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At least 307 records · Page 17

Computer Analysis of Spectrum Anomaly in 32-GHz Traveling-Wave Tube for Cassini Mission

Computer modeling of the 32-GHz traveling-wave tube (TWT) for the Cassini Mission was conducted to explain the anomaly observed in the spectrum analysis of one of the flight-model tubes. The analysis indicated that the effect, manifested as a weak signal in the neighborhood of 35 GHz, was an intermodulation product of the 32-GHz drive signal with a 66.9-GHz oscillation induced by coupling to the second harmonic'signal. The oscillation occurred only at low- radiofrequency (RF) drive power levels that are not expected during the Cassini Mission. The conclusion was that the anomaly was caused by a generic defect inadvertently incorporated in the geometric design of the slow-wave circuit and that it would not change as the TWT aged. The most probable effect of aging on tube performance would be a reduction in the electron beam current. The computer modeling indicated that although not likely to occur within the mission lifetime, a reduction in beam current would reduce or eliminate the anomaly but would do so at the cost of reduced RF output power.

Dayton, James A., Jr.↗

Analysis of helicopter rotor blade torsional oscillations due to stall

An analysis of stall-induced helicopter rotor blade torsional oscillations was carried out, the primary objectives being to predict the onset and severity of the oscillations and their relationship to aircraft and blade parameters. Blade flapping, flapwise bending, and torsional degrees of freedom were taken into account, with radial variation in aerodynamic loading determined from a previously developed dynamic stall model. Results of analyses were compared with data from flight tests of helicopters. Analyses were carried out while parametrically varying blade vibrational characteristics. It was found that the amplitudes of the higher harmonics of torsional oscillations can be significantly reduced by either reducing the torsional natural frequency or introducing viscous damping in the torsional degree of freedom. A preliminary investigation was conducted to determine the feasibility and practicality of alleviating the stall problem by means of boundary layer control. The results indicate that boundary layer control would be effective in reducing the higher harmonics of torsional oscillations due to stall and that its implementation would not require excessive power or suction rates.

Crimi, P.↗

The dominant mode of standing Alfven waves at synchronous orbit

Low-frequency oscillations of the earth's magnetic field recorded by the UCLA magnetometer on board ATS-1, have been examined for the six-month interval, January-June, 1968. The initial interpretation, that these oscillations represent the second harmonic of a standing Alfven wave, has been re-examined, and it is concluded that this hypothesis must be withdrawn. Using evidence from OGO-5 and ATS-5, as well as the data from ATS-1, it is argued that the dominant mode at the synchronous orbit must be the fundamental rather than the second harmonic. From 14 instances when the oscillations of distinctly different periods occurred during the same time interval at ATS-1 it is concluded that higher harmonics can exist. The period ratio in 7 of the 14 cases corresponds to the simultaneous occurrence of the second harmonic with the fundamental, and 4 other cases could be identified as the simultaneous occurrence of the fourth harmonic with the fundamental.

Cummings, W. D.↗

Blade-Pitch Control for Quieting Tilt-Rotor Aircraft

A method of reducing the noise generated by a tilt-rotor aircraft during descent involves active control of the blade pitch of the rotors. This method is related to prior such noise-reduction methods, of a type denoted generally as higher-harmonic control (HHC), in which the blade pitch is made to oscillate at a harmonic of the frequency of rotation of the rotor. A tilt-rotor aircraft is so named because mounted at its wing tips are motors that can be pivoted to enable the aircraft to take off and land like a helicopter or to fly like a propeller airplane. When the aircraft is operating in its helicopter mode, the rotors generate more thrust per unit rotor-disk area than helicopter rotors do, thus producing more blade-vortex interaction (BVI) noise. BVI is a major source of noise produced by helicopters and tilt-rotor aircraft during descent: When a rotor descends into its own wake, the interaction of each blade with the blade-tip vortices generated previously gives rise to large air-pressure fluctuations. These pressure fluctuations radiate as distinct, impulsive noise. In general, the pitch angle of the rotor blades of a tilt-rotor aircraft is controlled by use of a swash plate connected to the rotor blades by pitch links. In both prior HHC methods and the present method, HHC control signals are fed as input to swash-plate control actuators, causing the rotor-blade pitch to oscillate. The amplitude, frequency, and phase of the control signal can be chosen to minimize BVI noise.

