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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 235 records · Page 13
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2011

Power Spectrum of Uplink Array Signals with Random Phase and Delay Errors

Link Array signals emanating from different antennas must be compensated for Doppler and delay in order to achieve the N(sup 2) array gain predicted by theory. However compensation is never perfect, leaving residual errors that cause losses in array gain and degradation in signal quality. Here we develop a mathematical model for Uplink Array signals in the presence of phase and delay errors, similar to well-known multipath analyses but with features unique to this problem. The resulting losses and distortions are described, and the power spectral density of the array signal derived first conditioned on a given error vector, then averaged over distributions deemed suitable for Uplink Array applications. The impact of phase and delay errors on array gain and signal distortion are addressed, and the maximum data throughput is quantified in terms of the assumed error statistics.

uplinks arrays↗
NASA NTRS2020

Planning In-Flight Calibration for XRISM

The XRISM X-ray observatory will fly two advanced instruments, the Resolve high-resolution spectrometer and the Xtend wide-field imager. These instruments, particularly Resolve, pose calibration challenges due to the unprecedented combination of spectral resolution, spectral coverage, and effective area, combined with a need to characterize the imaging fidelity of the full instrument system to realize the mission’s ambitious science goals. We present the status of the XRISM in-flight calibration plan, building on lessons from Hitomi and other X-ray missions. We present a discussion of targets and observing strategies to address the needed calibration measurements, with a focus on developing methodologies to plan a thorough and flexible calibration campaign and provide insight on calibration systematic error. We also discuss observations that exploit Resolve’s spectral resolution to calibrate atomic codes, and cross-calibration between the XRISM instruments and with other observatories.

Eric D Miller↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Deriving Essential Climate Variable Data from Multiple Satellite Remote Sensors Using a Consistent Fingerprinting Method

Hyperspectral observations from satellite-based sensors provide high information content for the Earth’s atmospheric and surface properties. Traditionally, long-term climate products are derived by performing spatial and temporal averaging of level-2 satellite products. It is a time-consuming process to generate level-2 data products since modern hyperspectral satellite sensors have millions of observations each day with thousands of spectral channels for each observation. Additionally, differences in level-2 retrieval algorithms can lead to errors in the climate products when fusing data from different satellite sensors. We have developed a radiometrically consistent spectral fingerprinting method, which overcomes the above-mentioned shortcomings, to derive climate change signals from multiple satellite sensors using spatiotemporally averaged level-1 data. We have applied this method to Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) and Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) data and generated decade-long climate data records for atmospheric temperature, water vapor, cloud, trace gases, and surface skin temperature. A key component to this work is a set of observational-based radiative kernels produced from CrIS level-1 data using a single field of view (SFOV) optimal estimation retrieval algorithm. Only limited CrIS level-1 data (e.g., 1-2 years of data) are needed to the derive radiative kernels. Our Principal Component-based Radiative Model (PCRTM) enables us to perform SFOV retrievals under all sky conditions and provides radiative kernels (including those for clouds) needed by the spectral fingerprinting method. In this presentation, we will describe the basic methodology, the details of the algorithm, and results from NASA Aqua AIRS and Suomi-NPP CrIS data. The method can be applied to study future hyperspectral remote sensors such as CLARREO (Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory) Pathfinder (CPF), Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO), Surface Biology and Geology (SBG), Aerosol and Cloud, Convection and Precipitation (ACCP).

Xu Liu↗
NASA NTRS1994

Spectroscopy of Solid State Laser Materials

We retrieved the vertical distribution of ozone from a series 0.005-0.013/cm resolution infrared solar spectra recorded with the McMath Fourier Transform spectrometer at the Kitt Peak National Solar Observatory. The analysis is based on a multi-layer line-by-line forward model and a semi-empirical version of the optimal estimation inversion method by Rodgers. The 1002.6-1003.2/cm spectral interval has been selected for the analysis on the basis of synthetic spectrum calculations. The characterization and error analysis of the method have been performed. It was shown that for the Kitt Peak spectral resolution and typical signal-to-noise ratio (greater than or equal to 100) the retrieval is stable, with the vertical resolution of approximately 5 km attainable near the surface degrading to approximately 10 km in the stratosphere. Spectra recorded from 1980 through 1993 have been analyzed. The retrieved total ozone and vertical profiles have been compared with total ozone mapping spectrometer (TOMS) satellite total columns for the location and dates of the Kitt Peak Measurements and about 100 ozone ozonesoundings and Brewer total column measurements from Palestine, Texas, from 1979 to 1985. The total ozone measurements agree to +/- 2%. The retrieved profiles reproduce the seasonally averaged variations with altitude, including the ozone spring maximum and fall minimum measured by Palestine sondes, but up to 15% differences in the absolute values are obtained.

