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At least 307 records · Page 17

Investigation of traveling ionospheric disturbances

Maximum entropy power spectra of the ionospheric electron density were constructed to enable PINY to compare them with the power independently obtained by PINY with in situ measurements of ionospheric electron density and neutral species performed with instrumentation carried by the Atmospheric Explorer (AE) satellite. This comparison corroborated evidence on the geophysical reality of the alleged electron density irregularities detected by the ASTP dual frequency Doppler link. Roughly half of the localized wave structures which are confined to dimensions of 1800 km or less (as seen by an orbiting Doppler baseline) were found to be associated with the larger crest of the geomagnetic anomaly in the Southern (winter) Hemisphere in the morning. The observed nighttime structures are also associated with local peaks in the electron density.

Grossi, M.↗

Trigonometric Polynomials For Estimation Of Spectra

Orthogonal sets of trigonometric polynomials used as suboptimal substitutes for discrete prolate-spheroidal "windows" of Thomson method of estimation of spectra. As used here, "windows" denotes weighting functions used in sampling time series to obtain their power spectra within specified frequency bands. Simplified windows designed to require less computation than do discrete prolate-spheroidal windows, albeit at price of some loss of accuracy.

Greenhall, Charles A.↗

Visualizing characteristics of ocean data collected during the Shuttle Imaging Radar-B experiment

Topographic measurements of sea surface elevation collected by the Surface Contour Radar (SCR) during NASA's Shuttle Imaging Radar (SIR-B) experiment are plotted as three dimensional surface plots to observe wave height variance along the track of a P-3 aircraft. Ocean wave spectra were computed from rotating altimeter measurements acquired by the Radar Ocean Wave Spectrometer (ROWS). Fourier power spectra computed from SIR-B synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of the ocean are compared to ROWS surface wave spectra. Fourier inversion of SAR spectra, after subtraction of spectral noise and modeling of wave height modulation, yields topography similar to direct measurements made by SCR. Visual perspectives on the SCR and SAR ocean data are compared. Threshold distinctions between surface elevation and texture modulations of SAR data are considered within the context of a dynamic statistical model of rough surface scattering. The result of these endeavors is insight as to the physical mechanism governing the imaging of ocean waves with SAR.

Tilley, David G.↗

Gravity field of Venus - A preliminary analysis

The gravitational field of Venus obtained by tracking the Pioneer Venus Orbiter is examined. For each spacecraft orbit, two hours of Doppler data centered around periapsis were used to estimate spacecraft position and velocity and the velocity residuals obtained were spline fit and differentiated to produce line of sight gravitational accelerations. Consistent variations in line of sight accelerations from orbit to orbit reveal the presence of gravitational anomalies. A simulation of isostatic compensation for an elevated region on the surface of Venus indicates that the mean depth of compensation is no greater than about 100 km. Gravitational spectra obtained from a Fourier analysis of line of sight accelerations from selected Venus orbits are compared to the earth's gravitational spectrum and spherical harmonic gravitational potential power spectra of the earth, the moon and Mars. The Venus power spectrum is found to be remarkably similar to that of the earth, however systematic variations in the harmonics suggest differences in dynamic processes or lithospheric behavior.

Phillips, R. J.↗

In-situ measurements of wave electric fields in the equatorial electrojet

Electric field wave measurements have been performed on two sounding rockets in the equatorial ionosphere. During a daytime flight from Chilca, Peru, intense electrostatic waves were detected on the upward-directed electron density gradient. During a nighttime flight from Kwajalein Atoll, similar waves were detected on a downward directed gradient. These results are in agreement with a gradient drift instability explanation of the generation of the waves. The wave amplitudes were as high as 5 mV/m, implying perturbation drifts comparable to the driving drift velocities. Power spectra from the turbulent region show a peak at long wavelengths, followed by a nearly flat spectral region before breaking into a power law form with negative index of 3.6-3.7 for wavelengths not greater than 30 m. Similarities between the spectra of the two flights suggest that the fundamental processes of the instabilities are the same in the day and nighttime conditions. The rocket data are consistent with radar results presented in a companion paper which show coherent, kilometer scale waves present in the electrojet.

Pfaff, R. F.↗

Study of cosmic ray scintillations from 5-minute data of the scintillations telescope Izmran and world-wide network stations

During cosmic ray propagation in interplanetary space there appear characteristic cosmic-ray intensity scintillations which are due to charged particle scattering on random inhomogeneities of the interplanetary magnetic field. The power spectra of cosmic ray scintillations on the Earth during some intervals from 1977 to 1982 (for quiet periods, for solar flares and Forbush decreases due to power shock waves) have been calculated from five-minute, one and two-hour values of the cosmic-ray intensity measured by the scintillator supertelescope IZMIRAN. The spectra were estimated by the methods of spectral analysis and by autoregressive methods which mutually control each other and make it possible not only to analyze scintillation powers at distinguished frequencies, but also to determine the behavior of spectrum slopes in some frequency ranges.

