’s magnetotail every four days in conjunctions to determine the trigger and large-scale evolution of magnetic substorms. The probes are equipped with a comprehensive suite of instruments that measure and track the motion of thermal and super-thermal ions and electrons, and electric and magnetic fields, at key regions in the magnetosphere. Primary science objectives require high data rates at periods of scientific interest, large data volumes, and control of science data collection on suborbital time scales. A central Instrument Data Processing Unit (IDPU) is necessary to organize and prioritize the data from the large number of instruments into a 200 MB solid state memory. The large data volume produced by the instruments requires a flexible memory capable of both high resolution snapshots during conjunctions and coarser survey data collection throughout the orbit. Onboard triggering algorithms select and prioritize the snapshots based on data quality to optimize the science data that is returned to the ground. This paper presents a detailed discussion of the hardware and software design of the THEMIS IDPU, describing the heritage design that has been fundamental to the THEMIS mission success so far.     

The integrated applications promotion: A new field of action for the European Space Agency

Since ESA's establishment the context in which it operates has evolved greatly, from one of development of technologies and general competence to one of responding to the needs of an increasingly wide range of users, many of whose requirements straddle several applications categories. The IAP programme is ESA's response to this challenge, aimed at fostering the growth of a downstream industry, creating a market for the space industry and serving economic growth overall. The programme's structure and the platforms themselves are described and the programme's achievements and prospects presented. Its success testifies to ESA's continuing ability to adapt to changing environments and operate effectively in new sectors.     

The plasma sheet and boundary layers under northward IMF: A multi-point and multi-instrument perspective

During conditions of northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), the near-tail plasma sheet is known to become denser and cooler, and is described as the cold-dense plasma sheet (CDPS). While its source is likely the solar wind, the prominent penetration mechanisms are less clear. The two main candidates are solar wind direct capture via double high-latitude reconnection on the dayside and Kelvin–Helmholtz/diffusive processes at the flank magnetopause. This paper presents a case study on the formation of the CDPS utilizing a wide variety of space- and ground-based observations, but primarily from the Double Star and Polar spacecraft on December 5th, 2004. The pertinent observations can be summarized as follows: TC-1 observes quasi-periodic (∼2 min period) cold-dense boundary layer (compared to a hot-tenuous plasma sheet) signatures interspersed with magnetosheath plasma at the dusk flank magnetopause near the dawn-dusk terminator. Analysis of this region suggests the boundary to be Kelvin–Helmholtz unstable and that plasma transport is ongoing across the boundary. At the same time, IMAGE spacecraft and ground based SuperDARN measurements provide evidence of high-latitude reconnection in both hemispheres. The Polar spacecraft, located in the southern hemisphere afternoon sector, sunward of TC-1, observes a persistent boundary layer with no obvious signature of boundary waves. The plasma is of a similar appearance to that observed by TC-1 inside the boundary layer further down the dusk flank, and by TC-2 in the near-Earth magnetotail. We present comparisons of electron phase space distributions between the spacecraft. Although the dayside boundary layer at Polar is most likely formed via double high-altitude reconnection, and is somewhat comparable to the flank boundary layer at Double Star, some differences argue in favour of additional transport that augment solar wind plasma entry into the tail regions.     

The X-ray spectrometer experiment on the first spacelab flight

The First Spacelab Flight - scheduled for September 1983 - will carry a multidisciplinary payload intended to demonstrate that valuable scientific results can be achieved with such short duration missions. The payload complement includes a spectrometer to undertake observations of the brighter cosmic X-ray sources. The primary scientific objectives of this experiment are the study of detailed spectral features in cosmic X-ray sources and their associated temporal variations over a wide energy range from about 2 keV up to 80 keV. The instrument based on the gas scintillation proportional counter, will have an effective area of some 180 cm² with an energy resolution of ～ 9% FWHM at 7 keV. The key performance parameters of the instrument, which include calibration results and the sensitivity of the planned observations, are discussed.