Power-line harmonic radiation and the electron slot

World maps of the occurrence of VLF emissions obtained by the satellites Ariel 3 and 4 reveal maxima above industrial regions of high power consumption in North America and Euro-Asia. A study of the generation and radiation of power line harmonics indicates that these may be a major source of the observed signals. The latter propagate in the whistler mode into the geomagnetically conjugate regions in the southern hemisphere. A particularly prominent zone of emission is obtained at VLF (3.2 kHz) over North America where frequent magnetospheric wave amplification/stimulated emission, up to 50 dB and typically 10 to 20 dB above a baseline level that we ascribe to power harmonic radiation (PLHR), is obtained at invariant latitudes 45 to 55° (2 < L < 3) centred on the electron slot. It appears that PLHR may be responsible for pitch angle diffusion of energetic electrons (E 100 keV) at large pitch angles by first-order resonance and thereby contribute to the formation of the electron slot. There is a strong seasonal variation in wave-amplification/stimulated emission which we suggest may be due to a variation in the ability of the waves to become entrapped in ducts where wave-amplification occurs through a phase-bunching process. There is a strong correlation between D _ST and signal intensity, the latter lagging by 1–5 hr in the morning and 10 hr in the evening; here again wave-amplification appears to depend on duct formation and wave trapping therein. One or two (or multi) hop emissions occur with about equal probability at 3.2 kHz; at 9.6 kHz one hop are predominant.Paper presented at the Fifth International Wrocaw Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility, Wroclaw (Poland), 17–19 September, 1980. Sci. Rpt. 1978 (1), Sheffield Univ. Space Physics Grp.     

VLF Studies During TLE Occurrences in Europe: A Summary of New Findings

The paper reviews the past few years’ European efforts for characterising the effects of TLEs, in particular sprites and elves, on the lower ionosphere. A mostly experimental approach was applied for the analysis of data collected during the EuroSprite campaigns by optical cameras, very low frequency (VLF, 3–30?kHz) receivers and lightning detection systems. The new findings of these multi-instrumental studies can be summarised as follows: 1) A close relationship between sprites and early VLF perturbations was established which constitutes evidence of upper D-region electron density changes in association with sprites. 2) VLF backscatter from the sprite-affected regions exists but it occurs rarely. 3) Long-delayed sprites were present in a large percentage, contrary to previous reports; they occurred in relation to long-lasting continuing currents that contribute to the build-up of sprite-causative quasi-electrostatic fields. 4) Intracloud lightning was found to be the key-factor which determines the sprite morphological features. 5) A new subcategory of VLF events was discovered, termed early/slow, characterised by long onset durations from 100?ms up to ～2?s. The slow onsets, which were attributed to a gradual ionisation build-up, are driven by a dense sequence of intracloud electromagnetic pulses that accompany the sprite-causative discharge. 6) A D-region chemical model was applied to simulate the measured recovery phases of the early VLF perturbations. This led to estimates about the mean altitude and electron density enhancements of the sprite-related ionospheric perturbations. 7) Early VLF events were identified for the first time to occur in association with elves, providing evidence that corroborates theoretical predictions on lower-ionospheric ionisation production by lightning-emitted electromagnetic pulses.     

VLF waves: Conjugated ground-satellite relationships

The French mobile station for recording geophysical data has been put in operation at Husafell, Iceland (64°5N, 20°8W) between the 10th of July and the 22nd of September, 1977. This place was more or less conjugated with GEOS when this satellite was near its apogee. The equipments installed in the station for recording VLF and ULF phenomena have characteristics (band-pass, sampling rates) which are identical to the similar equipments installed onboard GEOS. Intercomparison between signals recorded at both points are therefore easy. We present here the results which were obtained in the VLF range.In many occasions, VLF emissions (mainly hiss) do present identical variations in amplitude, with a very abrupt (<1 mn) and very large (>20 dB) decrease in amplitude. Because of their simultaneity at both points, such abrupt variations cannot be interpreted in terms of a sudden ionospheric absorption (associated with an enhanced particle precipitation) nor in terms of a sudden crossing of detached plasma regions. In some cases, these abrupt changes in the VLF intensity are associated with the appearance and disappearance of strong ULF emissions, in the Pc-1 frequency range. Some examples of associated onboard measurements of high energy electron fluxes or cold plasma density (when available) are given, which may help understanding these VLF conjugated relationships.     

