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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

Thematic Mapper Sensor Characteristics

The characteristics of the thematic mapper (TM) sensor onboard the LANDSAT 4 satellite are discussed. Topics include instantaneous field of view size, rise time, delay time, square wave response, bright target recovery, altitude effects, band to band registration, and scan profile linearity.

Engel, J.↗

Characterization of the LANDSAT sensors' spatial responses

The characteristics of the thematic mapper (TM) and multispectral scanner (MSS) sensors on LANDSATs 4 and 5 affecting their spatial responses are described, and functions defining the response of the system to an arbitrary input spatial pattern are derived, i.e., transfer functions (TF) and line spread functions (LSF). These design LSF's and TF's were modified based on prelaunch component and system measurements to provide improved estimates. Prelaunch estimates of LSF/FT's are compared to in-orbit estimates. For the MSS instruments, only limited prelaunch scan direction square-wave response (SWR) data were available. Design estimates were modified by convolving in Gaussian blur till the derived LSF/TF's produced SWR's comparable to the measurements. The two MSS instruments were comparable at their temperatures of best focus; separate calculations were performed for bands 1 and 3, band 2 and band 4. The pre-sample nadir effective instantaneous field's of view (EIFOV's) based on the .5 modulation transfer function (MTF) criteria vary from 70 to 75 meters in the track direction and 79 to 82 meters in the scan direction. For the TM instruments more extensive prelaunch measurements were available. Bands 1 to 4, 5 and 7, and 6 were handled separately as were the two instruments. Derived MTF's indicate nadir pre-sample EIFOV's of 32 to 33 meter track (bands 1 to 5, 7) and 36 meter scan (bands 1 to 5, 7) and 1245 meter track (band 6) and 141 meter scan (band 6) for both TM's.

Markham, B. L.↗

Coherent Digital Demodulation of a Residual Carrier Signal Using IF Sampling

An analysis is presented of a digital technique for the coherent demodulation of a residual carrier signal with a biphase modulated square wave subcarrier. The processing technique employs the concept of intermediate frequencies IF sampling. An optimum Costas loop is used for subcarrier demodulation and data-aided carrier tracking, i.e., combined Costas and residual carrier tracking. It is shown that the loops perform essentially the same as the corresponding analog loops in terms of signal-to-noise ratio and loop bandwidth. The sampling does not introduce biases or other significant effects on the loops, provided that the loop bandwidth is very small compared to the symbol rate, and that the number of samples per symbol is large compared to inverse loop bandwidth.

Sfeir, R.↗

Moving finite elements in 2-D

The mathematical background regarding the moving finite element (MFE) method of Miller and Miller (1981) is discussed, taking into account a general system of partial differential equations (PDE) and the amenability of the MFE method in two dimensions to code modularization and to semiautomatic user-construction of numerous PDE systems for both Dirichlet and zero-Neumann boundary conditions. A description of test problem results is presented, giving attention to aspects of single square wave propagation, and a solution of the heat equation.

Gelinas, R. J.↗

Thematic Mapper. Volume 1: Calibration report flight model, LANDSAT 5

The calibration of the Flight 1 Model Thematic Mapper is discussed. Spectral response, scan profile, coherent noise, line spread profiles and white light leaks, square wave response, radiometric calibration, and commands and telemetry are specifically addressed.

Cooley, R. C.↗

Landsat Thematic Mapper image-derived MTF

The Landsat Image Data Quality Analysis (LIDQA) Program conducted by NASA has the objective to quantify the performance of the Thematic Mapper (TM) on the Landsat-4 and Landsat-5 spacecraft. The interest in the spatial resolution performance of the TM is partly related to the decrease of the instantaneous field of view (IFOV) from 80 m for the MSS to 30 m for the TM. Studies related to the preflight line spread function (LSF), square wave response (SWR), and theoretical component modeling of the TM system modulation transfer function (MTF) have been conducted. However, the need remains to estimate the MTF of the complete system. The present paper is concerned with investigations related to this task. Attention is given to three approaches for measuring the MTF of the TM system from imagery.

