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NASA NTRS1987

Direct infrared imaging of VB 8

Near-infrared images of VB 8 taken at K (2.2 microns) and L-prime (3.75 microns) during a period of good seeing at the IRTF show no evidence of the brown dwarf companion reported by McCarthy et al. (1985). Any companion 1.0 arcsec away from the primary must be at least 4 mag fainter than the primary at K and 3 mag fainter at L-prime in order to escape detection. A faint nebula centered on the star with scattering properties similar to a nebula detected near another main-sequence M star, Lalande 21185 (reported by McCarthy in 1986), may account for the extended emission detected by speckle observations.

Skrutskie, M. F.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Multipolarization SAR data for surface feature delineation and forest vegetation characterization

This paper presents the utility of multipolarization Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data for surface feature delineation and forest vegetation characterization. Three channels of radioed data (VV/HH, VH/HH, and VH/VV) are generated from the HH, VV, and VH polarization data (V = vertical, H = horizontal). The radioed data are linearly stretched to yield a digital number within a range of 0 to 255. The techniques for reducing SAR speckle noise and for measuring the degree of separation are discussed. For surface feature delineation, the results indicate that cross polarization as well as cross polarization radioed data better delineate those surface features that are difficult to separate by like polarization data. The results suggest using a median value filtering technique to reduce within-plot data fluctuation to increase the separability measure. For forest vegetation characterization, the results indicate that multipolarization SAR data may be used to estimate forest properties such as total-tree biomass, basal area, and tree height.

Wu, Shih-Tseng↗

NASA NTRS1987

Adherent Al2O3 scales formed on undoped NiCrAl alloys

Changes in the spalling behavior of Al2O3 scales formed on an undoped NiCrAl alloy are described. Two samples of Ni-15Cr-13Al (wt pct), one a control and the other sanded, were subjected to 25 oxidation cycles. It is observed that adherent scales formed on the sanded sample; however, the control sample had speckled, spalled scales. The data reveal that the adherent scales are caused by repeated removal of surface layers after each oxidation cycle. It is determined that interfacial segregation of sulfur influences spallation and sulfur removal increases bonding. The effect of moisture on scale adhesions is investigated.

Smialek, James L.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Imaging by time-tagging photons with the multi-anode microchannel array detector system

The capability and initial use of the Multi-Anode Microchannel Array (MAMA) detector in the time-tag mode is reported. The detector hardware currently in use consists of a visible-light detector tube with a semitransparent photocathode proximity-focused to a high-gain curved-channel microchannel plate MCP. The photoevents are detected by a (256 x 1024)-pixel coincidence-anode array with pixel dimensions of 25 x 25 microns connected to charge-sensitive amplifiers and event-detection circuitry. In the time-lag mode, the detector delivers the pixel address and the time of arrival for each detected photon to an accuracy of 10 microns. The maximum count rate is limited by the speed of data-acquisition hardware. The MAMA detector in the time-lag mode is currently being evaluated in programs of astrometry and speckle imaging.

Timothy, J. G.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Monsoon flood boundary delineation and damage assessment using space borne imaging radar and Landsat data

Space-borne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data acquired by the Shuttle Imaging Radar-B (SIR-B) Program and Landsat Multispectral Scanner Subsystem (MSS) Data from Landsat 4 were used to map flood boundaries for the assessment of flood damage in the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh. The cloud penetrating capabilities of the L-band radar provided a clear picture of the hydrologic conditions of the surface during a period of inclement weather at the end of the wet phase of the 1984 monsoon. The radar image data were digitally processed to geometrically rectify the pixel geometry and were filtered to subdue radar image speckle effects. Contrast enhancement techniques and density slicing were used to create discrete land-cover categories corresponding to surface conditions present at the time of the Shuttle overflight. The radar image classification map was digitally registered to a spectral signature classification map of the area derived from Landsat MSS data collected two weeks prior to the SIR-B mission. Classification accuracy comparisons were made between the radar and MSS classification maps, and flood boundary and flood damage assessment measurements were made with the merged data by adding the classifications and inventorying the land-cover classes inundated at the time of flooding.

Imhoff, Marc L.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Experimental evaluation of the performance of pulsed two-color laser-ranging systems

Two-color laser-ranging systems can be used to estimate the atmospheric delay by measuring the difference in propagation times between two optical pulses transmitted at different wavelengths. This paper describes horizontal-path ranging experiments that were conducted using flat diffuse targets and cube-corner reflector arrays. Measurements of the timing accuracy of the cross-correlation estimator, atmospheric delay, received pulse shapes, and signal power spectra are presented. The results are in general agreement with theory and indicate that target speckle can be the dominant noise source when the target is small and is located far from the ranging system or when the target consists of a small number of cube-corner reflectors.