Betzina, Mark D.↗

Nonlinear calculation of a radial mode of oscillation of a hot white dwarf

A linearly unstable first harmonic radial mode of oscillation (period 0.86 s) of a hot white dwarf with a hydrogen envelope is analyzed in the nonlinear regime by application of the Stellingwerf technique to a nonlinear hydrocode. The mass and equilibrium luminosity of the hot white dwarf are 1.3 solar masses, and 1.6 x 10 to the 37th erg/s, respectively. A stable nonlinear mode is found to exist, in which appreciable shock damping occurs at and near the surface - the shock damping being the dominant stabilizing effect. This enhances the possibility that such an object can produce a pulsating X-ray source.

Degregoria, A. J.↗

Nonlinear Dynamic Models in Advanced Life Support

To facilitate analysis, ALS systems are often assumed to be linear and time invariant, but they usually have important nonlinear and dynamic aspects. Nonlinear dynamic behavior can be caused by time varying inputs, changes in system parameters, nonlinear system functions, closed loop feedback delays, and limits on buffer storage or processing rates. Dynamic models are usually cataloged according to the number of state variables. The simplest dynamic models are linear, using only integration, multiplication, addition, and subtraction of the state variables. A general linear model with only two state variables can produce all the possible dynamic behavior of linear systems with many state variables, including stability, oscillation, or exponential growth and decay. Linear systems can be described using mathematical analysis. Nonlinear dynamics can be fully explored only by computer simulations of models. Unexpected behavior is produced by simple models having only two or three state variables with simple mathematical relations between them. Closed loop feedback delays are a major source of system instability. Exceeding limits on buffer storage or processing rates forces systems to change operating mode. Different equilibrium points may be reached from different initial conditions. Instead of one stable equilibrium point, the system may have several equilibrium points, oscillate at different frequencies, or even behave chaotically, depending on the system inputs and initial conditions. The frequency spectrum of an output oscillation may contain harmonics and the sums and differences of input frequencies, but it may also contain a stable limit cycle oscillation not related to input frequencies. We must investigate the nonlinear dynamic aspects of advanced life support systems to understand and counter undesirable behavior.

Jones, Harry↗

Simulation of 100-300 GHz solid-state harmonic sources

Accurate and efficient simulations of the large-signal time-dependent characteristics of second-harmonic Transferred Electron Oscillators (TEO's) and Heterostructure Barrier Varactor (HBV) frequency triplers have been obtained. This is accomplished by using a novel and efficient harmonic-balance circuit analysis technique which facilitates the integration of physics-based hydrodynamic device simulators. The integrated hydrodynamic device/harmonic-balance circuit simulators allow TEO and HBV circuits to be co-designed from both a device and a circuit point of view. Comparisons have been made with published experimental data for both TEO's and HBV's. For TEO's, excellent correlation has been obtained at 140 GHz and 188 GHz in second-harmonic operation. Excellent correlation has also been obtained for HBV frequency triplers operating near 200 GHz. For HBV's, both a lumped quasi-static equivalent circuit model and the hydrodynamic device simulator have been linked to the harmonic-balance circuit simulator. This comparison illustrates the importance of representing active devices with physics-based numerical device models rather than analytical device models.