Gulinsky, O. V.↗

A fast particle-mesh simulation of non-linear cosmological structure formation with massive neutrinos

Quasi-N-body simulations, such as FastPM, provide a fast way to simulate cosmological structure formation, but have yet to adequately include the effects of massive neutrinos. In this work, we present a method to include neutrino particles in FastPM, enabling computation of the CDM and total matter power spectra to percent-level accuracy in the non-linear regime. The CDM-neutrino cross-power can also be computed at a sufficient accuracy to constrain cosmological observables. To avoid the shot noise that typically plagues neutrino particle simulations, we employ a quasi-random algorithm to sample the relevant Fermi-Dirac distribution when setting the initial neutrino thermal velocities. We additionally develop an effective distribution function to describe a set of non-degenerate neutrinos as a single particle to speed up non-degenerate simulations. The simulation is accurate for the full range of physical interest, M ν ≲ 0.6eV, and applicable to redshifts z ≲ 2. Such accuracy can be achieved by initializing particles with the two-fluid approximation transfer functions (using the REPS package). Convergence can be reached in ~ 25 steps, with a starting redshift of z=99. Probing progressively smaller scales only requires an increase in the number of CDM particles being simulated, while the number of neutrino particles can remain fixed at a value less than or similar to the number of CDM particles. In turn, the percentage increase in runtime-per-step due to neutrino particles is between ~ 5-20% for runs with 1024 3 CDM particles, and decreases as the number of CDM particles is increased. The code has been made publicly available, providing an invaluable resource to produce fast predictions for cosmological surveys and studying reconstruction.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Broadband sound radiated from subsonic rotors

Recent theoretical work on sound sources in subsonic turbomachinery is applied to the correlation of axial-flow fan and compressor noise measurements. Correlations are presented for directivity and sound-power spectra associated with broadband noise. A simple explanation is given to account for the relative amounts of sound power transmitted upstream and downstream from a single-stage fan.

Morfey, C. L.↗

Laser heterodyne spectrometer for helioseismology

The technique of laser heterodyne spectroscopy has been applied to the measurement of solar oscillations. Coherent mixing of solar radiation with the output of a frequency-stabilized CO2 laser permits the measurement of fully resolved profiles of solar absorption lines with high spectral purity and excellent frequency stability. This technique has been used to measure OH pure rotation lines in the infrared solar spectrum. Power spectra of these line frequency measurements show the well-known 5-min oscillations as well as significant velocity power at shorter periods.

Glenar, D. A.↗

Large-scale fluctuations in the interplanetary medium

Power spectra of measurements of the magnetic field strength in the heliosphere obtained by Voyager 1 between 1 AU and 9 AU have the form of a power law f exp -a from periods of several hours to at least 6 days. The exponent was a = 2.0 + or - 0.05 for all of the spectra considered, which is the exponent for a series of steps and for Burgers' (1971) turbulence. Spectra of large-scale speed fluctuations also have the form f exp - b from a period of a few hours to periods greater than 13 days in the region from 1 AU to 8.9 AU. The exponent b is generally somewhat larger than b = 2, implying some 'persistence' of the speed fluctuations. The low-frequency cutoff (outer cutoff) of the power law increases from a period of 6.5 days at 1 AU to 26 days at (6.1-8.9) AU, which can be attributed to: (1) the coalescence of interaction regions and (2) a transfer of energy from the spectrum of large-scale speed fluctuations. The outer cutoff of the spectrum of speed fluctuations increases from a period of 13 days at 1 AU to 26 days between a few AU and 8.9 AU. Both the magnetic field strength fluctuations and the speed fluctuations have fractal behavior, suggesting that they are self affine rather than dominated by a few large discontinuities.

Burlaga, L. F.↗

Solar Doppler shifts - Sources of continuous spectra

Oscillation observations can be used to study nonoscillatory solar phenomena that exhibit Doppler shifts. The paper discusses several effects of these phenomena and their associated temporal and spatial power spectra: (1) they limit the signal-to-noise ratio and sometimes detectability of oscillation modes; (2) there is the potential for better understanding and/or detection of solar phenomena; (3) large-scale convection may spatially modulate oscillation modes, leading to a continuous background spectrum; and (4) in regions of the spectrum where the resolution to separate modes is lacking one can determine upper limits for the integrated effects of modes.

Duvall, T. L., Jr.↗

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.↗

Radial variation of interplanetary Alfvenic fluctuations Pioneer 10 and 11 observations between 1 and 5 AU

The radial evolution of the power spectra of Alfvenic fluctuations observed within the trailing edge of high speed streams in the solar wind has been investigated using magnetic field measurements by Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 at heliocentric distances between 1 and 5 AU. In the analyzed frequency range (0.00028 - 0.0083 Hz) the spectral index of the computed spectra does not depend on frequency and is close to the value predicted for hydrodynamic turbulence. The radial gradient of the power density is independent of frequency and only slightly steeper than that expected for undamped propagation of Alfvenic fluctuations in a rarefaction region. The relation between the present results and those previously obtained by Helios 1 and 2 inside 1 AU is discussed.

