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At least 325 records · Page 18

Worldwide photometry of the January 1989 Tau Persei eclipse

New UBV photoelectric photometry of Tau Persei obtained at 19 different observatories during its recent January 1989 eclipse is presented. Mideclipse occurred at JD 2 447 542.31 + or - 0.01. The resulting light curve, though not complete at all phases, is solved for the elements with the help of two quantities derived from spectroscopy: the eclipse is 84 percent total at mideclipse, and the ratio of the radii is 0.135 + or - 0.01. Radii relative to the semimajor axis are 0.0236 for the G5 giant and 0.0032 for the A2 star. With a reasonable total mass assumed, the absolute radii say the A2 star could be luminosity class V or somewhat evolved and the G5 star is between III and II but could be closer to II. The G5 giant is brighter than the A2 star by 1.72 mag in V and the color excess in B - V is 0.06 mag, both quantities consistent (within uncertainties) with earlier estimates of Ake (1986). The eclipse duration, from first to fourth contact, is 2.09 day. The orbital inclination is 88.74 deg, consistent with what McAlister derived from speckle interferometry. Because of the large (e = 0.73) eccentricity, there is no secondary eclipse at all.

Hall, Douglas S.↗

The light curve and changes in the circumstellar envelope around IRC + 10216

This paper presents results of NIR photometric observations of IRC + 10216 star during the time interval 1965-1990, which were combined with measurements of the circumstellar shell surrounding IRC + 10216 by IR speckle interferometry. Using these data together with published observations, a very precise light curve was constructed, demonstrating the occurrence of long-term changes in the circumstellar shell surrounding IRC + 10216. The observations are discussed in the framework of two alternatives: (1) the occurrence of dynamical changes in the shell and (2) blocking of the direct light from the star to a portion of the shell by intervening material.

Dyck, H. M.↗

Holographic analysis as an inspection method for welded thin-wall tubing

The feasibility of using holographic interferometry for locating flaws in welded tubing is explored. Two holographic techniques are considered: traditional holographic interferometry and electronic speckle pattern interferometry. Several flaws including cold laps, discontinuities, and tube misalignments are detected.

Brooks, Lawrence↗

Adaptive optics in coherent lidar wind measurements: A feasibility study

Laser Doppler radar (lidar) is widely used for remote sensing of wind velocities. Usable wavelengths for the laser are limited by the effects of atmospheric turbulence. An adaptive optical system is proposed to compensate for turbulence effects on signal power. The feasibility of an adaptive system is considered in light of the effects of speckle from the aerosol target. It is concluded that adaptive optics is a promising technique for improving the performance of a 2 micron lidar wind measurement system. The chief technical challenges are a laser that will give the required output and pulse repetition rate, a combined Hartmann sensor and heterodyne detector, and a suitable reconstruction algorithm.

Leland, Robert P.↗

Signal Quality Influence on Averaging Procedure for DIAL Pollution Monitoring

Presented here is an analysis of the relative effect of each stochastic phenomenon on the accuracy of LIDAR measurements. The preferred averaging procedure to be applied is noted. The analysis takes into account the temporal correlation of the transmitted power variations which are associated with laser modal noise, short term temporal correlation of atmospheric turbulence, and 'white' additive noise. A distinction is made between two types of systems, one that transmits a sequence of pulses tuned into two wavelengths, but with a relatively large time separation, and another that transmits pulses in two wavelengths almost coincidentally. This distinction is important because the effect of speckle noise can be minimized when the pulses at two wavelengths are sent within the correlation time of the atmospheric turbulence. The presented analysis compares the signal to noise ratio in the calculation of the ratio beta (sub 1)/beta (sub 2), as achieved by using two methods of calculations: first averaging the data related to each wavelength and then taking the ratio, and first taking the ratio and then averaging. For both methods, normalization with respect to the transmitted power is considered, either prior to or after the averaging of the signals in each wavelength.

Egert, S.↗

Endoscopic measurement using radial metrology with digital correlation

Radial metrology combines standard optical measurement techniques with a unique panoramic annular lens (PAL) system to study material properties and deformations on the inner surfaces of the cavities found, for example, inside pipes, tubes, and boreholes. A PAL profilometer using speckle metrology is analyzed and the equations obtained from the analysis are used to calibrate the PAL profilometer when it is used to profile the inner surface of a cylindrical pipe and to measure the deformation of the pipe when it is subjected to diametral compression.

