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At least 91 records · Page 5

Quasi-relativistic electron precipitation due to interactions with coherent VLF waves in the magnetosphere

The equations of motion for the cyclotron resonance interaction between coherent whistler mode waves and energetic particles are rederived with the inclusion of relativistic effects. The pitch angle scattering of the near-loss-cone quasi-relativistic electrons trapped in the magnetosphere is studied using a test particle method employing these relativistic equations, and the precipitated energy spectrum due to the wave-induced perturbations of a full distribution of particles is computed. Results show that the full width at half maximum peak width of the rms scattering pattern of the near-loss-cone particles would give an upper bound to the peak width of the associated precipitated energy spectrum under the conditions of moderate wave intensities in the low L shell region. In addition, it is found that the peak widths are within the upper limit values measured by recent satellite experiments. It is concluded that interactions of inner radiation belt particles with monochromatic waves could produce precipitated fluxes with relatively sharp spectral widths, and that therefore the L-dependent narrow peaks observed by low altitude satellite particle detectors could be caused by such interactions.

Chang, H. C.↗

The Almahata Sitta Polymict Ureilite from the University of Khartoum Collection: Classification, Distribution of Clast Types in the Strewn Field, New Meteorite Types, and Implications for the Structure of Asteroid 2008 TC3

The Almahata Sitta (AhS) polymict ureilite fell in 2008 when asteroid 2008 TC3 impacted over Sudan]. It is the first meteorite to originate from an asteroid that had been tracked and studied in space (with spectral classification) before impact, and provides a unique opportunity to correlate properties of meteorites with those of their parent asteroid. More than 700 monolithologic stones from the AhS fall were collected. Of those previously studied, approx. 70% were ureilites and approx. 30% were chondrites. It has been inferred that 2008 TC3 was loosely aggregated and porous and disintegrated in the atmosphere, with only its most coherent clasts falling as stones. However, understanding the structure of this asteroid is limited by incomplete study of the heterogeneous stones, and the loss of most of the mass of the asteroid. The University of Khartoum (UOK) AhS collection contains over >600 AhS stones with find coordinates. We are studying this collection to determine: 1) the proportion of ureilitic to various non-ureilitic stones; 2) the distribution of types of stones in the strewn field; and 3) the compositional and physical structure of 2008 TC3. We report on 61 new stones, including a unique sample that may represent the bulk of the material lost from 2008 TC3.

Goodrich, C. A.↗

Reliable Optical Pump Architecture for Highly Coherent Lasers Used in Space Metrology Applications

The design and initial demonstration of a laser pump module (LPM) incorporating single-mode, grating-stabilized 808-nm diode lasers and a low-loss, high-port-count optical combiner are completed. The purpose of the developed LPM is to reliably pump an Nd:YAG crystal in the laser head (LH), which serves as the optical metrology source for SIMLite mission. Using the narrow-linewidth, single-mode laser diodes enables placement of the pump power near Nd adsorption peak, which enhances pumping efficiency. Grating stabilization allows for stable pump spectra as diode operating temperature and bias current change. The low-loss, high-port-count optical combiner enables efficient combining of tens of pumps. Overall, the module supports 5+ years of continuous operation at 2 W of pump power with reliability approaching 100 percent. The LPM consists of a laser diode farm (LDF) and a pump beam combiner (PBC). An array of 807- to 808-nm fiber-pigtailed laser diodes makes up the LDF. A Bragg grating in each 5- m core single-mode (SM) fiber pigtail acts to stabilize the lasing spectra over a range of diode operating conditions. These commercially available single-mode laser diodes can deliver up to 150 mW of optical power. The outputs from the multiple pumps in the LDF are routed to the PBC, which is a 37-input by 1-output all-fiber device. The input ports consist of 5- m core SM fiber, while the output port consists of 105- m core, 0.15 NA (numerical aperture) multi-mode (MM) fiber. The combiner is fabricated by fusing the 37 input fibers while simultaneously tapering the fused region. At the completion of this process, the MM fiber is spliced to the end of the adiabatic taper, and, for protection, the combiner is sheathed by a capillary tube. A compact and robust metal housing was designed and fabricated to protect the PBC during space deployment.