Schowengerdt, R. A.↗

High resolution TVD schemes using flux limiters

Roe (1981, 1985) has utilized flux limiters to obtain second order monotonicity preserving schemes. In the present paper, the foundation for flux limiters in the formulation of first order three-point schemes are discussed, and a systematic outline is provided of the method of using flux limiters to obtain second order accurate TVD schemes. Attention is given to Phi limiters, the Van Leer limiter, the Chakravarthy-Osher limiter, the linear advection equation and square wave data, the inviscid Burger's equation, and the extension of flux limiters to irregular grids, systems of equations, and implicit calculations.

Sweby, P. K.↗

Phase-Measuring System

System developed and used at Langley Research Center measures phase between two signals of same frequency or between two signals, one of which is harmonic multiple of other. Simple and inexpensive device combines digital and analog components to give accurate phase measurements. One signal at frequency f fed to pulse shaper, produces negative pulse at time t4. Pulse applied to control input of sample-and-hold module 1. Second signal, at frequency nf, fed to zero-crossover amplifier, producing square wave at time t. Signal drives first one-shot producing narrow negative pulse at t1. Signal then drives second one-shot producing narrow positive pulse at time t2. This pulse used to turn on solid-state switch and reset integrator circuit to zero.

Davis, W. T.↗

Passive motion control of pneumatically driven displacers in cryogenic coolers

The split cryogenic cooler with a remote cold finger offers many advantages for use in cooling of infrared systems. A pneumatic drive for the displacer in such coolers was adopted in many cryocooler designs. This concept can be significantly improved by causing the displacer to move sinusoidally rather than in an essentially square wave, as in most of the present models. The way this motion was achieved passively is described and its advantages outlined. Data of minicoolers using this concept are presented.

Pundak, N.↗

A method for screening of plant species for space use

A cost-effective methodology which monitors numerous dynamic aspects of carbon assimilation and allocation kinetics in live, intact plants is discussed. Analogous methods can apply to nitrogen uptake and allocation. This methodology capitalizes on the special properties of the short-lived, positron-gamma emitting isotope C-11 especially when applied as CO2-11 in a special extended square wave (ESW) pattern. The 20.4 minute half-life allows for repeated or continuous experiments on the same plant over periods of minutes, hours, days, or weeks. The steady-state isotope equilibrium approached during the ESW experiments, and the parameters which can be analyzed by this technique are also direct results of that short half-life. Additionally, the paired .511 MeV gamma rays penetrate any amount of tissue and their 180 deg opposite orientation provides good collimation and allows coincidence counting which nearly eliminates background.

Goeschl, J. D.↗

Unimolecular diffusion-mediated reactions with a nonrandom time-modulated absorbing barrier

A diffusion-reaction model with time-dependent reactivity is formulated and applied to unimolecular reactions. The model is solved exactly numerically and approximately analytically for the unreacted fraction as a function of time. It is shown that the approximate analytical solution is valid even when the system is far from equilibrium, and when the reactivity probability is more complicated than a square-wave function of time. A discussion is also given of an approach to problems of this type using a stochastically fluctuating reactivity, and the first-passage time for a particular example is derived.

Bashford, D.↗

A spatially confined long-lived stream of solar particles

The intensities of low-energy solar-interplanetary electrons and ions at 1 AU occasionally change in a 'square-wave' fashion. The changes may be increases or decreases and they have duration of a few hours. In one such example following a solar flare, particles flow away from the sun in a well-defined channel 2.5 x 10 to the 6th km in width for twenty hours or longer. It is believed that the interplanetary magnetic lines defined by this channel connect to an active region at 16 deg N solar latitude. At this time the earth was located at a solar latitude of 2 deg S. Evidently the particle channel connects to a region of the solar atmosphere which supplies particles over these long times either via storage of the flare accelerated particles or else by continuous acceleration. Arguments are given against the latter possibility. A model for coronal storage which is consistent with the observations is discussed.

Anderson, K. A.↗

CMOS Clock Synchronizer

Circuit synchronizes clock and gate signals within one-quarter of clock cycle. Clock synchronizer with one-quarter-cycle skew constructed from three flip-flops, three NAND gates, and inverter. In addition gate signal to which clock synchronized, circuit requires square-wave input at twice desired clock frequency.

