General Relativity Accuracy Test (GReAT): New configuration for the differential accelerometer

We presents the results of an activity concerning the test of the Einstein Weak Equivalence Principle with an accuracy of about 5 × 10⁻¹⁵. The experiment will be performed in an “Einstein elevator” using a differential accelerometer with a final sensitivity of about 10⁻¹⁴ g_⊕/Hz^1/2. The differential accelerometer is spun about an horizontal axis at a frequency in the range 0.5–1 Hz in order to modulate, during the free fall, the signal from a possible violation of the Equivalence Principle. In the paper the perturbing effects with the same signature of the possible violation are analyzed and constrained. The experimental results obtained in the laboratory with a first prototype of the differential accelerometer are discussed, comparing this results with those obtained using a new prototype.     

High-Performance Weather Radar

A maser preamplifier designed into an X-band weather radar set AN/ MPS-34 increased the radar's sensitivity by 12.5 dB to an over-all 118.5 dBm. Many low-performance, obsoleted sets could be converted to a high-performance system through the inclusion of a maser. A qualitative discussion of the maser's operation is presented, and the quantitative effects of the maser low noise temperature on the radar's overall noise figure is derived. The meteorological targets not previously detectable are analyzed, and anticipated target detection is forecast.     

Matched-Filter Responses of the Linear FM Waveform

Although the properties of the linear FM signal have been studied previously in considerable detail, such studies have involved rather narrow aspects of the theory. This paper extends the work in several respects. By presenting three-dimensional projections of the conventional ambiguity function of the linear FM signal in more detail than was available before, we can study the sidelobe behavior off as well as on the axes, without weighting, with unilateral weighting in the receiver, and with bilateral weighting. These plots reveal interesting properties related to the signal symmetry in time and frequency. The matched-filter response is then extended to include Doppler distortions of the modulation function. The results show that Woodward's ambiguity function is valid only for signals with relatively modest sophistication, even though in most practical situations one is interested only in those undistorted parts of the matched-filter response in the vicinity of the delay axis. Plots of the response are presented for various degrees of distortion, for signals with and without weighting. Lastly, we consider the effects of a mismatch in range acceleration, again for the various cases of interest. The results convey a thorough insight into the properties of chirp radar under a broad range of operational conditions.     

Geochemical Consequences of Widespread Clay Mineral Formation in Mars’ Ancient Crust

Clays form on Earth by near-surface weathering, precipitation in water bodies within basins, hydrothermal alteration (volcanic- or impact-induced), diagenesis, metamorphism, and magmatic precipitation. Diverse clay minerals have been detected from orbital investigation of terrains on Mars and are globally distributed, indicating geographically widespread aqueous alteration. Clay assemblages within deep stratigraphic units in the Martian crust include Fe/Mg smectites, chlorites and higher temperature hydrated silicates. Sedimentary clay mineral assemblages include Fe/Mg smectites, kaolinite, and sulfate, carbonate, and chloride salts. Stratigraphic sequences with multiple clay-bearing units have an upper unit with Al-clays and a lower unit with Fe/Mg-clays. The typical restriction of clay minerals to the oldest, Noachian terrains indicates a distinctive set of processes involving water-rock interaction that was prevalent early in Mars history and may have profoundly influenced the evolution of Martian geochemical systems. Current analyses of orbital data have led to the proposition of multiple clay-formation mechanisms, varying in space and time in their relative importance. These include near-surface weathering, formation in ice-dominated near-surface groundwaters, and formation by subsurface hydrothermal fluids. Near-surface, open system formation of clays would lead to fractionation of Mars’ crustal reservoir into an altered crustal reservoir and a sedimentary reservoir, potentially involving changes in the composition of Mars’ atmosphere. In contrast, formation of clays in the subsurface by either aqueous alteration or magmatic cooling would result in comparatively little geochemical fractionation or interaction of Mars’ atmospheric, crustal, and magmatic reservoirs, with the exception of long-term sequestration of water. Formation of clays within ice would have geochemical consequences intermediate between these endmembers. We outline the future analyses of orbital data, in situ measurements acquired within clay-bearing terrains, and analyses of Mars samples that are needed to more fully elucidate the mechanisms of martian clay formation and to determine the consequences for the geochemical evolution of the planet.     

Efficient wideband jammer ing when using stretch processing

Techniques are described for performing adaptive jammer ing over extremely wide bandwidths on radar systems which use linear frequency modulated (LFM) waveforms and stretch processing. It is assumed that the range uncertainty of the target is a small percentage of the equivalent range extent of the uncompressed pulse. The assumption allows the cancellation to take place following stretch processing in either the time domain using a narrowband sliding filter that keeps up with the chirp fate or in the frequency domain. The new approach supports ing performance over gigahertz of bandwidth comparable to that previously achieved over a few megahertz using approximately the same number of spatial degrees of freedom.     

Power Generation?Some Tasks and Goals

Generating capacity additions planned for the 1970's and beyond include a high percentage of nuclear power plants. The light water reactor is the dominant type of commercial nuclear reactor being installed during the 1970's. Advancement to more efficient designs, such as the high-temperature gas-cooled reactor, is expected around 1980. Prospects for the breeder reactor and fusion energy systems dictate a major research and development effort. Attempts to control effluents from fossil-fired plants have resulted in a sharp increase in the use of low sulfur fuels. Research and development efforts are being intensified in an attempt to obtain a breakthrough in methods of stack emission control.     

On the concept of a future carrier-based light fighter

The peculiarities of future light fighter concept generation, reflecting tendencies of fighter aviation development and potentialities of scientific and research background are considered.     

The Role of Magnetic Fields in the Interstellar Medium of the Milky Way

Synchrotron radiation is generated throughout the Milky Way. It fills the sky, and carries with it the imprint of the magnetic field at the point of origin and along the propagation path. Observations of the diffuse polarized radio emission should be able to provide information on Galactic magnetic fields with detail matching the angular resolution of the telescope. I review what has been learned from existing data, but the full potential cannot be realized from current observations because they do not adequately sample the frequency structure of the polarized emission, or they lack information on large-scale structure. I discuss three surveys, each overcoming one of these limitations, and show how use of complementary data on other ISM tracers can help elucidate the role of magnetic fields in interstellar processes. The focus of this review is on the small-scale field, on sizes comparable with the various forms of interaction of stars with their surroundings. The future is bright for this field of research as new telescopes are being built, designed for the survey mode of observation, equipped for wideband, multichannel polarization observations.     

Feedback Realization of a Continuous-Time Optimal Filter

Another derivation of a continuous-time optimal linear filter is presented. Using this result as a point of departure, a feedback version of this continuous filter is postulated and shown to be optimal in the limit as the ``feedback gain' becomes infinite. It is then demonstrated that the need for this infinite feedback gain can frequently be eliminated. This feedback realization of the continuous optimal filter has application to the problem of optimally mixing two or more redundant signals, each contaminated by random noise. The feedback configuration has the advantages of simplicity and the bounding of otherwise troublesome very large errors. A simple example is given of the mixing of two (velocity) references each having exponentially correlated error.