Im, Kwaifong E.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Preliminary simultaneous L/C-band images from the JPL aircraft synthetic aperture radar

A squint mode processor for the processing of JPL aircraft SAR data collected in L-band and C-band is described which meets the criteria of optimum SNR, polarization isolation, and resolution. A steerable prefilter maximizes SNR while reducing the amount of data for processing efficiency. The resolution of images produced from data recorded at nonzero drift angle is improved by range migration compensation. The standard output products include high resolution images (with a range resolution of 7.5 m and an azimuth resolution of 2.74 m), four-look images (produced by averaging every four pixels in the azimuth direction for speckle reduction), and magnitude/phase-difference images (produced by correlating images of similar polarizations).

Lou, Yunling↗

NASA NTRS1987

Circumstellar radio molecular lines

Radio molecular lines appear to be useful probes into the stellar environment. Silicon oxide masers provide information on the physical conditions in the immediate vicinity of the stellar photosphere. Valuable information on the physics operating in the envelope of IRC + 10216 was recently obtained by high sensitivity observations and detailed theoretical analyses. Infrared speckle interferometry in the molecular lines and in the continuum is helpful in the investigation of the inner region of the envelope. These techniques are discussed in terms of late-type star mass loss.

NGUYEN-QUANG-RIEU↗

NASA NTRS1987

Evaluation of a satellite laser ranging technique using pseudonoise code modulated laser diodes

Several types of Satellite Laser Ranging systems exist, operating with pulsed, high-energy lasers. The distance between a ground point and an orbiting satellite can be determined to within a few centimeters. A new technique substitutes pseudonoise code modulated laser diodes, which are much more compact, reliable and less costly, for the lasers now used. Since laser diode technology is only now achieving sufficiently powerful lasers, the capabilities of the new technique are investigated. Also examined are the effects of using an avalanche photodiode detector instead of a photomultiplier tube. The influence of noise terms (including background radiation, detector dark and thermal noise and speckle) that limit the system range and performance is evaluated.

Ball, Carolyn Kay↗

NASA NTRS1987

Detection of a very bright source close to the LMC supernova SN 1987A

High angular resolution observations of the supernova in the Large Magellanic Cloud, SN 1987A, have revealed a bright source separated from the SN by approximately 60 mas with a magnitude difference of 2.7 at 656 nm (H-alpha). Speckle imaging techniques were applied to data recorded with the CfA two-dimensional photon counting detector on the CTIO 4 m telescope on March 25 and April 2 to allow measurements in H-alpha on both nights and at 533 nm and 450 nm on the second night. The nature of this object is as yet unknown, though it is almost certainly a phenomenon related to the SN.

Nisenson, P.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Characterizing forest stands with multi-incidence angle and multi-polarized SAR data

The potential for using HH-polarized L-band SAR data obtained at different incidence angles from satellite altitudes to identify and map different forest cover types and stand density classes is studied. Reasonably accurate results are obtained if the speckle characteristics of the data are suppressed by low-pass spatial filters and a contextual classification algorithm. Multipolarized L-band SAR data obtained from aircraft altitudes over the same test site are also analyzed to assess the relationships between polarization and forest stand characteristics. It is found that incidence angle controls, to a very large extent, the characteristics of the data and the type of information that can be obtained from L-band, HH-polarized satellite SAR data. Cross-polarization of L-band SAR data enhances and differentiates various forest stand characteristics which cannot be defined using only the like-polarized data, and vice-versa.

Hoffer, R. M.↗

NASA NTRS1988

The structure of circumstellar shells

Speckle-interferometric measurements are reported for the brightness distributions of the OH/IR stars OH 26.5 + 0.6 and IRC + 10420 at wavelengths which are near the center of and just outside the 10-micron absorption/emission feature produced by circumstellar dust. For OH 26.5 + 0.6, the angular size within the absorption feature is 0.50 + or - 0.02 arcsec, while the angular size outside the feature is less than 0.2 arcsec. For IRC + 10420, the angular sizes inside and outside the emission feature are both 0.42 + or - 0.02 arcsec. Simple models of the circumstellar shells are calculated which can account for the measured angular sizes and flux distributions of the objects. The models give the wavelength dependence of the opacity of the circumstellar material, which is quite different for the two objects.

Fix, John D.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Simulation of ocean SAR images via phase history generation

A method for simulating an ocean synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) image is illustrated for a simple internal wave current pattern. The method calculates both the amplitude image and the radar signal history. The simulation model used consists of six stages. In the first stage, the full wave spectrum in two spatial coordinates is calculated from the wind speed and direction using the action spectral density equation. In the second stage, the pixel size is selected and used as the basis for dividing the spectrum into large and small scale motions. Realizations for the large-scale ocean surface height and velocity are then calculated. In the third stage, the sensor wavelength and geometry are used to calculate the small scale statistics (radar cross section, coherence time, root-mean square (RMS), radial velocity and RMS slope). In the fourth stage, an autoregressive method is used to generate a realization of the surface reflectivity history that is consistent with the radial velocity and the radial velocity variance. In the fifth stage, the signal history is generated by summing the reflectivities at the proper times with the appropriate antenna weighting function for the SAR. As a consequence of this process, speckle is automatically included in the signal. In the final stage, the SAR image can be created by using any of the traditional ways to process the signal history, including variable focusing and multilook processing.