Kepp, R. B.↗

Resistojet control and power for high frequency ac buses

Resistojets are operational on many geosynchronous communication satellites which all use dc power buses. Multipropellant resistojets were selected for the Initial Operating Capability (IOC) Space Station which will supply 208 V, 20 kHz power. This paper discusses resistojet heater temperature controllers and passive power regulation methods for ac power systems. A simple passive power regulation method suitable for use with regulated sinusoidal or square wave power was designed and tested using the Space Station multipropellant resistojet. The breadboard delivered 20 kHz power to the resistojet heater. Cold start surge current limiting, a power efficiency of 95 percent, and power regulation of better than 2 percent were demonstrated with a two component, 500 W breadboard power controller having a mass of 0.6 kg.

Gruber, Robert P.↗

Synchronization tracking in pulse position modulation receiver

A clock pulse generator for decoding pulse position modulation in an optical communication receiver is synchronized by a delay tracking loop which multiplies impulses of a data pulse by the square wave clock pulses from the generator to produce positive impulses when the clock pulse is of one level, and negative impulses when the clock pulse is of another level. A delay tracking loop integrates the impulses and produces an error signal that adjusts the delay so the clock pulses will be synchronized with data pulses. A dead-time tau sub d is provided between data pulses of an interval tau sub p in the data pulse period tau. When synchronized, the average number of positive impulses integrated will equal the average number of negative impulses over the continuous stream of data pulses.

Vilnrotter, Victor A.↗

Particle propagation channels in the solar wind

The intensities of low energy solar-interplanetary electrons and ions at 1 AU occasionally change in a square wave manner. The changes may be increases or decreases and they typically have durations of from one hour to a few hours. In some cases these channels are bounded by discontinuities in the interplanetary field and the plasma properties differ from the surrounding solar wind. In one case solar flare particles were confined to a channel of width 3 x 10 to the 6th km at Earth. At the Sun this dimension extrapolates to about 12,000 km, a size comparable to small flares.

Anderson, K. A.↗

Near fields in the vicinity of pulsed electron beams in space

Most measurements of the radio frequency emissions from artificial electron beams in space have been made in close proximity to the beam. This paper presents theory and results for the near-field radiation associated with the operation of a pulsed electron beam, taking into account the effects of the ionospheric plasma. The beam is modeled as an infinite train of square-wave pulses and the radiation is obtained by adding coherently the radiation from each individual electron in the idealized helical trajectory assumed by the beam as it traverses the magnetized plasma. The mathematical solution is obtained by taking the Fourier transform in space and time of Maxwell's equations and the driving modulated beam current, and then taking the inverse transform of the resulting electric field. Typical electric field strengths are presented for a range of modulation frequencies extending from below the ion cyclotron to the electron cyclotron frequency.

Harker, K. J.↗

Narrow- and broad-band satellite measurements of shortwave radiation - Conversion simulations with a general circulation model

The Oregon State University/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory general circulation model has been employed as a vehicle for suggesting and exploring various means of converting narrow-band measurements of reflected solar radiation from the earth-atmosphere system to broad-band quantities. For purely illustrative purposes within the model's solar radiation routine, a narrow-band filter function consisting of a square-wave window extending from 0.5 to 0.9 microns is adopted. A limitation of the model, for this sort of endeavor, is that it does not include the wavelength dependence of surface albedos. Nevertheless, the model simulations tend to mimic the calibration of a narrow-band instrument, utilizing reflected solar radiation from the earth-atmosphere system as simultaneously measured by a collocated broad-band instrument; for the model, however, this is done in terms of fluxes, in contrast to instrument-measured radiances. The model results suggest that it might be preferable to perform narrow- to broad-band conversions in terms of planetary albedo (or an equivalent quantity), rather than in terms of reflected fluxes or radiances. Further improvement is achieved if, for instruments that can differentiate between clear and overcast conditions, separate clear and overcast calibrations are performed.

Cess, Robert D.↗