Buoncristiani, A. M.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Thermal infrared spectra of the Moon

Contrary to recent assertions in the literature, lunar emission spectra obtained at an altitude of 32 km with a balloon-borne telescope are virtually undistorted by atmospheric absorption, except in the ozone region. These spectra have been found to correlate closely with laboratory emission spectra of returned lunar samples measured in a simulated lunar environment. Thus, lunar spectra obtained with the balloon-borne telescope system are the standards against which groundbased spectral measurements of the Moon should be compared. Comparison of balloon-borne measurements with recent groundbased spectral measurements suggests that the latter suffer from some source of systematic error. When high-quality lunar spectra are available, they will be best interpreted by comparison with returned lunar samples, rather than terrestrial minerals or rocks, because of subtle spectral differences between lunar and terrestrial minerals perhaps associated with incipient alteration of the latter.

Salisbury, John W.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Performance of convolutionally encoded noncoherent MFSK modem in fading channels

The performance of a convolutionally encoded noncoherent multiple-frequency shift-keyed (MFSK) modem utilizing Viterbi maximum-likelihood decoding and operating on a fading channel is described. Both the lognormal and classical Rician fading channels are considered for both slow and time-varying channel conditions. Primary interest is in the resulting bit error rate as a function of the ratio between the energy per transmitted information bit and noise spectral density, parameterized by both the fading channel and code parameters. Fairly general upper bounds on bit error probability are provided and compared with simulation results in the two extremes of zero and infinite channel memory. The efficacy of simple block interleaving in combatting channel memory effects are thoroughly explored. Both quantized and unquantized receiver outputs are considered.

Modestino, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Ozone spectroscopy with a CO2 waveguide laser

Ozone spectral measurements were conducted with a waveguide CO2 laser, which was continuously tunable over a + or - 450-MHz region, about several lines in the P-branch of the band near the 9.5-micron wavelength region. A passively stabilized low-pressure CO2 laser was also used to provide reference CO2 frequencies. The frequencies of several ozone lines were determined in the nu-3 band, which are near CO2 laser line frequencies in the 9.5-micron wavelength region. The absolute measurement accuracy is estimated to be + or - 6 MHz, and the measurements indicate that the ozone line frequencies listed in currently available spectral compilations are 0.003-0.006 per cm too high. The size of this error is small by conventional IR standards, but extremely important when CO2 laser instruments are used to monitor stratospheric ozone, where line widths in this spectral region are typically 0.001/cm. Empirically determined absorption curves must be constructed in order to calibrate laser differential absorption instrument properly when low-altitude ozone measurements are conducted.

Menzies, R. T.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

The Spectral Information Based Angular Correction Methodology for Satellite Intercalibration Applications

Satellite inter-calibration often requires collocated observations with minimized discrepancies in sun-view angles, observation times, and sensor characteristics. The collocation criteria directly impact achievable inter-calibration accuracy. Addressing potential angular mismatches in inter-calibration samples is critical but not as fully recognized and addressed as spatial-temporal mismatches in many studies. To achieve high-accuracy corrections for errors due to mismatched sun-view geometry angles, an angular correction algorithm has been developed for the Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory Pathfinder (CPF) mission. This algorithm uses spectral correlation relationships to estimate differences in spectral radiances measured at different angles. This methodology can be extended for inter-calibrations between sensors measuring band radiances across a broad spectral region. We demonstrate its application in reducing angular mismatch errors between collocated measurements of multi-spectral imaging sensors, using the inter-calibration between the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) as an example. The angular correction allows for more relaxed collocation criteria so that more satellite-based inter-calibration samples can be utilized. Furthermore, implementing the angular correction algorithm improves inter-calibration accuracy in applications where angular mismatch errors have not been explicitly addressed previously.