NONLINEAR CIRCUITS↗

Observation and theory of Pc 5 waves with harmonically related transverse and compressional components

The properties of 23 magnetic pulsation events observed by the AMPTE CCE spacecraft are studied. These events are selected on the basis of the field magnitude which oscillated at the second harmonic of a simultaneously present transverse oscillation. The events have a second harmonic period of 80-600 s (roughly the Pc 5 range), are observed in cluster in the dawn (0300-0800 magnetic local time, MLT) and dusk (1600-2100 MLT) sectors, and are localized near the magnetic equator. Although the azimuthal wave number estimated from an ion finite Larmor radius effect, is generally large (about 50), there is a marked difference between the events observed in the dawn and dusk sectors. In the dawn sector the waves have low frequencies (1-5 mHz), indicate left-hand polarization with respect to the ambient magnetic field, and propagate eastward with respect to the spacecraft. In the dusk sector the waves have high frequencies (5-15 mHz), indicate right-hand polarization, and propagate westward. It is suggested that the waves are all westward propagating in the plasma rest frame and that local-time-dependent Doppler shift is the reason for the local time dependence of the wave properties.

Takahashi, K.↗

Quantized discrete space oscillators

A quasi-canonical sequence of finite dimensional quantizations was found which has canonical quantization as its limit. In order to demonstrate its practical utility and its numerical convergence, this formalism is applied to the eigenvalue and 'eigenfunction' problem of several harmonic and anharmonic oscillators.

Uzes, C. A.↗

Construction of approximate analytical solutions to a new class of non-linear oscillator equation

The principle of harmonic balance is invoked in the development of an approximate analytic model for a class of nonlinear oscillators typified by a mass attached to a stretched wire. By assuming that harmonic balance will hold, solutions are devised for a steady state limit cycle and/or limit point motion. A method of slowly varying amplitudes then allows derivation of approximate solutions by determining the form of the exact solutions and substituting into them the lowest order terms of their respective Fourier expansions. The latter technique is actually a generalization of the method proposed by Kryloff and Bogoliuboff (1943).

Mickens, R. E.↗

Magnetic-Field-Response Measurement-Acquisition System

A measurement-acquisition system uses magnetic fields to power sensors and to acquire measurements from sensors. The system alleviates many shortcomings of traditional measurement-acquisition systems, which include a finite number of measurement channels, weight penalty associated with wires, use limited to a single type of measurement, wire degradation due to wear or chemical decay, and the logistics needed to add new sensors. Eliminating wiring for acquiring measurements can alleviate potential hazards associated with wires, such as damaged wires becoming ignition sources due to arcing. The sensors are designed as electrically passive inductive-capacitive or passive inductive-capacitive-resistive circuits that produce magnetic-field-responses. One or more electrical parameters (inductance, capacitance, and resistance) of each sensor can be variable and corresponds to a measured physical state of interest. The magnetic-field- response attributes (frequency, amplitude, and bandwidth) of the inductor correspond to the states of physical properties for which each sensor measures. For each sensor, the measurement-acquisition system produces a series of increasing magnetic-field harmonics within a frequency range dedicated to that sensor. For each harmonic, an antenna electrically coupled to an oscillating current (the frequency of which is that of the harmonic) produces an oscillating magnetic field. Faraday induction via the harmonic magnetic fields produces an electromotive force and therefore a current in the sensor. Once electrically active, the sensor produces its own harmonic magnetic field as the inductor stores and releases magnetic energy. The antenna of the measurement- acquisition system is switched from a transmitting to a receiving mode to acquire the magnetic-field response of the sensor. The rectified amplitude of the received response is compared to previous responses to prior transmitted harmonics, to ascertain if the measurement system has detected a response inflection. The "transmit-receive-compare" of sequential harmonics is repeated until the inflection is identified. The harmonic producing the amplitude inflection is the sensor resonant frequency. Resonant frequency and response amplitude are stored and then correlated to calibration data.

Woodward, Stanley E.↗

Observations of solar oscillations of low and intermediate degree

Measurements are presented of solar velocity oscillations with spherical harmonic degree 1-139 and angular order approximately 0. With an amplitude sensitivity of approximately 2 cm/s, trapped acoustic wave modes of radial orders 2-26 are observed at frequencies between 1.7 and 5.5 mHz. The radial order identifications of low-degree modes previously inferred from theory are confirmed. Only marginal evidence of long-period, gravity-mode oscillations is found.