Bennett, John R.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Spatial compression of Seasat SAR imagery

The results of a study of techniques for spatial compression of synthetic-aperture-radar (SAR) imagery are summarized. Emphasis is on image-data volume reduction for archive and online storage applications while preserving the image resolution and radiometric fidelity. A quantitative analysis of various techniques, including vector quantization (VQ) and adaptive discrete cosine transform (ADCT), is presented. Various factors such as compression ratio, algorithm complexity, and image quality are considered in determining the optimal algorithm. The compression system requirements are established for electronic access of an online archive system based on the results of a survey of the science community. The various algorithms are presented and their results evaluated considering the effects of speckle noise and the wide dynamic range inherent in SAR imagery. The conclusion is that although the ADCT produces the best signal-to-distortion-noise ratio for a given compression ratio, the two-level tree-searched VQ technique is preferred due to its simplicity of decoding and near-optimal performance.

Chang, C. Y.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Some comments on particle image displacement velocimetry

Laser speckle velocimetry (LSV) or particle image displacement velocimetry, is introduced. This technique provides the simultaneous visualization of the two-dimensional streamline pattern in unsteady flows as well as the quantification of the velocity field over an entire plane. The advantage of this technique is that the velocity field can be measured over an entire plane of the flow field simultaneously, with accuracy and spatial resolution. From this the instantaneous vorticity field can be easily obtained. This constitutes a great asset for the study of a variety of flows that evolve stochastically in both space and time. The basic concept of LSV; methods of data acquisition and reduction, examples of its use, and parameters that affect its utilization are described.

Lourenco, L. M.↗

NASA NTRS1988

The very low mass triple system - G208-44AB and G208-45

The nearby (4.7 pc) system G208-44/45 is the closest known stellar triple beyond the Centaurus system. The close astrometric pair 44AB has been resolved using IR speckle interferometry in the JHK bands, yielding individual masses of 0.14 + or - 0.03 solar and 0.10 + or - 0.02 solar for A and B, respectively. The absolute K magnitudes are 8.9 and 10.0, respectively, while the distant component 45 has K = 9.1 and should therefore have a mass slightly below that of 44A. The JHK colors and spectral types are consistent with these values. These results indicate that 44B is the lowest luminosity component known in an astrometric binary and suggest that it could be substellar. Both 44AB and 45 show strong chromospheric H-alpha and Ca II emission. The system kinematics, large implied rotation rate of 44AB, and level of chromospheric activity in the side component suggest a relatively young system.

Mccarthy, D. W., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Supernova 1987A in the Large Magellanic Cloud; Proceedings of the Fourth George Mason Astrophysics Workshop, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, Oct. 12-14, 1987

Papers concerning SN 1987A are presented, covering topics such as images and spectrograms of the SN 1987A progenitor, a linear polarimetric study of SN 1987A, the energetics, nature, and uniqueness of the supernova, comparison of the SN 1987A light curve with other type II supernovae, P-Cygni features and photospheric velocities, the neutrino burst from SN 1987A, mass determination of neutrinos, neutrino transport, energetics, and oscillations. Additional papers discuss supernovae light echoes, the UV interstellar spectrum of SN 1987A, theoretical models of SN 1987A, circumstellar and interstellar interaction, the supernova as a stripped asymptotic-branch giant in a binary system, pulsar formation and the fall back mass fraction, the signals of particle acceleration at SN 1987A, the effects of the mixing of the ejecta on the hard X-ray emissions from the supernova, possible s-process gamma-ray lines in supernovae, detectability of early thermal radiation from a neutron star in SN 1987A, NASA studies of the supernova, and information exchange for SN 1987A. Observational studies presented include optical, IR, radio, and UV observations, IR speckle-interferometry, coded mask X-ray observations, broad band X-ray imaging spectrophotometry, gamma-ray and thermal X-ray observations, and reports from several observatories.

Kafatos, Minas↗

NASA NTRS1989

Digital image velocimetry

Digital image velocimetry is proposed for the measurement of the instantaneous velocity fields of time dependent flows. This technique improves the flow measurement by eliminating some of the restrictions on existing optical methods (i.e., laser speckle velocimetry and particle image velocimetry). Among these restrictions are the limited dynamic range of the velocity measurement, directional ambiguity of the velocity vector, and the difficulty of a real-time capability. The present technique greatly enhances the dynamic range of the velocity measurement and unequivocally determines the direction of the velocity vector.

Cho, Y.-C.↗