Consequences of hydromagnetic waves on magnetospheric particle dynamics

Since long ULF waves are known to play a dominant role in the dynamics of energetic protons. Recent observations have shown that they also contribute to the heating and/or acceleration of both heavy ions and electrons. This review will deal with all the aspects of wave particle interactions that involve electromagnetic ULF waves in the equatorial region of the magnetosphere. We will consider successively Pc-3-4-5 pulsations, magnetosonic waves and ion cyclotron waves. In the latter case, for which both the experimental data and the theoretical interpretation are more advanced, we will discuss the linear, quasi-linear and nonlinear aspects of the interaction. Results of recent numerical simulations of this type of interaction will also be reported. A final section will be devoted to ULF waves observed in the vicinity of the Io torus.     

Extensions of the Discrete-Average Models for Converter Power Stages

An improved power converter model is developed by combining the average and discrete modeling techniques. The parameter determination of the proposed discrete-average model is shown to be dependent on the type of duty cycle control law and the nature of the error processor used in the feedback loop. Furthermore, the paper pinpoints deficiencies of the conventional loop gain measurement technique which is widely used in industries.     

An Upper Bound on Detection Probability for Fluctuating Signals

In the theory of signal detectability, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), defined as the quotient of the average received signal energy and the spectral density of the white Gaussian noise, is a fundamental parameter. For a signal which is exactly known, or known except for a random phase, this ratio uniquely defines the detection performance which can be achieved with a matched filter receiver. However, when the signal amplitude is a random parameter, the detection performance is changed and must be determined from the probability density function (pdf) of the amplitude. Relative to the case of a constant signal amplitude, such signal amplitude fluctuation usually degrades performance when a high probability of detection (Pd) is required, but improves performance at low values of Pd; the corresponding change in the required SNR is the so-called signal fluctuation loss Lf. Thus, since Lf in some cases represents an improvement in performance for low values of Pd, a question of at least theoretical interest is: how large might this improvement be, when the class of all signal amplitude pdf's is considered. The solution, presented here, results in a lower bound on the signal fluctuation loss Lf as a function of Pd, or equivalently an upper bound on Pd as a function of SNR. The corresponding most favorable pdf was determined using the Lagrange multiplier technique and results of a numerical maximization are included to provide insight into the general properties of the solution.     

Position and Velocity Estimation Via Bearing Observations

The problem of performing target motion analysis using noisy bearing measurements derived from multiple observation platforms or from a single moving observer is addressed. For the latter case, the properties of an estimator based on a Cartesian model of the process are detailed. Methods of providing estimates both before an observer maneuver, when the process is unobservable, and following an observer maneuver are developed. The results of an experimental study are presented.     

Wide-Aperture Digital VOR

The very high frequency (VHF) omnirange has undergone a number of evolutionary changes in the past 30 years. Early measurements of large errors led to the development of the Doppler VHF omnidirectional irectioal range (VOR) and its use. Further developments have been the precision multilobe VOR and the precision Doppler VOR. Interest in area navigation has led to the desire for a VOR greatly superior to any so far developed. Specifically, the objectives of the improved VOR would be a system that would significantly reduce magnitude of siting errors, provide greater accuracy and use digital techniques to simplify processing. ssing. The wide-aperture digital VOR described herein has been developed to meet these objectives. Its design is based on the crossed-pair interferometer principle where eight such pairs are energized successively by a set of pulses and phase shifts. The time multiplexed signal, detected by the aircraft receiver, is processed and simple digital computations are performedto determine the angular coordinates. The performance improvements have been achieved by the combination of using a 275-ft antenna aperture, and the use of digital techniques to generate the ground-radiated navigational signals and to process them in the airborne processor. Field tests of the feasibility model indicate it is a high performance ance system, capable of achieving an order of magnitude improvement in both site error reduction and in accuracy compared to present VOR systems. The measured accuracies were 0.11-degree standard deviation.     

Ultraviolet spectrometer experiment for the Voyager mission

The Voyager Ultraviolet Spectrometer (UVS) is an objective grating spectrometer covering the wavelength range of 500–1700 Å with 10 Å resolution. Its primary goal is the determination of the composition and structure of the atmospheres of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and several of their satellites. The capability for two very different observational modes have been combined in a single instrument. Observations in the airglow mode measure radiation from the atmosphere due to resonant scattering of the solar flux or energetic particle bombardment, and the occultation mode provides measurements of the atmospheric extinction of solar or stellar radiation as the spacecraft enters the shadow zone behind the target. In addition to the primary goal of the solar system atmospheric measurements, the UVS is expected to make valuable contributions to stellar astronomy at wavelengths below 1000 Å.     

Third-Order Loop Filter Design for Acceleration-Rate Tracking

A perfect third-order loop filter design that can be implemented as a digital filter is obtained which minimizes the noiseless steady-state acceleration rate (jerk) error for a fixed loop noise bandwidth. Simulations were performed to obtain transient responses of the third-order loop plus a sample fourth-order loop under a jerk input. The results enable one to obtain a loop design that minimizes the loop noise bandwidth required for a given steady-state jerk error and thus obtain better noise jitter performance.     

Comments on "Computationally Efficient Bank of Rectangular Digital Filters"

In [1] a scheme for forming a rectangular FIR filter bank is described using only a few percent of the number of multiplications required by straightforward procedures. The sidelobe level suffers degradation. Attention is drawn to a different scheme published in [2] and [3] which needs even fewer multiplications without degradationvof the sidelobe level.     

Design of the HEAO Main Bus Shunt Regulator

The High Energy Astronomy Observatory (HEAO) main bus regulator contains a redundant error amplifier (REA) and a 12-section sequenced shunt transconductance amplifier (STA) in which not more than three and not less than one shunt section are in an active control mode regardless of a failure in any one of the twelve sections. The part of the work concerned with the shaping of the frequency response of the REA and STA minor feedback loops and of the teolator major feedback loop is described. Emphasis is on the application of a general design technique embodying a "design-analyze-measure iteration loop," in which a first-cut design and analysis is corrected ard improved after experimental observation of discrepancies and deficiencies. In particular, an incipient high-frequency oscillation was thereby reliably eliminated. It is demonstrated that analysis techniques involving a minimum of algebra can provide full quantitative information on an efficient and reliable system design.