Erlig, Herman↗

Ka-Band TWT High-Efficiency Power Combiner for High-Rate Data Transmission

A four-port magic-T hybrid waveguide junction serves as the central component of a high-efficiency two-way power combiner circuit for transmitting a high-rate phase-modulated digital signal at a carrier frequency in the Ka-band (between 27 and 40 GHz). This power combiner was developed to satisfy a specific requirement to efficiently combine the coherent outputs of two traveling-wavetube (TWT) amplifiers that are typically characterized by power levels on the order of 100 W or more. In this application, the use of a waveguide-based power combiner (instead of a coaxial-cable- or microstrip-based power combiner, for example) is dictated by requirements for low loss, high power-handling capability, and broadband response. Combiner efficiencies were typically 90 percent or more over both the linear and saturated output power regions of operation of the TWTs . Figure 1 depicts the basic configuration of the magic-T hybrid junction. The coherent outputs of the two TWTs enter through ports 1 and 4. As a result of the orientations of the electromagnetic fields, which also provides a needed high port-to-port isolation, of these two input signals and the interior design of the magic-T junction, the input powers are divided so as to add in phase at one output port (port 2), and to be opposite in phase and hence cancel each other at the opposite coplanar output port (port 3). The net result is that the output power at port 2 is essentially double that of the output of one TWT, minus the power lost in the magic-T hybrid junction. Optimum performance as a high-efficiency power combiner thus requires a balance of both power and phase at the input ports of the magic-T. Replicas of this two-way combiner can be arranged in a binary configuration to obtain a 2n-way (where n is an integer) combiner. For example, Figure 2 illustrates the use of three two-way combiners to combine the outputs of four TWTs.

Wintucky, Edwin G.↗

Design considerations for high-power VHF radar transceivers: Phase matching long coaxial cables using a cable radar

The Poker Flat 49.92-MHz MST radar uses 64 phase-controlled transmitters in individual shelters distributed throughout the antenna array. Phase control is accomplished by sampling the transmitted pulse at the directional coupler of each transmitter and sending the sample pulse back to a phase-control unit. This method requires phase matching 64 long (256 meter) coaxial cables (RG-213) to within several electrical degrees. Tests with a time domain reflectometer showed that attenuation of high frequency components in the long RG-213 cable rounded the leading edge of the reflected pulse so that the cables could only be measured to within 50 cm (about 45 deg at 49.92 MHz). Another measurement technique using a vector voltmeter to compare forward and reflected phase required a directional coupler with unattainable directivity. Several other techniques were also found lacking, primarily because of loss in the long RG-213 cables. At this point it was realized that what was needed was a simple version of the phase-coherent clear-air radar, i.e., a cable radar. The design and operation of this cable are described.

Johnson, P. E.↗

Focal-Plane Imaging of Crossed Beams in Nonlinear Optics Experiments

An application of focal-plane imaging that can be used as a real time diagnostic of beam crossing in various optical techniques is reported. We discuss two specific versions and demonstrate the capability of maximizing system performance with an example in a combined dual-pump coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering interferometric Rayleigh scattering experiment (CARS-IRS). We find that this imaging diagnostic significantly reduces beam alignment time and loss of CARS-IRS signals due to inadvertent misalignments.

Bivolaru, Daniel↗

Plasma Clouds and Snowplows: Bulk Plasma Escape from Mars Observed by MAVEN

We present initial Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) observations and preliminary interpretation of bulk plasma loss from Mars. MAVEN particle and field measurements show that planetary heavy ions derived from the Martian atmosphere can escape in the form of discrete coherent structures or "clouds." The ions in these clouds are unmagnetized or weakly magnetized, have velocities well above the escape speed, and lie directly downstream from magnetic field amplifications, suggesting a "snowplow" effect. This postulated escape process, similar to that successfully used to explain the dynamics of active gas releases in the solar wind and terrestrial magnetosheath, relies on momentum transfer from the shocked solar wind protons to the planetary heavy ions, with the electrons and magnetic field acting as intermediaries. Fluxes of planetary ions on the order of 10(exp 7)/sq cm/s can escape by this process, and if it operates regularly, it could contribute 10-20% of the current ion escape from Mars.

Halekas, J. S.↗

A Secure Key Distribution System of Quantum Cryptography Based on the Coherent State

The cryptographic communication has a lot of important applications, particularly in the magnificent prospects of private communication. As one knows, the security of cryptographic channel depends crucially on the secrecy of the key. The Vernam cipher is the only cipher system which has guaranteed security. In that system the key must be as long as the message and most be used only once. Quantum cryptography is a method whereby key secrecy can be guaranteed by a physical law. So it is impossible, even in principle, to eavesdrop on such channels. Quantum cryptography has been developed in recent years. Up to now, many schemes of quantum cryptography have been proposed. Now one of the main problems in this field is how to increase transmission distance. In order to use quantum nature of light, up to now proposed schemes all use very dim light pulses. The average photon number is about 0.1. Because of the loss of the optical fiber, it is difficult for the quantum cryptography based on one photon level or on dim light to realize quantum key-distribution over long distance. A quantum key distribution based on coherent state is introduced in this paper. Here we discuss the feasibility and security of this scheme.