Duvall, T. L., Jr.↗

Identification of aerodynamic models for maneuvering aircraft

A Fourier analysis method was developed to analyze harmonic forced-oscillation data at high angles of attack as functions of the angle of attack and its time rate of change. The resulting aerodynamic responses at different frequencies are used to build up the aerodynamic models involving time integrals of the indicial type. An efficient numerical method was also developed to evaluate these time integrals for arbitrary motions based on a concept of equivalent harmonic motion. The method was verified by first using results from two-dimensional and three-dimensional linear theories. The developed models for C sub L, C sub D, and C sub M based on high-alpha data for a 70 deg delta wing in harmonic motions showed accurate results in reproducing hysteresis. The aerodynamic models are further verified by comparing with test data using ramp-type motions.

Lan, C. Edward↗

Nonlinear analysis of a family of LC tuned inverters

A family of four dc-to-square-wave LC tuned inverters are analyzed using singular point. Limit cycles and waveshape characteristics are given for three modes of oscillation: quasi-harmonic, relaxation, and discontinuous. An inverter in which the avalanche breakdown of the transistor emitter-to-base junction occurs is discussed and the starting characteristics of this family of inverters are presented. The LC tuned inverters are shown to belong to a family of inverters with a common equivalent circuit consisting of only three 'series' elements: a five-segment piecewise-linear current-controlled resistor, linear inductor, and linear capacitor.

Lee, F. C. Y.↗

Upper limit on solar interior rotation

Individual 5-min p-mode oscillations of spherical harmonic degree 0-2 and radial order 16-26 are revealed by the Solar Maximum Mission Spacecraft's Active Cavity Radiometer Irradiance Monitor power spectra for total solar irradiance flux variation. Rotationally split p-, g- and f-modes have been identified in the temporal power spectrum of Bos and Hill's (1983) limb-darkening data, and from these splittings, two rotational curves have been deduced which imply a solar gravitational quadrupole moment sufficiently large to preclude agreement between general relativity and planetary motion observations.

Woodard, M.↗

Microwave and millimeter-wave resonant-tunneling devices

Resonant-tunneling devices in microelectronic component form, whose structure is the electron analog of a Fabry-Perot resonator, encompass oscillators, self-oscillating mixers, and harmonic multipliers. The negative differential resistance characteristic of these devices has been obtained at room temperature, and resonant-tunneling transistors capable of operation in the THz-frequency range appear to be feasible. Three-terminal resonant-tunneling device development is in its infancy, as is that of devices for digital applications.

Sollner, T. C. L. Gerhard↗

The development of a tunable, single-frequency ultraviolet laser source for UV filtered Rayleigh scattering

We present the development of a flexible, high power, narrow line width, tunable ultraviolet source for diagnostic application. By frequency tripling the output of a pulsed titanium-sapphire laser, we achieve broadly tunable (227-360 nm) ultraviolet light with high quality spatial and spectral resolution. We also present the characterization of a mercury vapor cell which provides a narrow band, sharp edge absorption filter at 253.7 nm. These two components form the basis for the extension of the Filtered Rayleigh Scattering technique into the ultraviolet. The UV-FRS system is comprised of four pieces: a single frequency, cw tunable Ti:Sapphire seeding source; a high-powered pulsed Ti:Sapphire oscillator; a third harmonic generator system; and an atomic mercury vapor filter. In this paper we discuss the development and characterization of each of these elements.

Finkelstein, N.↗

Searching for the Second Harmonic

To mathematically model the oscillations of a spherical bubble, either the time-dependent volume V(t) or the radius R(t) can be used as the dependent variable. A recent exchange between the advocates of the volume approach and the radius approach concerns in apparent discrepancy in the predicted nonlinear acoustic emissions from a bubble subject to a time-periodic external pressure field. This letter attempts to resolve the discrepancy via an examination of the arguments offered by both sides. In addition, some general comments on nonlinear harmonic and subharmonic emissions from acoustically forced bubble oscillations are presented.

Holt, R. Glynn↗