Matthys, Donald R.↗

Diffraction limited infrared images of the binary star T Tauri

High-resolution images of T Tau and its infrared companion have been reconstructed from near- and midinfrared data collected at the Hale 5-m telescope. The near-infrared (1-5 microns) results were obtained by 2D speckle imaging and the midinfrared (10-20 microns) results were derived from shift-and-add procedures applied to slit scans. The spectral energy distributions of the separated components were constructed from 1- to 20-micron data collected in less than half a year (September 1990 to January 1991). The spectral energy distribution of the optical component (T Tau N) is interpreted as containing two distinct constituents, a photosphere and a surrounding disk of circumstellar material. Measurements at a number of infrared wavelengths over the period December 1985 to January 1991 show a 2-mag color-independent change in the brightness of the infrared component (T Tau S). It is proposed that this may have been caused by an increase in accretion onto T Tau S and model the spectral energy distribution of T Tau S as being dominated by an accretion disk.

Ghez, A. M.↗

An infrared companion to Z Canis Majoris

New near-infrared speckle observations of Z CMa reveal it to be a double star with a separation 0.1 arcsec at P.A. 120 deg. The northwest component is an infrared object whose broadband spectrum is reminiscent of the infrared companions to several T Tauri stars. The southeast component has the spectral energy distribution expected for a circumstellar disk whose luminosity is dominated by gravitational accretion. The far-infrared and millimeter-wave photometric fluxes suggest the presence of a massive second disk large enough to surround both components; this may be the reservoir from which the material accreted by the first disk is drawn.

Koresko, Chris D.↗

Remote sensing science for the Nineties; Proceedings of IGARSS '90 - 10th Annual International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, University of Maryland, College Park, May 20-24, 1990. Vols. 1, 2, & 3

Various papers on remote sensing (RS) for the nineties are presented. The general topics addressed include: subsurface methods, radar scattering, oceanography, microwave models, atmospheric correction, passive microwave systems, RS in tropical forests, moderate resolution land analysis, SAR geometry and SNR improvement, image analysis, inversion and signal processing for geoscience, surface scattering, rain measurements, sensor calibration, wind measurements, terrestrial ecology, agriculture, geometric registration, subsurface sediment geology, radar modulation mechanisms, radar ocean scattering, SAR calibration, airborne radar systems, water vapor retrieval, forest ecosystem dynamics, land analysis, multisensor data fusion. Also considered are: geologic RS, RS sensor optical measurements, RS of snow, temperature retrieval, vegetation structure, global change, artificial intelligence, SAR processing techniques, geologic RS field experiment, stochastic modeling, topography and Digital Elevation model, SAR ocean waves, spaceborne lidar and optical, sea ice field measurements, millimeter waves, advanced spectroscopy, spatial analysis and data compression, SAR polarimetry techniques. Also discussed are: plant canopy modeling, optical RS techniques, optical and IR oceanography, soil moisture, sea ice back scattering, lightning cloud measurements, spatial textural analysis, SAR systems and techniques, active microwave sensing, lidar and optical, radar scatterometry, RS of estuaries, vegetation modeling, RS systems, EOS/SAR Alaska, applications for developing countries, SAR speckle and texture.

Source record↗

The search for brown dwarfs

The theory of brown dwarfs is summarized and observational findings regarding brown dwarfs are reviewed. The equation of state, the thermal properties, the interior transport properties, the boundary conditions, and the initial conditions are examined. Indirect observations, IR speckle interferometry, IR photometry, and field observations of brown dwarfs are discussed.

Stevenson, David J.↗

Low-cost, high-resolution, single-structure array telescopes for imaging of low-earth-orbit satellites

Telescopes that are designed for the unconventional imaging of near-earth satellites must follow unique design rules. The costs must be reduced substantially over those of the conventional telescope designs, and the design must accommodate a technique to circumvent atmospheric distortion of the image. Apertures of 12 m and more along with altitude-altitude mounts that provide high tracking rates are required. A novel design for such a telescope, optimized for speckle imaging, has been generated. Its mount closely resembles a radar mount, and it does not use the conventional dome. Costs for this design are projected to be considerably lower than those for the conventional designs. Results of a design study are presented with details of the electro-optical and optical designs.