Wan Wu↗
NASA NTRS2007

Physical Retrieval of Surface Emissivity Spectrum from Hyperspectral Infrared Radiances

Retrieval of temperature, moisture profiles and surface skin temperature from hyperspectral infrared (IR) radiances requires spectral information about the surface emissivity. Using constant or inaccurate surface emissivities typically results in large retrieval errors, particularly over semi-arid or arid areas where the variation in emissivity spectrum is large both spectrally and spatially. In this study, a physically based algorithm has been developed to retrieve a hyperspectral IR emissivity spectrum simultaneously with the temperature and moisture profiles, as well as the surface skin temperature. To make the solution stable and efficient, the hyperspectral emissivity spectrum is represented by eigenvectors, derived from the laboratory measured hyperspectral emissivity database, in the retrieval process. Experience with AIRS (Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder) radiances shows that a simultaneous retrieval of the emissivity spectrum and the sounding improves the surface skin temperature as well as temperature and moisture profiles, particularly in the near surface layer.

Li, Jun↗
NASA NTRS2024

Spectrally Efficient GaN High-Power Amplifier for Lunar Communications

The paper demonstrates a spectrally efficient Ka-band GaN MMIC based high-power amplifier (HPA) that uses a waveguide 4-port magic-tee as a 2-way power combiner to combine the output from two lower power amplifier circuits. The paper presents for the prototype HPA the measured output power, gain, power added efficiency, error vector magnitude for Offset-QPSK, 8PSK, 16APSK, 32APSK, and 16QAM waveforms, waveform spectrum, and out-of-band spectral regrowth. The HPA is intended for establishing a direct communication link between assets on the lunar surface/orbit and Earth.

Gallium nitride↗
NASA NTRS2012

Method for Pre-Conditioning a Measured Surface Height Map for Model Validation

This software allows one to up-sample or down-sample a measured surface map for model validation, not only without introducing any re-sampling errors, but also eliminating the existing measurement noise and measurement errors. Because the re-sampling of a surface map is accomplished based on the analytical expressions of Zernike-polynomials and a power spectral density model, such re-sampling does not introduce any aliasing and interpolation errors as is done by the conventional interpolation and FFT-based (fast-Fourier-transform-based) spatial-filtering method. Also, this new method automatically eliminates the measurement noise and other measurement errors such as artificial discontinuity. The developmental cycle of an optical system, such as a space telescope, includes, but is not limited to, the following two steps: (1) deriving requirements or specs on the optical quality of individual optics before they are fabricated through optical modeling and simulations, and (2) validating the optical model using the measured surface height maps after all optics are fabricated. There are a number of computational issues related to model validation, one of which is the "pre-conditioning" or pre-processing of the measured surface maps before using them in a model validation software tool. This software addresses the following issues: (1) up- or down-sampling a measured surface map to match it with the gridded data format of a model validation tool, and (2) eliminating the surface measurement noise or measurement errors such that the resulted surface height map is continuous or smoothly-varying. So far, the preferred method used for re-sampling a surface map is two-dimensional interpolation. The main problem of this method is that the same pixel can take different values when the method of interpolation is changed among the different methods such as the "nearest," "linear," "cubic," and "spline" fitting in Matlab. The conventional, FFT-based spatial filtering method used to eliminate the surface measurement noise or measurement errors can also suffer from aliasing effects. During re-sampling of a surface map, this software preserves the low spatial-frequency characteristic of a given surface map through the use of Zernike-polynomial fit coefficients, and maintains mid- and high-spatial-frequency characteristics of the given surface map by the use of a PSD model derived from the two-dimensional PSD data of the mid- and high-spatial-frequency components of the original surface map. Because this new method creates the new surface map in the desired sampling format from analytical expressions only, it does not encounter any aliasing effects and does not cause any discontinuity in the resultant surface map.

