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At least 379 records · Page 21

Detection of an expanding H I shell in the old supernova remnant CTB 80

An expanding H I shell associated with the SNR CTB 80 has been detected. The expansion velocity and size indicate that the H I shell is an SNR shell. The center, shape, and mass of the shell match those of the IR shell detected by Fesen et al. (1988), supporting the idea that the pulsar has caught up with the SW portion of the shell and has produced its peculiar radio morphology. The shell's large 60 to 100 micron ratio implies that the larger grains may have been preferentially destroyed by the shock.

Koo, Bon-Chul↗

An infrared analysis of Puppis A

A quantitative analysis of the infrared emission of the supernova remnant (SNR) Puppis A as seen by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite is presented. Physical parameters of the remnant (and the surrounding interstellar medium), including density, mass, temperature, and age are estimated. The infrared spectrum of Puppis A is fit by models of thermal emission from interstellar dust grains which have been swept up into the SNR where they are collisionally heated by the shocked gas. Evidence of an enhanced abundance of very small grains in the interstellar medium near Puppis A, and evidence of their destruction by the advancing blast wave, are found.

Arendt, Richard G.↗

Discovery of a young, 267 millisecond pulsar in the supernova remnant W44

This paper reports the discovery of a 267 msec pulsar, PSR 1853 + 01, in the SNR W44 (G34.7 - 0.4), located south of the W44, well within its radio shell and at the outher edge of the X-ray emission region which fills the SNR interior. The PSR 1853 + 01 is separated only 20 arcmin from the PSR 1854 + 00 pulsar discovered by Mohanty (1983). Results of timing observatons of PSR 1853 + 01 are presented, and a possible relationship between the two objects is examined. It is suggested that the two pulsars may have a common origin in a binary system disrupted by the explosion that produced W44.

Wolszczan, A.↗

Continuous wave coherent laser radar - Calculation of measurement location and volume

The SNR equation of a CW, monostatic, coherent laser radar system is examined for the case of a distributed aerosol target. General analytic equations are derived which explicitly describe the contribution to total SNR from each range interval along the optic axis, the range resolution of the measurement, and the atmospheric volume contributing to the measurement. Plots are presented showing the location in range and the volume of the laser radar measurement.

Kavaya, Michael J.↗

High-order neural models for error correcting code

The decoding and error-correction of data transmitted over a noisy channel is in principle equivalent to the operation of a neural network performing as a content-addressable memory. For a successful application, however, the neural network has to be capable of storing arbitrary words, and it has to be guaranteed that the stored words represent the only stable attractors of the memory. This paper presents a novel high-order neural network architecture that has these characteristics. The analog nature of the network can be used to perform soft-decision decoding with any block code. The performance in terms of postdecoding bit error rate versus SNR is demonstrated for two exemplary block codes. The comparison with a conventional decoding algorithm for a (15,5) cyclic redundancy code shows, for example, that the bit error rate at 7dB SNR can be decreased by two orders of magnitude.

Jeffries, Clark↗

Axially symmetrical supernova remnants

The origin of cylindrically symmetric supernova remnants (SNR's) is discussed. The results of numerical simulations of two most distinguished barrel-like SNR's SN1006 and G296.5+10.0 are presented.

Bisnovatyi-Kogan, G. S.↗

A comparison of lidar inversion methods for cirrus applications

Several methods for inverting the lidar equation are suggested as means to derive the cirrus optical properties (beta backscatter, alpha extinction coefficients, and delta optical depth) at one wavelength. The lidar equation can be inverted in a linear or logarithmic form; either solution assumes a linear relationship: beta = kappa(alpha), where kappa is the lidar ratio. A number of problems prevent us from calculating alpha (or beta) with a good accuracy. Some of these are as follows: (1) the multiple scattering effect (most authors neglect it); (2) an absolute calibration of the lidar system (difficult and sometimes not possible); (3) lack of accuracy on the lidar ratio k (taken as constant, but in fact it varies with range and cloud species); and (4) the determination of boundary condition for logarithmic solution which depends on signal to noise ration (SNR) at cloud top. An inversion in a linear form needs an absolute calibration of the system. In practice one uses molecular backscattering below the cloud to calibrate the system. This method is not permanent because the lower atmosphere turbidity is variable. For a logarithmic solution, a reference extinction coefficient (alpha(sub f)) at cloud top is required. Several methods to determine alpha(sub f) were suggested. We tested these methods at low SNR. This led us to propose two new methods referenced as S1 and S2.

