Two-dimensional adaptive array for spatially separating andtracking uncorrelated sources

A new structure for the separation and tracking of uncorrelated sources through the use of a 2-dimensional adaptive array is proposed and investigated. The structure consists of a matrix preprocessing beamformer designed to result in outputs which are due to individual sources in the steady state. The preprocessing weights of the beamformer are calculated using the estimated locations of the sources and are updated periodically. Continuous estimation of the source locations is accomplished by using the beamformer outputs to adaptively eliminate correlated components in a reference element of the array while the structure proposed may have rather erratic initial convergence behavior, it has the advantages of being simple to be implemented, fast in tracking, and well suited for applications in mobile communication systems for increasing system capacity     

Acquisition Time of Second-Order Aided PLL

The analysis of a second-order tracking loop operating in the frequency-search mode is carried out by the quasi-stationary approach. An arbitrary phase detector characteristic is assumed and perfect or imperfect integrating filters are considered. The theory leads to a closed-form expression of the acquisition time versus the relevant system parameters, the initial detuning, and the search rate. The limitations of this analysis concern the absence of noise and the hypothesis of large initial detuning.     

Efficient implementation of Capon and APES for spectral estimation

Both the Capon and APES estimators can be shown to belong to the class of matched-filterbank spectral estimators and can be used to obtain complex spectral estimates that have more narrow spectral peaks and lower sidelobe levels than the fast Fourier transform (FFT) methods. It can also be shown that APES has better statistical performance than Capon. In this paper, we address the issue of how to efficiently implement Capon and APES for spectral estimation     

Constraints on the FIP Mechanisms from Solar Wind Abundance Data

In the slow solar wind, elements with (first) ionisation potential (FIP) between ∼10 eV and 22 eV are depleted by a factor of about 4 relative to their abundances in the Outer Convective Zone (OCZ), and helium (FIP = 24.5 eV) is further depleted by a factor of ∼1.8. This depletion, called the FIP effect, is much less pronounced in the high speed streams coming out of coronal holes. The systematics of element depletion suggests that the FIP effect is produced at a temperature ∼104 K and that it is controlled by the time of ionisation at the solar surface. At the boundary of the polar coronal holes, the transition from a strong to a weak FIP effect is relatively sharp and coincides with the change in coronal electron temperature, indicating a profound change in coronal as well as chromospheric properties at this boundary. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Laminar flow control research at TsAGI: Past and present

This paper presents a brief review of activities in laminar flow control being performed at the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute named after Prof. N.E. Zhukovsky (TsAGI). These efforts are focused on the improvement of the existing laminar flow control methods and on the development of new ones. The investigations have demonstrated the effectiveness of aircraft surface laminarization applications with the aim of friction drag reduction. The opportunity of considerable delaying of laminar-turbulent transition due to special wing profile geometry and using boundary layer suction and surface cooling has been verified at sub- and supersonic speeds through various wind tunnel testing at TsAGI and during flying laboratory experiments at the Flight Research Institute (LII). The investigations on using hybrid laminar flow control systems for friction drag reduction were also carried out. New techniques of laminar flow control were proposed, in particular, the method of local heating of the wing leading edge, boundary layer laminarization by means of receptivity control, and electrohydrodynamic methods of boundary layer stability control.     

Surface Composition of Vesta: Issues and Integrated Approach

The instruments on the Dawn spacecraft are exceptionally well suited to characterize and map the surface composition of Vesta in an integrated manner. These include a framing camera with multispectral capabilities, a high spectral resolution near-infrared imaging spectrometer, and a gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer. Three examples of issues addressed at Vesta are: (1) What is the composition of Vesta??s interior and differentiation state as exposed by the Great South Crater? (2) How has space weathering affected Vesta, both globally and at a local scale? and (3) Are volatiles or hydrated material present on Vesta??s surface? We predict that Dawn finds many surprises, such as an olivine-bearing mantle exposed near the south-pole, a weakly or un-weathered surface that has been relatively recently resurfaced, and a very thin layer of surficial volatiles derived from interaction with the solar wind.