Sidick, Erkin↗
NASA NTRS2012

Highlights of TOMS Version 9 Total Ozone Algorithm

The fundamental basis of TOMS total ozone algorithm was developed some 45 years ago by Dave and Mateer. It was designed to estimate total ozone from satellite measurements of the backscattered UV radiances at few discrete wavelengths in the Huggins ozone absorption band (310-340 nm). Over the years, as the need for higher accuracy in measuring total ozone from space has increased, several improvements to the basic algorithms have been made. They include: better correction for the effects of aerosols and clouds, an improved method to account for the variation in shape of ozone profiles with season, latitude, and total ozone, and a multi-wavelength correction for remaining profile shape errors. These improvements have made it possible to retrieve total ozone with just 3 spectral channels of moderate spectral resolution (approx. 1 nm) with accuracy comparable to state-of-the-art spectral fitting algorithms like DOAS that require high spectral resolution measurements at large number of wavelengths. One of the deficiencies of the TOMS algorithm has been that it doesn't provide an error estimate. This is a particular problem in high latitudes when the profile shape errors become significant and vary with latitude, season, total ozone, and instrument viewing geometry. The primary objective of the TOMS V9 algorithm is to account for these effects in estimating the error bars. This is done by a straightforward implementation of the Rodgers optimum estimation method using a priori ozone profiles and their error covariances matrices constructed using Aura MLS and ozonesonde data. The algorithm produces a vertical ozone profile that contains 1-2.5 pieces of information (degrees of freedom of signal) depending upon solar zenith angle (SZA). The profile is integrated to obtain the total column. We provide information that shows the altitude range in which the profile is best determined by the measurements. One can use this information in data assimilation and analysis. A side benefit of this algorithm is that it is considerably simpler than the present algorithm that uses a database of 1512 profiles to retrieve total ozone. These profiles are tedious to construct and modify. Though conceptually similar to the SBUV V8 algorithm that was developed about a decade ago, the SBUV and TOMS V9 algorithms differ in detail. The TOMS algorithm uses 3 wavelengths to retrieve the profile while the SBUV algorithm uses 6-9 wavelengths, so TOMS provides less profile information. However both algorithms have comparable total ozone information and TOMS V9 can be easily adapted to use additional wavelengths from instruments like GOME, OMI and OMPS to provide better profile information at smaller SZAs. The other significant difference between the two algorithms is that while the SBUV algorithm has been optimized for deriving monthly zonal means by making an appropriate choice of the a priori error covariance matrix, the TOMS algorithm has been optimized for tracking short-term variability using month and latitude dependent covariance matrices.

Bhartia, Pawan↗
NASA NTRS2004

Blackbody Cavity for Calibrations at 200 to 273 K

A laboratory blackbody cavity has been designed and built for calibrating infrared radiometers used to measure radiant temperatures in the range from about 200 to about 273 K. In this below-room-temperature range, scattering of background infrared radiation from room-temperature surfaces could, potentially, contribute significantly to the spectral radiance of the blackbody cavity, thereby contributing a significant error to the radiant temperature used as the calibration value. The present blackbody cavity is of an established type in which multiple reflections from a combination of conical and cylindrical black-coated walls are exploited to obtain an effective emissivity greater than the emissivity value of the coating material on a flat exposed surface. The coating material in this case is a flat black paint that has an emissivity of approximately of 0.91 in the thermal spectral range and was selected over other, higher-emissivity materials because of its ability to withstand thermal cycling. We found many black coatings cracked and flaked after thermal cycling due to differences in the coefficient of expansion differences. On the basis of theoretical calculations, the effective emissivity is expected to approach 0.999. The cylindrical/conical shell enclosing the cavity is machined from copper, which is chosen for its high thermal conductivity. In use, the shell is oriented vertically, open end facing up, and inserted in a Dewar flask filled with isopropyl alcohol/dry-ice slush. A flange at the open end of the shell is supported by a thermally insulating ring on the lip of the Dewar flask. The slush cools the shell (and thus the black-body cavity) to the desired temperature. Typically, the slush starts at a temperature of about 194 K. The slush is stirred and warmed by bubbling dry air or nitrogen through it, thereby gradually increasing the temperature through the aforementioned calibration range during an interval of several hours. The temperature of the slush is monitored by use of a precise thermocouple probe.