Guo, Guang-Can↗

Multimode fiber-optic broad spectral band interferometer

An interferometric technique for observing white light fringes on a mode-by-mode basis in long lengths of few-mode fiber is described. Each mode can be used as a separate channel with negligible cross talk from other modes because of the highly localized nature of interference. The spatial-mode separation technique makes it possible to observe the interference fringes without loss of visibility caused by multimode overlap effects. The high-contrast, broadband fringes observed in the multimode interference experiments indicate that a multimode fiber is capable of maintaining the coherence of injected light well beyond the point where intermodal path differences exceed the temporal coherence length.

Shaklan, S.↗

Generation of High-Order Squeezing in Multiphoton Micromaser

The generation of steady state higher-order squeezing in the sense of Hong and Mandel and also of Hillery in a multiphoton micromaser is studied. The results show that the cotangent state which is generated by the coherent trapping scheme in a multiphoton micromaser can exhibit not only second-order squeezing but also fourth-order and squared field amplitude squeezings. The influence of the cavity loss on the squeezings is investigated.

Li, Fu-Li↗

Optical PAyload for Lasercomm Science (OPALS) link validation

Recently several day and nighttime links under diverse atmospheric conditions were completed using the Optical Payload for Lasercomm Science (OPALS) flight system on-board the International Space Station (ISS). In this paper we compare measured optical power and its variance at either end of the link with predictions that include atmospheric propagation models. For the 976 nm laser beacon mean power transmitted from the ground to the ISS the predicted mean irradiance of 10's of microwatts per square meter close to zenith and its decrease with range and increased air mass shows good agreement with predictions. The irradiance fluctuations sampled at 100 Hz also follow the expected increase in scintillation with air mass representative of atmospheric coherence lengths at zenith at 500 nm in the 3-8 cm range. The downlink predicted power of 100's of nanowatts was also reconciled within the uncertainty of the atmospheric losses. Expected link performance with uncoded bit-error rates less than 1E-4 required for the Reed-Solomon code to correct errors for video, text and file transmission was verified. The results of predicted and measured powers and fluctuations suggest the need for further study and refinement.

ISS↗

Suppressed carrier full-spectrum combining

A technique to accomplish full spectrum arraying where all the telemetry power is put into the subcarrier sidebands (suppressed carrier) is described. The matched filter needed in each antenna prior to cross correlation for deriving the coherence delay and phase offsets is an open loop version of the telemetry phase lock loop provided in the Advanced Digital Receiver. In analogy with a Costas loop telemetry receiver, a squaring loss is derived, and a signal to noise ratio for the cross correlation loop phase is presented.

Rogstad, D. H.↗

Quasi-elastic nuclear scattering at high energies

The quasi-elastic scattering of two nuclei is considered in the high-energy optical model. Energy loss and momentum transfer spectra for projectile ions are evaluated in terms of an inelastic multiple-scattering series corresponding to multiple knockout of target nucleons. The leading-order correction to the coherent projectile approximation is evaluated. Calculations are compared with experiments.

Cucinotta, Francis A.↗

Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) in Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells (HS/PC) Predicts Vaso-Reparative Dysfunction and Progression of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR)

Purpose: We tested the hypothesis that loss of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) within diabetic HS/PCs (Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells) would be detrimental to HS/PC reparative function, and alter their ability to contribute to vascular remodeling in human subjects and rodent models of DR (Diabetic Retinopathy). Methods: Subjects (n52) were recruited as controls (n13) or diabetics (n39) with either no DR, mild non-proliferative DR (NPDR), moderate NPDR, severe NPDR or proliferative DR (PDR). Fluorescein angiograms were analyzed using Vessel Generation Analysis (VESGEN) software in a cohort of subjects. CD34+ HS/PCs were isolated from peripheral blood. RAS (Renin-Angiotensin System) gene expression and migration was measured. Diabetic ACE2 knockout (KO)C57BL6-Ins2 (Akita) mice at 3, 6 and 9 months of diabetes were compared to age-matched controls. Bone marrow HS/PC populations were analyzed by flow cytometry and migration and proliferation studies performed. Results: ACE2 gene expression in human CD34+ cells from diabetics without DR was increased compared to controls (p0.0437). Mas receptor mRNA was also increased in diabetics without DR, but reduced with the onset of NPDR (p0.0002), suggesting a loss of compensation. DR was associated with CD34+ cell migratory dysfunction. By VESGEN analysis, vessel density measured by several confirming parameters in early NPDR (n3) was greater than in normal retina (n6) in both arteries and veins, which suggests active retinal remodeling. ACE2KO-Akita and Akita cohorts showed reduced retinal thickness by OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) at 9 months of diabetes. Absence of ACE2 in 9-month Akita mice led to an accelerated increase in acellular capillaries compared to diabetic alone. Electroretinogram (ERG) in ACE2KO-Akita mice resulted in persistent deterioration of the neural retina. Reparative function studies showed that ACE2KO exacerbated diabetes-induced impairment of LK (Low Potassium) cell migration and proliferative functions as early as 3-month of diabetes (p0.0019). Conclusions: Retinopathy and adverse vascular remodeling in subjects with diabetes was associated with a loss of the protective arm of RAS in HS/PCs. Loss of ACE2 exacerbated vascular dysfunction in diabetic mice.