Elouragini, Salem↗

The impact of NRZ data asymmetry on the performance of a space telemetry system

The author derives an expression for the power spectral density of an asymmetric nonreturn-to-zero (NRZ) data stream. This formula is used to investigate how the data bandwidth varies with data asymmetry. The threshold levels of undesired spectral components that fall into the carrier tracking loop bandwidth are determined by examining the derived spectral density. Based on this formula, a simple technique is developed for the computation of bit signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) degradation due to data asymmetry. The telemetry bit SNR degradations derived using this technique are compared with the results obtained previously by Simon et al. (1978) and with measurements by the electronic systems test laboratory (ESTL) at the Johnson Space Center.

Nguyen, Tien M.↗

A multiwavelength study of the supernova remnant N49 in the Large Magellanic Cloud

The 2.5-m du Pont telescope at Las Campanas, the IUE, and archival high-resolution imager X-ray data from the Einstein Observatory are used to present a detailed imaging and spectroscopic study of the SNR N49 in the LMC. The asymmetry of the optical image and the relatively high X-ray and optical luminosity of this remnant both arise from its interaction with an extended dense cloud to the southeast seen in CO emission. The optical spectra reveal clear evidence of reddening variations on spatial scales as small as about 2 arcsec over the face of the SNR. UV line emission is associated primarily with the bright optical filaments, and the total luminosity of N49 is measured in several optical and UV lines. A combined analysis of IUE and optical spectra indicates a range of radiative shock velocities. Implications for the interstellar medium surrounding N49 are discussed.

Vancura, Olaf↗

Coherent Doppler lidar for automated space vehicle rendezvous, stationkeeping and capture

The inherent spatial resolution of laser radar makes ladar or lidar an attractive candidate for Automated Rendezvous and Capture application. Previous applications were based on incoherent lidar techniques, requiring retro-reflectors on the target vehicle. Technology improvements (reduced size, no cryogenic cooling requirement) have greatly enhanced the construction of coherent lidar systems. Coherent lidar permits the acquisition of non-cooperative targets at ranges that are limited by the detection capability rather than by the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) requirements. The sensor can provide translational state information (range, velocity, and angle) by direct measurement and, when used with any array detector, also can provide attitude information by Doppler imaging techniques. Identification of the target is accomplished by scanning with a high pulse repetition frequency (dependent on the SNR). The system performance is independent of range and should not be constrained by sun angle. An initial effort to characterize a multi-element detection system has resulted in a system that is expected to work to a minimum range of 1 meter. The system size, weight and power requirements are dependent on the operating range; 10 km range requires a diameter of 3 centimeters with overall size at 3 x 3 x 15 to 30 cm, while 100 km range requires a 30 cm diameter.

Bilbro, James A.↗

Applications of wavelet-based compression to multidimensional Earth science data

A data compression algorithm involving vector quantization (VQ) and the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) is applied to two different types of multidimensional digital earth-science data. The algorithms (WVQ) is optimized for each particular application through an optimization procedure that assigns VQ parameters to the wavelet transform subbands subject to constraints on compression ratio and encoding complexity. Preliminary results of compressing global ocean model data generated on a Thinking Machines CM-200 supercomputer are presented. The WVQ scheme is used in both a predictive and nonpredictive mode. Parameters generated by the optimization algorithm are reported, as are signal-to-noise (SNR) measurements of actual quantized data. The problem of extrapolating hydrodynamic variables across the continental landmasses in order to compute the DWT on a rectangular grid is discussed. Results are also presented for compressing Landsat TM 7-band data using the WVQ scheme. The formulation of the optimization problem is presented along with SNR measurements of actual quantized data. Postprocessing applications are considered in which the seven spectral bands are clustered into 256 clusters using a k-means algorithm and analyzed using the Los Alamos multispectral data analysis program, SPECTRUM, both before and after being compressed using the WVQ program.

Bradley, Jonathan N.↗

Determination of design and operation parameters for upper atmospheric research instrumentation to yield optimum resolution with deconvolution

The final report for work on the determination of design and operation parameters for upper atmospheric research instrumentation to yield optimum resolution with deconvolution is presented. Papers and theses prepared during the research report period are included. Among all the research results reported, note should be made of the specific investigation of the determination of design and operation parameters for upper atmospheric research instrumentation to yield optimum resolution with deconvolution. A methodology was developed to determine design and operation parameters for error minimization when deconvolution is included in data analysis. An error surface is plotted versus the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and all parameters of interest. Instrumental characteristics will determine a curve in this space. The SNR and parameter values which give the projection from the curve to the surface, corresponding to the smallest value for the error, are the optimum values. These values are constrained by the curve and so will not necessarily correspond to an absolute minimum in the error surface.