Howell, Dane↗
NASA NTRS2012

Error Reduction Methods for Integrated-path Differential-absorption Lidar Measurements

We report new modeling and error reduction methods for differential-absorption optical-depth (DAOD) measurements of atmospheric constituents using direct-detection integrated-path differential-absorption lidars. Errors from laser frequency noise are quantified in terms of the line center fluctuation and spectral line shape of the laser pulses, revealing relationships verified experimentally. A significant DAOD bias is removed by introducing a correction factor. Errors from surface height and reflectance variations can be reduced to tolerable levels by incorporating altimetry knowledge and "log after averaging", or by pointing the laser and receiver to a fixed surface spot during each wavelength cycle to shorten the time of "averaging before log".

averging before log↗
NASA NTRS1981

Some effects of Field Of View (FOV) and target size on lateral tracking at hover

An exploratory flight-simulator experiment examined the gross effects of several factors potentially important to the design of a visual display system for aiding VTOL pilots in the difficult task of landing on a small sea-control ship. Field of view (FOV) and target size were the primary variables examined for a lateral tracking task in a full motion 5 degree-of-freedom hover simulation. The mean absolute value of tracking error was used to measure tracking performance, and cross spectral transfer function analysis was performed to determine the pilot's ability to generate good open-loop transfer function characteristics as a function of the experimental variables. It was found that FOV and target size can have a large effect on the pilot's ability to generate open-loop gain, and on his tracking performance.

Breul, H. T.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Earth feature identification for onboard multispectral data editing: Computational experiments

A computational model of the processes involved in multispectral remote sensing and data classification is developed as a tool for designing smart sensors which can process, edit, and classify the data that they acquire. An evaluation of sensor system performance and design tradeoffs involves classification rates and errors as a function of number and location of spectral channels, radiometric sensitivity and calibration accuracy, target discrimination assignments, and accuracy and frequency of compensation for imaging conditions. This model provides a link between the radiometric and statistical properties of the signals to be classified and the performance characteristics of electro-optical sensors and data processing devices. Preliminary computational results are presented which illustrate the editing performance of several remote sensing approaches.

Aherron, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1982

A climate index derived from satellite measured spectral infrared radiation

The vertical infrared radiative emitting structure (VIRES) climate index, based on radiative transfer theory and derived from the spectral radiances typically used to retrieve temperature profiles, is introduced. It is assumed that clouds and climate are closely related and a change in one will result in a change in the other. The index is a function of the cloud, temperature, and moisture distributions. It is more accurately retrieved from satellite data than is cloudiness per se. The VIRES index is based upon the shape and relative magnitude of the broadband weighting function of the infrared radiative transfer equation. The broadband weighting curves are retrieved from simulated satellite infrared sounder data (spectral radiances). The retrieval procedure is described and the error error sensitivities of the method investigated. Index measuring options and possible applications of the VIRES index are proposed.

Abel, M. D.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Digital carrier demodulation for the DSN Advanced Receiver

The digital in-phase and quadrature (I and Q) carrier demodulation for the Deep Space Network's (DSN) Advanced Receiver is described and analyzed. The system provides coherent demodulation for a variety of modulation formats including Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK), BPSK with a carrier residual, Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK), Offset-QPSK (OQPSK), and Minimum Shift Keying (MSK). The focus is on the theory and hardware design of the halfband filters which are the integral part of the demodulator. The underlying theory of the filters is summarized, a breadboard hardware design is described, and a VLSI implementation is proposed which significantly decreases the hardware. A second important problem analyzed is DC-offset in the demodulator. This is a serious problem which translates into bias error in the residual carrier phase detector. The dynamic range of the complex mixer is analyzed using a probabilistic approach. It is deduced that the resulting static phase error is less than 0.2 deg when the ratio of carrier power to noise power in the demodulator input bandwidth is -72 dB or higher. Thus, the static phase error is negligible at a carrier power to noise spectral density of 0 dB-Hz for a 15 MHz bandwidth demodulator.

Sadr, R.↗