Massie, N. A.↗

An astrometric study of the Mira variable R Leonis and the occultation binary 19 Leonis

The Multichannel Astrometric Photometer (MAP) was used to determine parallaxes of stars in the region centered on the Mira variable R Leonis. R Leonis, with a parallax of 8.3 +/- 1.0 mas (120 +/- 15 pc), is significantly closer than most recent estimates. At visual wavelengths, its mean physical diameter is 612 +/- 96 times that of the sun. The photocentric motion of R Leonis is not suggestive of either optical or orbital companions, excluding possible secondary components over a wide range of magnitudes as well as orbital periods of up to approximately one decade. Nineteen Leonis, an occultation-speckle binary with a well-determined orbit and a reference star in the R Leonis field, has a distance of 92.6 +/- 12 pc. The 15.2 yr period binary exhibits a slight perturbation during the 4 yr of MAP observations. The similar primary and secondary of this A7 Vn system are 2.41 +/- 0.96 and 2.31 +/- 0.92 solar masses, respectively.

Gatewood, George↗

Multi-spectral analysis of ice sheets using co-registered SAR and TM imagery

Landsat Thematic Mapper and airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery acquired over an area of south-western Greenland are coregistered and analyzed. Significant corrections to the SAR data were required to account for range-darkening, non-square pixel dimensions, speckle, and relief distortion. In one area, exposed rock was available for use as co-registration control, while in another area it was absent and supraglacial lakes and streams were used. The coregistered scenes highlight many differences between the optical and radar signatures of ice sheets.

Vornberger, P. L.↗

Classification of multifrequency multilook synthetic aperture radar data

A technique for segmentation of multifrequency multilook intensity synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data into regions of homogeneous and similar backscatter characteristics is presented. Two statistical models, one for the multifrequency multilook SAR intensities and the other for the distribution of the region labels, are combined to obtain the a posteriori probability distribution function of the region labels given the multifrequency speckled intensities. As the maximization of the posterior distribution is computationally intensive, a suboptimal technique for region labeling is proposed. Several examples using both simulated and real multifrequency multilook imagery are given to illustrate the performance of the algorithm.

Rignot, Eric↗

Assessment of surface penetration with polarimetric radar

An airborne P-, L-, and C-band polarimetric radar dataset acquired over the Atchafalaya Bay study site was used to assess its surface penetration capabilities. The dataset was decompressed and reformatted to form a three-wavelength and three-polarization nine-channel dataset. All nine channels were filtered for speckle noise removal, using the 7-by-7 local-statistics moving-window filtering. Significant smoothing of data was obtained so that the data can be classified using the SRCH and M234 ELAS programs. Preliminary assessment of the PLC images indicated that the radar waves penetrated muddy water. Therefore the radar can measure the water depth and can be used to map the submerged sediments. A statistical analysis of the digital data provided insight on the depth of muddy water penetration.

Wu, Shih-Tseng↗

Coherent summation of spatially distorted laser Doppler signals by using a two-dimensional heterodyne detector array

Phase-sensitive coherent summation of individual heterodyne detector array signals was demonstrated for the enhanced detection of spatially distorted laser Doppler returns. With the use of a 2 x 2 heterodyne detector array, the phase and amplitude of a time-varying speckle pattern was detected, and the signal-to-noise ratio of the Doppler shift estimate was shown to be improved by a factor of 2, depending on the extent of spatial coherence loss. These results are shown to agree with a first-order analysis and indicate the advantage of coherent summation for both short-range laser Doppler velocimetry and long-range atmospheric coherent lidar.

Chan, Kin P.↗

Laser System Measures Two-Dimensional Strain

Principal strains on surface of hot specimen determined at temperatures up to 750 degrees C by use of noncontact optical method based on work of I. Yamaguchi. Strains deduced from measured shifts in laser speckle patterns reflected from specimen. No preparation of surface required. Optical strain-measuring system includes rotatable assembly to enable measurement of strain in any desired direction along surface of specimen.

Lant, Christian T.↗

Algorithms For Segmentation Of Complex-Amplitude SAR Data

Several algorithms implement improved method of segmenting highly speckled, high-resolution, complex-amplitude synthetic-aperture-radar (SAR) digitized images into regions, within each backscattering characteristics similar or homogeneous from place to place. Method provides for approximate, deterministic solution by two alternative algorithms almost always converging to local minimums: one, Iterative Conditional Modes (ICM) algorithm, which locally maximizes posterior probability density of region labels; other, Maximum Posterior Marginal (MPM) algorithm, which maximizes posterior marginal density of region labels at each pixel location. ICM algorithm optimizes reconstruction of underlying scene. MPM algorithm minimizes expected number of misclassified pixels, possibly better in remote sensing of natural scenes.

Rignot, Eric J. M.↗