Waves in space plasmas: Highlights of a Conference held in Hawaii, 7–11 February 1983

The Conference was called to bring together investigators of magnetospheric plasma waves having frequencies from VLF whistlers and emissions down through ELF and ULF to Pc5 long period pulsations. The emphasis was on the physics and techniques underlying the entire frequency range. Topics included wave electron interactions and electron precipitation, ray tracing and other methods to track down sources of VLF and ULF waves, VLF-ULF relationships, heavy ion effects in ULF propagation, and long period ULF waves.     

Magnetic Field Instruments for the Fast Auroral Snapshot Explorer

The FAST magnetic field investigation incorporates a tri-axial fluxgate magnetometer for DC and low-frequency (ULF) magnetic field measurements, and an orthogonal three-axis searchcoil system for measurement of structures and waves corresponding to ELF and VLF frequencies. One searchcoil sensor is sampled up to 2 MHz to capture the magnetic component of auroral kilometric radiation (AKR). Because of budget, weight, power and telemetry considerations, the fluxgate was given a single gain state, with a 16-bit dynamic range of ±65536 nT and 2 nT resolution. With a wide variety of FAST fields instrument telemetry modes, the fluxgate output effective bandwidth is between 0.2 and 25 Hz, depending on the mode. The searchcoil telemetry products include burst waveform capture with 4- and 16-kHz bandwidth, continuous 512-point FFTs of the ELF/VLF band (16 kHz Nyquist) provided by a digital signal processing chip, and swept frequency analysis with a 1-MHz bandwidth. The instruments are operating nominally. Early results have shown that downward auroral field-aligned currents, well-observed over many years on earlier missions, are often carried by accelerated electrons at altitudes above roughly 2000 km in the winter auroral zone. The estimates of current from derivatives of the field data agree with those based on flux from the electrons. Searchcoil observations help constrain the degree to which, for example, ion cyclotron emissions are electrostatic.     

Interrelation between VLF and ULF emissions

Observations and theoretical works so far made are reviewed in regard to the interrelation of VLF and ULF emissions. Quasi-periodic VLF emissions are one of the typical examples showing the interrelation between the two phenomena. The term modulation may be more appropriate to explain these phenomena. Tentative interpretations will be given of the VLF and ULF emissions which are closely associated through a modulation of the electron distributions.     

Computer Simulation of VLF Power Amplifiers under Reactive Loading

Recent efforts have been made to achieve substantially increased baud rates with the U. S. Navy's very low frequency (VLF) communication system. Because of the constraints imposed by existing transmitter and antenna structures it was necessary to reexamine the operation of every major system component. Each particular VLF transmitter was subjected to an extensive theoretical analysis followed by a detailed on-site measurement program. Following a review of three major systems, Cutler, Lualualei, and North West Cape, a sufficient body of data was available to substantiate the validity of the computer-simulated transmitter analysis presented here. With this method it is possibe to predict frequency-shift keying (FSK) and minimum shift keying (MSK) performance limitations for particular VLF transmitting systems based primarily on the 0 of the antenna at the operating frequency.     

Analysis and Design Considerations of Hard Limiters for LF and VLF Navaid Receivers

Hard limiters, followed by a D-type flip-flop as a digital-signal-polarity detector, are very effective receiver/phase detectors for low frequency (LF) and very low frequency (VLF) navigation receivers. However the performance not only depends on the signal quality, but also on the specifications of the hard limiter and the flip-flop. Analysis of the tracking accuracy is given as a function of the dc offsets of the limiter and the flip-flop, the linear gain of the limiter, the signal-to-noise ratios of one or more input signals, and the power consumption of the limiter. The results are presented in formulas and graphs for application by circuit designers. A design example of a low-power, high-gain limiter is given.     

Dual-frequency distortion predictions for the Cutler VLF array

The VLF transmitting system in Cutler, ME currently broadcasts at one frequency through a two-element antenna system. This study investigates simultaneous operation at 24.0 and 17.8 kHz. Detailed nonlinear PSPICE models were generated for the system including the amplifier triodes, saturable dynamic-tuning reactors, and the closely-coupled antenna elements. The predicted behavior is in close agreement with available observations. Upper limits are placed on harmonic content, <-59.8 dBc, and intermodulation distortion, <-78 dBc.     

