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.     

The Effect of a Pulsed Interference Signal on an Adaptive Array

The performance of a least mean square (LMS) adaptive array in the presence of a pulsed interference signal is examined. It is shown that a pulsed interference signal has two effects. First, it causes the array to modulate the desired signal envelope (but not its phase). Second, it causes the array output signal-to-interferenceplus-noise ratio (SINR) to vary with time. The desired signal modulation is evaluated as a function of signal arrival angles, powers and interference pulse-repetition frequency (PRF) and pulsewidth. It is shown that the signal modulation is small except when the interference arrives close to the desired signal. To evaluate the effect of the time-varying SINR, it is assumed that the array is used in a differential phase-shift keyed (DPSK) communication system. It is shown that the SINR variation causes a noticeable but not disastrous increase in the bit error probability.     

Optical identification of X-ray sources in the Einstein observatory medium and deep surveys

Methods are discussed for establishing the optical identification of X ray sources in the medium and deep X-ray surveys of the Einstein Observatory. Of the 63 X-ray sources with a statistical significance of 5 in the medium survey (Maccacaro et al. 1981), optical identification work is summarized for 51, of which identifications have been made with 30 active galactic nuclei. The optical properties of some of these X-ray selected objects are briefly discussed.The Einstein deep survey of Pavo (Griffiths et al. 1981) is used to illustrate the problems and methods used for securing optical identifications for X-ray sources in the deep survey fields. Identifications have been made with 4 QSOs at the bright end of the optical candidate distribution (together with 3 G stars) and it is shown that a further 7 fainter objects are also likely to be QSOs.     

Tracking Accuracies with Position and Rate Measurements

Tracking accuracies for the radial component of motion are computed for a track-while-scan radar system which obtains position and rate data during the dwell time on a target These results will be of interest to persons developing trackers for pulse Doppler surveillance radars. The normalized accuracies, computed for a two state Kalman tracking filter with white noise maneuver capability, are shown to depend upon two parameters, r = 4?0/?aT2 and s = ?dT/?0. The symbols ?0 and ?d are the position and rate measurement accuracies, respectively, ?a is the standard deviation of the white noise maneuver process and T is the antenna scan time. The scalar tracking filter equations are derived and numerical results are presented. Lower steady state tracking errors plus the earlier attainment of steady state accuracies are the direct consequence of incorporating the rate measurements into the tracking filter.     

Adaptive False Alarmrm Regulation in Double Threshold Radar Detection

In practical situations the false alarm probability in double threshold radar detection, sometimes known as binary integration with sliding window detection, is dependent on the nonstationarity and azimuthal correlation of the clutter which is present. Control of the false alarm probability can be achieved, to a certain extent, by the adjustment of the second threshold in the detection process. In this study two adaptive control techniques which are based on the statistical characteristics of the data are compared. Comparing the results for a technique based on first-order statistics with one based on second-order statistics, it is shown that the second-order, or correlation sensitive, technique can give a reduction of 30 to 45 percent in the false alarm probability with no corresponding loss in the detection probability. An interesting aspect of the results is the fact that the effects of the size of the sample area and the bias in the correlation estimator are clearly evident.     

Performance of a Pseudorandom Binary Phase Code with Errors and Doppler-Shifted CW

The effects that various code imperfections have on the peak of the mainlobe and on the time sidelobes of the compressed coded signal are described. The imperfections considered are finite pulse rise time, timing errors, code integration mismatch, and Doppler shift of the coded signal.     

Analysis and Design of Series Resonant Converter by State-Plane Diagram

Analysis based on the state-plane diagram is given for series resonant converters operating in the frequency range 0.5 ? fs/fo ? 1.0. When the voltages and currents in the converter are normalized, design parameters take on special geometric meanings in the normalized state diagram. Examples of converter design using graphical methods are given for the cases of ? and ? control. Control characteristics of the converter operating in the continuous conduction mode are derived. The concept of the energy reflection coefficient is introduced as a measure of power transfer efficiency in the converter design.     

An X-ray study of M51 (NGC 5194) and its companion (NGC 5195)

Observations of NGC 5194/95 with the Einstein HRI show a very strong nuclear X-ray source, surrounded by a diffuse flux, three point sources and the companion. The diffuse flux, which correlates well with the radio continuum, is likely to originate from the disk population with age 2·10⁹ yrs. The large luminosity from the nuclear source, together with optical and radio observations, shows that it belongs to the low luminosity active nuclei, thus extending this class to luminosities less than 10⁴⁰ erg/s.     

Some crucial X-ray observations — One or two SNR(s) in Crux?

A new EXOSAT (LE/CMA) observation of the region in Crux (R.A. 11h 45m, Dec. -62°) where Markert et al. (1981) reported the existence of two x-ray SNR's is presented. After cleaning the CMA field from the point source component, due to the UV emission of the numerous stars in the field, the smoothed x-ray contours are compared to the 408 MHz radio map of Caswell et al. (1983). The existence of two, well-separate x-ray emission regions is confirmed by EXOSAT, and the current x-ray/radio picture is not sufficent to distinguish clearly between the assumption of one or two (possibly interacting) SNR's in the region.