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At least 19 records

Geomagnetic main field analysis at the core-mantle boundary - Spherical harmonics compared with harmonic splines

An optimum truncation level, N, in a spherical-harmonic analysis of the geomagnetic main field at the core-mantle boundary is determined by harmonic-spline analysis. Specifically, that value of N is found at which the two analyses are closest in a well defined sense and, for that value of N, the 'closeness' of two models is determined. Depending slightly on the definition of closeness, optimum N is found to be either 10 or 11. For those values the two analyses give remarkably similar results, showing that the conveniences of spherical harmonics can be retained with little penalty.

Benton, E. R.

Harmonics of 60 Hz in power systems caused by geomagnetic disturbances

Simultaneous VLF/ULF observations carried out near Winnipeg, Manitoba show that geomagnetic disturbances control the behavior of harmonics of 60 Hz man-made electric power. The harmonics of 60 Hz detected by the VLF receiver are at multiples of 180 Hz, indicating that they originated from a 3 phase ac power system. Under geomagnetically quiet conditions, only odd harmonics of 70 Hz were detected. In disturbed conditions, both odd and even harmonics were excited. The strength of each harmonic changed concurrently with geomagnetic pulsation (ULF) activity. These findings seem to indicate that a portion of telluric currents shunted into the power line system through the neutrals of the Y-connected transformers give rise to a dc bias to the transformer core materials and that it distorts their hysteresis loops, activating harmonics of 60 Hz power. A mathematical proof is given that a hysteresis loop having a point of symmetry generates odd harmonics only, whereas loops lacking in point-symmetry generally give rise to both odd and even harmonics. A general formula was obtained to calculate the strength of each harmonic based on the shape of the hysteresis loop.

Hayashi, K.

Determination of rotor harmonic blade loads from acoustic measurements

The magnitude of discrete frequency sound radiated by a rotating blade is strongly influenced by the presence of a nonuniform distribution of aerodynamic forces over the rotor disk. An analytical development and experimental results are provided for a technique by which harmonic blade loads are derived from acoustic measurements. The technique relates, on a one-to-one basis, the discrete frequency sound harmonic amplitudes measured at a point on the axis of rotation to the blade-load harmonic amplitudes. This technique was applied to acoustic data from two helicopter types and from a series of test results using the NASA-Langley Research Center rotor test facility. The inferred blade-load harmonics for the cases considered tended to follow an inverse power law relationship with harmonic blade-load number. Empirical curve fits to the data showed the harmonic fall-off rate to be in the range of 6 to 9 db per octave of harmonic order. These empirical relationships were subsequently used as input data in a compatible far field rotational noise prediction model. A comparison between predicted and measured off-axis sound harmonic levels is provided for the experimental cases considered.

Kasper, P. K.

Multi-harmonic electron cyclotron instabilities

The reported investigation constitutes an extension of studies conducted by Ashour-Abdalla and Kennel (1975, 1976, 1978) with respect to a basic plasma model of Young et al. (1973). The model involves a combination of a cold Maxwellian background plasma, a hot plasma, and a 'loss cone' type of free energy source. Previous results on the first cyclotron harmonic bands are extended to multiharmonics. The significance of the obtained relations is discussed and tentative conclusions are presented. Given that the spatial growth rates of the convective modes are comparable, and that simultaneous nonconvective instability (NCI) is possible, it is concluded that multiharmonic emissions ought to be a common feature of the magnetospheric electrostatic wave observations. Since the volume of parameter space for which the first harmonic is NCI, and the volume for which the convective first harmonic mode has significant spatial growth rates, exceed those for the higher harmonics, first harmonic waves should be the most commonly observed and the higher harmonics should usually be accompanied by the first harmonic.

Ashour-Abdalla, M.

Harmonic auroral kilometric radiation of natural origin

When the ISIS 1 satellite passes through the auroral kilometric radiation (AKR) source region the sounder receiver often detects harmonic bands of radiation associated with the fundamental AKR band. These harmonic components were earlier attributed to a nonlinear instrumental response to the strong wide-band bursty AKR fundamental signal. Evidence is here presented that indicates that these harmonics are of natural origin, namely: (1) all the harmonic signals are sometimes observed to have nearly the same bandwidth, (2) when the fundamental signal has two components the harmonic signal sometimes corresponds to the weaker rather than the stronger component, (3) a weak harmonic can be observed to be associated with a weak fundamental, and (4) a 'harmonic' signal can be observed when there is no fundamental.

Benson, R. F.