Bavassano, B.↗

Timing Studies of X Persei and the Discovery of Its Transient Quasi-periodic Oscillation Feature

We present a timing analysis of X Persei (X Per) using observations made between 1998 and 2010 with the Proportional Counter Array (PCA) onboard the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) and with the INTEGRAL Soft Gamma-Ray Imager (ISGRI). All pulse arrival times obtained from the RXTE-PCA observations are phase-connected and a timing solution is obtained using these arrival times. We update the long-term pulse frequency history of the source by measuring its pulse frequencies using RXTE-PCA and ISGRI data. From the RXTEPCA data, the relation between the frequency derivative and X-ray flux suggests accretion via the companion's stellar wind. However, the detection of a transient quasi-periodic oscillation feature, peaking at approximately 0.2 Hz, suggests the existence of an accretion disc. We find that doublebreak models fit the average power spectra well, which suggests that the source has at least two different accretion flow components dominating the overall flow. From the power spectrum of frequency derivatives, we measure a power-law index of approximately − 1, which implies that, on short time-scales, disc accretion dominates over noise, while on time-scales longer than the viscous time-scales, the noise dominates. From pulse profiles, we find a correlation between the pulse fraction and the count rate of the source.

accretion↗

The Viking solar corona experiment

The 1976 Mars solar conjunction resulted in complete occultations of the Viking spacecraft by the sun at solar minimum. During the conjunction period, coherent 3.5- and 13-cm wavelength radio waves from the orbiters passed through the solar corona and were received with the 64-m antennas of the NASA Deep Space Network. Data were obtained within at least 0.3 and 0.8 R sub s of the photosphere at the 3.5- and 13-cm wavelengths, respectively. The data can be used to determine the plasma density integrated along the radio path, the velocity of density irregularities in the coronal plasma, and the spectrum of the density fluctuations in the plasma. Observations of integrated plasma density near the south pole of the sun generally agree with a model of the corona which has an 8:1 decrease in plasma density from the equator to the pole. Power spectra of the 3.5- and 13-cm signals at a heliocentric radial distance of about 2 R sub s have a 1/2 power width of several hundred hertz and vary sharply with proximate geometric miss distance. Spectral broadening indicates a marked progressive increase in plasma irregularities with decreasing ray altitude at scales between about 1 and 100 km.

Tyler, G. L.↗

Detecting and disentangling nonlinear structure from solar flux time series

Interest in solar activity has grown in the past two decades for many reasons. Most importantly for flight dynamics, solar activity changes the atmospheric density, which has important implications for spacecraft trajectory and lifetime prediction. Building upon the previously developed Rayleigh-Benard nonlinear dynamic solar model, which exhibits many dynamic behaviors observed in the Sun, this work introduces new chaotic solar forecasting techniques. Our attempt to use recently developed nonlinear chaotic techniques to model and forecast solar activity has uncovered highly entangled dynamics. Numerical techniques for decoupling additive and multiplicative white noise from deterministic dynamics and examines falloff of the power spectra at high frequencies as a possible means of distinguishing deterministic chaos from noise than spectrally white or colored are presented. The power spectral techniques presented are less cumbersome than current methods for identifying deterministic chaos, which require more computationally intensive calculations, such as those involving Lyapunov exponents and attractor dimension.

Ashrafi, S.↗

Plasmaspheric hiss.

A relatively steady band of ELF hiss has been detected by the OGO 5 search coil magnetometer on almost every passage through the plasmasphere; except for an anomalous region of the dayside at high geomagnetic latitudes, the emissions terminate abruptly at the plasmapause and are therefore referred to as 'plasmaspheric hiss.' A preliminary statistical study of the properties of the observed whistler mode turbulence has yielded the following characteristics: the waves are band limited with a sharp lower-frequency cutoff and a more diffuse upper-frequency cutoff; power spectra show a well-defined maximum near a few hundred hertz, the peak intensities generally ranging between 10 to the minus 7th power and 0.00001 gamma squared/Hz; the wave energy is spread over a bandwidth of a few hundred hertz, and corresponding wideband amplitudes are 5 to 50 milligamma; the waves are highly turbulent in nature and show little tendency toward definite polarization.

Thorne, R. M.↗

Observations of tropospheric phase scintillations at 5 GHz on vertical paths

The article presents observations of turbulence-induced tropospheric phase fluctuations measured at 5 GHz on the near-vertical paths relevant to many astronomical and geophysical measurements. The data are summarized as phase power spectra, structure functions, and Allan variances. Comparisons to other microwave observations indicate relatively good agreement in both the level and shape of the power spectrum of these tropospheric phase fluctuations. Implications for precision Doppler tracking of spacecraft and geodesy/radio interferometry are discussed.

Armstrong, J. W.↗