Ioup, George E.↗

Determination of design and operation parameters for upper atmospheric research instrumentation to yield optimum resolution with deconvolution, appendix 3

The Always-Convergent Iterative Noise Removal and Deconvolution Method of Ioup is applied as a single-filter in the transform domain to deconvolution with both narrow and wide Gaussian impulse response functions. The wraparound error for both cases is also studied. A method is developed by which one can find the optimum iteration number for single-filter iterative deconvolution of sampled data. The method employs the mean square error (MSE), the square of the difference between the deconvolved result and the input, for optimization. The MSE decreases as the deconvolution iterations proceed, but at the optimum iteration number, the MSE starts to increase. This procedure is repeated for signal-to-noise ratio of 10 to 150. The optimum iteration number and the MSE are plotted vs SNR. By knowing the SNR for a particular experiment, one can find the optimum iteration number and MSE.

Ioup, George E.↗

Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope observations of the Cygnus Loop

Attention is given to UV images of a 40-arcmin field in the northeast part of the Cygnus Loop made by the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UIT) during the Astro-1 mission in December 1990. The longest FUV (B5) exposure is compared with ground-based and X-ray observations and with models. It is inferred from SNR shock models that C IV 1550 A dominates for more typical conditions in SNRs, and IUE spectra exhibit a strong correlation between C IV 1550-A flux and UIT B5 flux. The B5 image resembles images in forbidden O III 5007 A, but to the east of the edge of the forbidden O III filaments there is a faint C IV emission, consistent with nonradiative shocked material behind the SNR blast wave. Conditions in shocked gases that lead to C IV emission are similar to those that produce forbidden O III. Hence the ratio of the B5 and forbidden O III intensities can be used to map the optical depths of the sheetlike regions that emit the C IV resonance line.

Cornett, Robert H.↗

An association between a long-period pulsar and an old supernova remnant

A possible association between pulsar 2334 + 61, with a relatively long period of 0.5 s, and G114.3 + 0.3, a fairly old SNR is reported. The flat spectral index of -0.36 +/- 0.03 and large fractional polariazation suggest that the radio emission is powered by the pulsar. If so, the pulsar must have been born with a relatively short period of less than 100 ms. As the SNR is not particularly unusual morphologically, there might be many more such SNRs containing pulsars that are not beamed towards us.

Kulkarni, S. R.↗

Case study of binary and ternary synthetic discriminant function filters with similar in-class and out-of-class images

A simulation study is reported of the performance of two designs of ternary synthetic discriminant function (SDF) filters. The filters are compared to binary SDFs in terms of the probability of correct identification P(ID) between in-class and out-of-class image sets. Compared to binary synthetic discriminant function (BSDF) filters, both ternary SDF filters designs offer improved performance in P(ID) and thus allow extension of the maximum filter direction range when evaluated in the presence of white image noise. Larger distortion range filters translate to fewer correlations required to perform image identification, and thus higher system speed. The TSDF(SNR) filters had the highest of system performance, while TSDF(d) filters were able to improve discrimination to a degree, but their optimal designs had essentially the same SNR performance as the BSDF filters.

Downie, John D.↗

An atlas of supernova remnant candidates in Messier 31

Narrow-band CCD imagery in H-alpha and forbidden SII of a large fraction of the spiral arms in the Northeast half of Messier 31 has been used to isolate a sample of 52 'forbidden-line' SNR candidates for which the integrated ratio forbidden SII:H-alpha is greater than 0.5. An atlas of images in these emission lines, red optical continuum, and 1465 MHz radio continuum is presented, together with the tabulated integral properties of these sources. Assessing the completeness of the sample yields a crude estimate of the massive supernova rate (due to stars more massive than 7 solar masses) of 1 in 80 yr. The range of measured luminosities in both H-alpha and radio continuum is fully consistent with those found for 'forbidden-line' SNR in Messier 33, the LMC, and the Galaxy. With the inclusion of our candidates the number of extragalactic SNRs (with well-known distances) now exceeds the number of known galactic SNRs.

Braun, R.↗

Radio observations of the remnant of the supernova of AD 1006. II - Polarization observations

Polarized flux observations of the SNR of AD 1006 made with the NRAO VLA are presented. The gross morphology in polarized intensity reveals two bright limbs across from each other. The SE quadrant, faintest in total intensity, shows significant polarized flux, while the extension of the NE, fairly bright in total intensity, appears almost unpolarized. Significant polarized flux is also seen in the SNR center. An integrated polarized fraction of about 13 percent is found; ratios as high as 30 percent may occur locally. The observations can be used to infer an intrinsic polarization position angle, and it is deduced that the ordered component of the magnetic field is primarily radial. The polarized fraction upper limits imply that the magnetic field is dominantly disordered, and it is estimated that the radial component contains only about 20 percent of the total magnetic energy density.

Reynolds, Stephen P.↗