The use of multiple receivers to measure the wave characteristics of very-low-frequency noise in space

Until now most very-low-frequency (VLF) radio noise experiments in the ionosphere, magnetosphere and solar wind have been able to provide only the amplitude and spectral characteristics of VLF phenomena. Experiments using multiple receivers to measure the amplitudes and relative phases of the magnetic and electric wave components, however, can give the wave characteristics in addition. Knowledge of both the spectral and the wave characteristics are desirable in making deductions about the noise source location and mechanism and about the properties of the propagation path. Expressions are derived for obtaining the electromagnetic wave characteristics — wave normal vector, Poynting vector and wave polarization — and the electrostatic wave characteristics — wave normal direction and field magnitude — from the amplitudes and relative phases of the wave components. The antenna systems capable of measuring the necessary wave components on payloads which are not spinning, spinning, or spinning and precessing are described. Consideration is given to the experimental technique of reducing payload interference, of transferring the required data to the ground and of obtaining the desired spatial, frequency, amplitude and phase resolution.The data obtained with such an experiment may represent the superposition of signals from multiple sources and multiple paths and from interference signals. Interpretation of these results is discussed and the use of the results of obtaining information on the source location and mechanism and on the propagation path properties is described. Recently several sounding rocket and satellite experiments capable of measuring some of the wave characteristics have been flown. The results concerning the wave normal directions for several different types of VLF noise phenomena are summarized.     

VLF electromagnetic waves observed onboard GEOS-1

This paper is concerned mainly with the information which can be extracted from frequency-time spectra in the VLF range. The instrument used is the correlator which has a good frequency resolution (50 Hz) and time resolution (30 ms) in one magnetic and one electric component simultaneously. By suitable computer analysis, it is possible for instance to distinguish between the two dominant electromagnetic emissions, hiss and chorus, as well as to display the complete spectra. This treatment is applied to the Survey periods, which are a fixed sequence of modes, repeated every hour on the hour in order to have reference data from GEOS analogous to many ground-based observatories. One result of this treatment obtained already is that hiss and chorus normally appear together, although one or the other may be dominating in intensity. The occurrence rate of these emissions in local time is also given.For continuous surveillance the filterbank data are used. There are 16 frequency filters supplying magnetic and electric amplitude at few different frequencies. Using these data, a storm sudden commencement can be followed with good time resolution (1 s), and an interesting correlation has been found in a few cases between the VLF signal amplitude and the cold plasma density (as measured by the active part of the S-300 experiment).     

Effects of DC and AC electric and magnetic fields on people andanimals

The calculation of field intensity is briefly reviewed. The effects of DC fields and fields from 60-Hz and three-phase power lines are discussed. Measurement of the field under a 12-kV distribution line is described. The insignificant nature of most exposure is emphasized     

Fluctuating magnetic fields in the magnetosphere

The study of Extremely-Low-Frequency (ELF) and Very-Low-Frequency (VLF) waves in space has been intensively pursued in the past decade. Search coil magnetometers, magnetic loop antennas, and electric dipole antennas have been carried on board many spacecraft. The measurements performed by these instruments have revealed a multitude of wave phenomena, whose study in turn is providing a wealth of information on the physics of the magnetospheric and ionospheric plasma. Two classes of wave phenomena are observed: whistlers and emissions. The observed whistler phenomena include: multiple hop ducted whistlers, ion-cutoff whistlers, ion cyclotron whistlers, subprotonospheric whistlers, magnetospherically reflected whistlers and walking trace whistlers.The emissions observed at high altitudes near the magnetic equator differ in many respects from those observed at low altitudes near the ionosphere. At high altitudes, inside the plasmasphere ELF hiss is the dominant emission and outside the plasmasphere chorus is the dominant emission. Also seen is a sub-LHR hiss band in the outer plasmasphere near the equator, and high pass noise and broadband noise in the outer nightside magnetosphere. At low altitude both ELF hiss and chorus are present but, here, ELF hiss is the dominant emission even outside the plasmasphere. Additional emissions, specific to low altitudes, such as VLF hiss and LHR noise are also observed. Although the observations of these phenomena by spacecraft have been complemented by many ground-based and rocket borne studies as well as by spacecraft observations of man-made signals, this paper reviews only satellite observations of signals of natural origin.     

