Omnidirectional Instantaneous Direction Finding System

A system for providing near-instantaneous determination of the azimuthal angle of arrival of a received signal has been designed and fabricated at L band. Direction is determined by phase measurement of the outputs of a multimode antenna, which has no moving parts. Effects of multipath interference are reduced to a minimum through a combination of signal processing techniques. The position of the transmitting source is presented on a PPI display.     

Magnetic Fields in the Large-Scale Structure of the Universe

Magnetic fields appear to be ubiquitous in astrophysical environments. Their existence in the intracluster medium is established through observations of synchrotron emission and Faraday rotation. On the other hand, the nature of magnetic fields outside of clusters, where observations are scarce and controversial, remains largely unknown. In this chapter, we review recent developments in our understanding of the nature and origin of intergalactic magnetic fields, and in particular, intercluster fields. A plausible scenario for the origin of galactic and intergalactic magnetic fields is for seed fields, created in the early universe, to be amplified by turbulent flows induced during the formation of the large scale structure. We present several mechanisms for the generation of seed fields both before and after recombination. We then discuss the evolution and role of magnetic fields during the formation of the first starts. We describe the turbulent amplification of seed fields during the formation of large scale structure and the nature of the magnetic fields that arise. Finally, we discuss implications of intergalactic magnetic fields.     

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.     

Remarks on ?Comments on 'Signal Resolution via Digital Inverse Filtering'?

Published comments on a recent paper criticized the use of inverse filtering as applied to resolution of overlapping radar signal returns. It is shown that an inadequate model of the inverse filter was assumed by the critic, which lead him to predict excessive time sidelobes at the filter output. It is demonstrated, by computer simulation, that the time sidelobes at the output of the true inverse filter are down 30 dB or more.     

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.     

Optical oxygen sensor instrumentation based on the detection of luminescence lifetime.

Optical oxygen sensors are mainly based on the principle of luminescence quenching. In contrast to arready existing intensity-based systems, the measurement of the luminescence lifetime provides certain advantages, such as insensitivity to photobleaching or leaching of the dye, or changes in the intensity of excitation light. This facilitates the use of simple optical systems or optical fibres. A new family of oxygen-sensitive dyes, the porphyrin-ketones, has been introduced, which exhibits favorable spectral properties and decay times in the order of tens and hundreds of microseconds. This allows the use of simple optoelectronic circuitry and low-cost processing electronics. An optical oxygen sensor module has been developed with the dimensions of only 120 x 60 x 30 mm. The prototype is based on the measurement of the decay time of the luminophore by measuring the phase shift between the square-wave excitation and the detected square-wave of the emission coming from the sensor. The instrument is based on semiconductor devices (light-emitting diodes, photodiodes) and may be used for the detection of oxygen in gaseous or liquid samples. The measurement range of the device is from 0 to 200 hPa oxygen partial pressure with a resolution of < 1 hPa over the whole measurement range. The overall measurement accuracy of < +/- 1 hPa has been obtained for periods of 24 h of continuous measurement in a thermostatted environment. The sensor response times t90 are typically < 1 s for gases and 0.5 to 5 min for liquid samples.     

Application of a Highly Parallel Processor to Radar Data Processing

The application of a highly parallel computer known as PEPE (Parallel Element Processing Ensemble) to radar data processing is described. The PEPE computer consists of a large number of identical processing elements which operate in parallel and are controlled by a common control unit. Each of the processing elements is assigned to a particular radar target such that many targets can be tracked in parallel. PEPE is designed to augment a conventional computer rather than to stand alone. The total data processing load associated with a radar tracking system is distributed between PEPE and the sequential machine in a manner than maximizes the overall system efficiency and desensitizes the system performance to fluctuations in traffic levels. The use of PEPE provides very high data processing throughput potential to a radar data processing system.     

Protein crystals in Phycomyces sporangiophores are involved in graviperception.

The sporangiophores of the zygomycete fungus Phycomyces blakesleeanus contain octahedral crystals with diameters of up to 5 micrometers in their vacuole. The crystals are associated with the intracellular membrane system. In tilted or horizontally placed sporangiophores, the crystals sediment to the respective lower face of the vacuole with a velocity of up to 100 micrometers per minute. The sedimentation is completed within about 2 minutes, well within the latency period for the negative gravitropic response of Phycomyces. Crystal-lacking mutant strains display a smaller maximal bending angle and a reduced gravitropic bending rate in comparison to the wild type. We therefore conclude that the crystals serve as statoliths for gravitropism in Phycomyces.     

On Sonar Signal Analysis

Systems which utilize acoustic energy to explore an undersea environment are called sonars. This introductory and tutorial paper presents a discussion of active sonar signal analysis concentrating upon sinusoidal, linear FM, and pseudorandom echolocation pulses. Many previously published results concerning sonar signals and their haracteristics are integrated, collected, and presented in a unified form such as to portray typical signal design considerations.     

Application of the Volterra Series to the Analysis and Design of an Angle Track Loop

A typical function of an angle tracking loop is to keep a radar antenna pointed at a target. The error in pointing is directly related to successful operation of the tracking device; therefore, its behavior is of interest. For a tracker with a general polynomial nonlinearity, an arbitrary initial pointing error, and a bounded deterministic input, a method is developed for finding upper bounds on the magnitude of the tracking error using Volterra series techniques. Convergence regions of the Volterra series are also obtained. Applications of these results are made to a second-order tracking device.