retina↗

Sensorimotor integration in human postural control

It is generally accepted that human bipedal upright stance is achieved by feedback mechanisms that generate an appropriate corrective torque based on body-sway motion detected primarily by visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive sensory systems. Because orientation information from the various senses is not always available (eyes closed) or accurate (compliant support surface), the postural control system must somehow adjust to maintain stance in a wide variety of environmental conditions. This is the sensorimotor integration problem that we investigated by evoking anterior-posterior (AP) body sway using pseudorandom rotation of the visual surround and/or support surface (amplitudes 0.5-8 degrees ) in both normal subjects and subjects with severe bilateral vestibular loss (VL). AP rotation of body center-of-mass (COM) was measured in response to six conditions offering different combinations of available sensory information. Stimulus-response data were analyzed using spectral analysis to compute transfer functions and coherence functions over a frequency range from 0.017 to 2.23 Hz. Stimulus-response data were quite linear for any given condition and amplitude. However, overall behavior in normal subjects was nonlinear because gain decreased and phase functions sometimes changed with increasing stimulus amplitude. "Sensory channel reweighting" could account for this nonlinear behavior with subjects showing increasing reliance on vestibular cues as stimulus amplitudes increased. VL subjects could not perform this reweighting, and their stimulus-response behavior remained quite linear. Transfer function curve fits based on a simple feedback control model provided estimates of postural stiffness, damping, and feedback time delay. There were only small changes in these parameters with increasing visual stimulus amplitude. However, stiffness increased as much as 60% with increasing support surface amplitude. To maintain postural stability and avoid resonant behavior, an increase in stiffness should be accompanied by a corresponding increase in damping. Increased damping was achieved primarily by decreasing the apparent time delay of feedback control rather than by changing the damping coefficient (i.e., corrective torque related to body-sway velocity). In normal subjects, stiffness and damping were highly correlated with body mass and moment of inertia, with stiffness always about 1/3 larger than necessary to resist the destabilizing torque due to gravity. The stiffness parameter in some VL subjects was larger compared with normal subjects, suggesting that they may use increased stiffness to help compensate for their loss. Overall results show that the simple act of standing quietly depends on a remarkably complex sensorimotor control system.

NASA Discipline Neuroscience↗

Ultracompact High-Speed Electro-Optic Switch

We describe a coherent optical logic element susceptible of fabrication in an array format at optical wavelength-packing densities. The element offers large dynamic range, temporal storage of optical pulses, and precise clocking with no pulse loss or distortion. One- and two-pulse strategies and phase-control issues are examined.

Fork, Richard L.↗

A Real-time View of Orbital Evolution in HM Cancri

HM Cancri is a double-degenerate binary with the shortest orbital period presently known. The 5.36 minute period is seen as a large amplitude, soft X-ray modulation, likely resulting from a hot-spot produced by direct impact accretion. With such a7short orbital period it is expected to have a gravitational wave luminosity comparable8to or larger than that in the X-ray, and its orbital frequency is known to be increasing9at a rate consistent with the expected loss of angular momentum due to gravitational radiation. We use recent Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer(NICER) observations to extend its long-term X-ray timing baseline to almost 20 yr. Phase coherent timing of these new data combined with existing Chandra data demonstrates conclusively that the rate of orbital frequency increase is slowing, and we measure a non-zero f0=8.95 ± 1.4 x 1027 Hz s2, to our knowledge the first such measurement of its kind for any compact astrophysical binary. With the simultaneous high precision measurement of f0= 3.557 ± 0.005 x 1016 Hz s1, we estimate that the system17will reach its maximum orbital frequency of fmax 3.1172091 mHz in 1,260 ± 200 yr, indicating that the system is close to its epoch of maximum orbital frequency. Assuming mass transfer is conservative, the measurement of f<0 implies that the20accretion rate from the donor is growing, with 5.4 x 1010<M2<4.0 x 1010 M⊙yr2. Further quantitative comparisons with theoretical models should enable more precise inferences regarding its current evolutionary state.

White dwarfs↗

Recovering Microwave Cross-Polarization Losses

Reception improved by adding normally discarded portion of signal. For signal enhancement, major and minor signals combined in slaved closedloop receiver channels. Both receiver channels served by common local oscillator controlled by phase-locked loop in main channel. 10-MHz intermediate-frequency (IF) signals of channels coherently summed. For polarization tracking, phasemeter added to measure phase difference between points A and B. With new circuit, low-level signal used at receiver to augment main signal.

Seidel, B. L.↗