Harmonic multiplication using resonant tunneling

This paper demonstrates the use of resonant-tunneling diodes as varistors for harmonic multiplication. It is shown that efficient odd-harmonic conversion is possible and that even harmonics do not appear because of the antisymmetry of the current-voltage (I-V) curve. It is also shown that, with the proper choice of resonant-tunneling structure and pump amplitude, most of the harmonic output power can be confined to a single odd-harmonic frequency. Fifth-harmonic multiplication was demonstrated with an output at 21.75 GHz and a power conversion efficiency of 0.5 percent, and a fifth-harmonic efficiency of 2.7 percent was achieved in a circuit simulation using an improved I-V curve.

Sollner, T. C. L. G.

Harmonic structure of Pc 3-4 pulsations

Power spectra of magnetic pulsations observed at synchronous orbit by the ATS 6 satellite often show several spectral peaks simultaneously. Such pulsations, called harmonic events because of the nearly constant separation between successive peaks, are continuously observed in the dayside in the Pc 3-4 frequency range (6.6-100 mHz). The harmonic events are seen clearly only in the east-west magnetic field component. The spectral peaks are regularly spaced with a typical minimum separation of 14 mHz in the morning gradually decreasing to 10 mHz in the afternoon. In the dynamic spectra of harmonic events, the fundamental mode is usually absent. In addition, the relative amplitudes of the higher harmonics depend on the magnetic latitude. These observed features can be explained by a standing Alfven wave consisting of many discrete harmonic frequencies. A statistical analysis of power spectra demonstrates that at least 10-30% of Pc 3 pulsations can be classified as harmonic events. For a selected event on August 7, 1975, the plasma mass density at the synchronous orbit is estimated to be 3-8 hydrogen mass/cu cm.

Takahashi, K.

Multispacecraft observations of the harmonic structure of Pc 3-4 magnetic pulsations

Harmonically related Pc 3-4 pulsations (7-100 mHz) are observed simultaneously by the three geosynchronous satellites ATS 6, SMS 1, and SMS 2, which are separated 20 deg from one another. At a given instant the frequency of the same harmonic is different from one spacecraft to another and each spacecraft observes a decrease in the fundamental frequency as it moves from morning (15 mHz) to afternoon (10 mHz). This frequency behavior is explained in terms of standing Alfven waves, for which the frequency is determined by the local magnetic field and plasma density. Occurrence of harmonic Pc 3-4 waves only during daytime hours (0400-2000 LT) and their frequency characteristics suggest a broadband energy source located on the dayside. Possible azimuthal wave number m and azimuthal phase velocity V(phi) of the second through fourth harmonics are determined from an unusual interval during which identical harmonic frequencies were observed at SMS 1 and ATS 6. Under the assumption of tailward propagation of constant-phase fronts at the same velocity for all these harmonics, V(phi) of about 1700 km/s is obtained.

Takahashi, K.

DE 1 observations of harmonic auroral kilometric radiation

The plasma wave instrument on board the DE 1 spacecraft has observed several intervals of auroral kilometric radiation during which harmonic structure is clearly present. The paper presents evidence, some of which is based on unique capabilities of the DE instrument, which argues strongly that the harmonic structures are natural rather than instrumental in origin. The harmonic emissions occur infrequently, but when present may persist for intervals of up to an hour. The emissions are relatively narrow band and consist of a relatively weak fundamental accompanied by an even weaker second harmonic. The ratio of power in the fundamental band to the power in the harmonic ranges from 10 to 100. In all cases, polarization data indicate that the fundamental is a left-hand ordinary (L-O) mode emission while the harmonic is right-hand extraordinary (R-X) mode. These observations are consistent with predictions based on the cyclotron maser mechanism.

Mellott, M. M.

Electromagnetic ion beam instabilities - Growth at cyclotron harmonic wave numbers

The linear theory of electromagnetic ion beam instabilities for arbitrary angles of propagation is studied, with an emphasis on the conditions necessary to generate unstable modes at low harmonics of the ion cyclotron resonance condition. The present results extend the analysis of Smith et al. (1985). That paper considered only the plasma parameters at a time during which harmonic wave modes were observed in the earth's foreshock. The parameters of that paper are used as the basis of parametric variations here to establish the range of beam properties which may give rise to observable harmonic spectra. It is shown that the growth rates of both left-hand and right-hand cyclotron harmonic instabilities are enhanced by an increase in the beam temperature anisotropy and/or the beam speed. Decreases in the beam density and/or the core-ion beta reduce the overall growth of the cyclotron harmonic instabilities but favor the growth of these modes over the growth of the nonresonant instability and thereby enhance the observability of the harmonics.