Hard Limiter Performance as a Polarity Detector for Extremely Polluted Signals

A hard limiter is a simple, yet highly efficient, RF signal sensor for VLF and LF navigation receivers. The observation reliability is used as the single quality criterion for the hard limiter if applied as a singlebit analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The effects of noise (Gaussian and atmospheric), nonsynchronous and synchronous interference, and dc offset on the observation reliability are described extensively. The single parameter determination Pobs is adequate for characterizing the polarity detector. This facilitates rank ordering of influences disturbing the signal and is a useful tool in optimizing digital tracking loops. The ?built-in? noise-censoring properties of the hard limiter in the presence of atmospheric noise are excellent. Therefore, three different atmospheric noise models are used in the determination of the observation reliability Pobs. Some ways for coping with other disturbances that potentially threaten the good performance of the hard limiter are suggested.     

滤波器的设计与安装

分离信号，抑制干扰是滤波器的基本功能，要把电源线的传导干扰电平控制在标准规定的极限值内，安装电磁干扰滤波器是一种有效的办法。本文介绍了电源线滤波器的设计方法和安装要求，并对滤波器插入损耗的测试问题进行了探讨。     

Radio noise level due to electric power lines and its relation to line design parameters

The main results of radio noise measurements taken in Poland for 220 and 400 kV power lines are presented. The influence of various line parameters, such as conductor diameter and number, phase spacing, and height of conductor above ground on the radio noise level for power lines is discussed. The basic philosophy of choosing the line parameters and route at the design stage in Poland is described taking into account radio noise levels, electrical field gradients, and corona losses.     

Power line transmission and radiation

A power line system consisting of multi-conductors above the ground is decomposed into a metal return (or balanced) and a ground return (unbalanced) circuit in terms of propagation modes. Power line radiation above the ground is sorted into two classes, transition radiation from discontinuities which takes place from a line of finite length and ?erenkov-like radiation from a ground return or unbalanced circuit due to the Earth's finite conductivity and dielectric properties. ?erenkov-like radiation is thought to be predominant and to be a main source origin of power line radiation and, therefore, is specifically discussed in this paper. The problem is reduced simply to wave propagation along an infinite wire above the ground, without taking into account line discontinuities and ionospheric effects. It is shown that a TEM-type wave of a ground return circuit at low frequencies virtually transfers to the principal TM wave of a surface waveguide at high frequencies, via a hybrid EH-type wave in an intermediate range of frequencies, i.e., ‘transition region’ with increasing frequency. Consequently, the attenuation characteristics of wave propagation, which should include radiation losses as well as ohmic losses in the wire and in the ground, possess a maximum and minimum at certain frequencies in the transition region. This is due to two reasons: one is that the Earth transfers to a dielectric from a conductor and the other is that the field concentrates more densely around the wire with increasing frequency. Experimental evidence of this phenomenon is also given.     

Aircraft Power System Harmonics Involving Single-Phase PFC Converters

AC-DC converters with active power factor correction (PFC) are replacing uncontrolled diode rectification circuits on commercial jet airplanes in order to meet harmonic distortion limits imposed by new airborne electrical system power quality standards. The high line frequency of airborne AC power systems presents a major challenge for the design of PFC converters capable of meeting these standards. This paper investigates a new source of harmonic current distortion and the resulting system power quality problems related to dynamic interactions between PFC converters and the AC source. Experimental results are first presented to demonstrate the existence of such interactions and their effects on system power quality. Analytical and numerical simulation results are then presented to explain why such dynamic interactions can lead to significantly increased harmonic current distortion in steady state operation. Elimination of undesirable system interactions through proper damping of the PFC converter input filter is also presented and its effectiveness experimentally validated.     

VLF Loop Antennas for Pulse Reception

This paper describes an approach to the realization of a VLF loop-type antenna system. The theoretical analysis is applied to a four-loop system for Loran-C reception.     

掺铥光纤放大器对双单频激光放大的特性分析

建立了掺铥(Tm3+)光纤放大器对双单频激光放大的理论模型,对比分析了前向抽运方式下,双单频放大和单频放大时泵浦功率、信号功率、受激布里渊散射(SBS)功率,以及温度情况的不同.理论仿真了Tm3+离子掺杂浓度、光纤纤芯的有效面积和换热系数对双单频放大的影响.适当的掺杂浓度,可以有效地缩小放大器中光纤长度,减弱因过长的光纤对激光的损耗,还可以提高放大器的量子效率;选取较小的光纤的纤芯有效面积,可以获得较高的信号功率输出和较小的SBS功率;较小的换热系数可以降低SBS功率,从而有效抑制SBS效应.