Smith, Charles W.

A problem in representing the core magnetic field of the earth using spherical harmonics

Although there are computational advantages to the representation of the earth's magnetic field by spherical harmonic coefficients of the magnetic potential, up to the thirteenth degree and order, the following disadvantages emerge: (1) the use of spherical harmonics of up to a certain degree does not remove wavelengths greater than a certain value from the surface fields, and (2) the total field magnitudes represented by spherical harmonics up to a certain degree have minimum wavelengths equal to the circumference of the earth divided by twice the maximum degree of the harmonic used. The implications of the ways in which surface fields are separated into core and crustal components are discussed, and it is concluded that since field signals are generated in the core, the representation of the core field by spherical harmonics of potential does not adequately represent all core field components.

Carle, H. M.

Fundamental and harmonic emission in interplanetary type 2 radio bursts

Three interplanetary type II radio bursts which show two prominent and long duration bands in their dynamic spectra were analyzed in detail and compared to similar bands in meter wavelength type II events. These bands, which differ by a factor of about two in frequency, were interpreted in terms of fundamental and harmonic emission. The fundamental component has a greater average intensity than the harmonic, due largely to short intense brightenings. The fundamental spectral profile is more narrow than that of the harmonic, with harmonic band typically exhibiting a larger bandwidth to frequency ratio than the fundamental by a factor of two. The fundamental has a larger source size than the harmonic, 160 degrees versus 110 degrees, on average, as viewed from the Sun. Two of the events have source positions which correlate well with the associated flare positions.

Lengyel-Frey, D.

Fundamental and harmonic emission in interplanetary type II radio bursts

Three interplanetary type II radio bursts which show two prominent and long duration bands in their dynamic spectra were analyzed in detail and compared to similar bands in meter wavelength type II events. These bands, which differ by a factor of about two in frequency, were interpreted in terms of fundamental and harmonic emission. The fundamental component has a greater average intensity than the harmonic, due largely to short intense brightenings. The fundamental spectral profile is more narrow than that of the harmonic, with harmonic band typically exhibiting a larger bandwidth to frequency ratio than the fundamental by a factor of two. The fundamental has a larger source size than the harmonic, 160 degrees versus 110 degrees, on average, as viewed from the sun. Two of the events have source positions which correlate well with the associated flare positions.

Lengyel-Frey, D.

Determination of nonlinear resistance voltage-current relationships by measuring harmonics

Test configuration measures harmonic signal amplitudes generated in nonlinear resistance. Vacuum-type voltmeter measures low frequency sinusoidal input signal amplitude and wave-analyzer measures amplitude of harmonic signals generated in junction. Input signal harmonics amplitude must not exceed that of harmonics generated in nonlinear resistance.

Stafford, J. M.

Nonlinear interaction between two electrostatic harmonics in a plasma

The problem of harmonic and subharmonic generation of electrostatic waves in a general collisionless plasma is treated using coupled-mode theory based on two time scales. A novel feature is that one of the two interacting waves may be a negative-energy wave. Since the model describing the medium need not be specified, only a general linear and nonlinear conductivity or an equivalent description is required. Just by invoking wave-energy conservation, the coupled-mode equations are obtained in such a way that unequivocal conclusions can be drawn. When both waves have positive energy, they exchange part of it in a periodic fashion, provided that both have some energy initially. If initially all the energy is in the fundamental, all of it will eventually end up (irreversibly) in the second harmonic. If all the energy is in the harmonic initially, no generation of the fundamental (or subharmonic) will take place. If one of the two waves is a negative-energy wave, an explosive instability develops, regardless of initial values. For comparable conditions, the instability time depends on whether the negative-energy wave is in the fundamental or in the upper harmonic.

Verheest, F.

Application of higher harmonic blade feathering for helicopter vibration reduction

Higher harmonic blade feathering for helicopter vibration reduction is considered. Recent wind tunnel tests confirmed the effectiveness of higher harmonic control in reducing articulated rotor vibratory hub loads. Several predictive analyses developed in support of the NASA program were shown to be capable of calculating single harmonic control inputs required to minimize a single 4P hub response. In addition, a multiple-input, multiple-output harmonic control predictive analysis was developed. All techniques developed thus far obtain a solution by extracting empirical transfer functions from sampled data. Algorithm data sampling and processing requirements are minimal to encourage adaptive control system application of such techniques in a flight environment.

Powers, R. W.