Asymptotically Locally Optimal Weight Vector Design for a Tighter Correlation Lower Bound of Quasi-Complementary Sequence Sets

A quasi-complementary sequence set (QCSS) refers to a set of two-dimensional matrices with low nontrivial aperiodic auto- and cross-correlation sums. For multicarrier code-division multiple-access applications, the availability of large QCSSs with low correlation sums is desirable. The generalized Levenshtein bound (GLB) is a lower bound on the maximum aperiodic correlation sum of QCSSs. The bounding expression of GLB is a fractional quadratic function of a weight vector w and is expressed in terms of three additional parameters associated with QCSS: the set size K, the number of channels M, and the sequence length N. It is known that a tighter GLB (compared to the Welch bound) is possible only if the condition M ≥ 2 and K ≥ K̅ + 1, where K̅ is a certain function of M and N, is satisfied. A challenging research problem is to determine if there exists a weight vector that gives rise to a tighter GLB for all (not just some) K ≥ K̅ + 1 and M ≥ 2, especially for large N, i.e., the condition is asymptotically both necessary and sufficient. To achieve this, we analytically optimize the GLB which is (in general) nonconvex as the numerator term is an indefinite quadratic function of the weight vector. Our key idea is to apply the frequency domain decomposition of the circulant matrix (in the numerator term) to convert the nonconvex problem into a convex one. Following this optimization approach, we derive a new weight vector meeting the aforementioned objective and prove that it is a local minimizer of the GLB under certain conditions

Sequence Design for Cognitive CDMA Communications under Arbitrary Spectrum Hole Constraint

To support interference-free quasi-synchronous code-division multiple-access (QS-CDMA) communication with low spectral density profile in a cognitive radio (CR) network, it is desirable to design a set of CDMA spreading sequences with zero-correlation zone (ZCZ) property. However, traditional ZCZ sequences (which assume the availability of the entire spectral band) cannot be used because their orthogonality will be destroyed by the spectrum hole constraint in a CR channel. To date, analytical construction of ZCZ CR sequences remains open. Taking advantage of the Kronecker sequence property, a novel family of sequences (called "quasi-ZCZ" CR sequences) which displays zero cross-correlation and near-zero auto-correlation zone property under arbitrary spectrum hole constraint is presented in this paper. Furthermore, a novel algorithm is proposed to jointly optimize the peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) and the periodic auto-correlations of the proposed quasi-ZCZ CR sequences. Simulations show that they give rise to single-user bit-error-rate performance in CR-CDMA systems which outperform traditional non-contiguous multicarrier CDMA and transform domain communication systems; they also lead to CR-CDMA systems which are more resilient than non-contiguous OFDM systems to spectrum sensing mismatch, due to the wideband spreading.Comment: 13 pages,10 figures,Accepted by IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications (JSAC)--Special Issue:Cognitive Radio Nov, 201

Low Ambiguity Zone: Theoretical Bounds and Doppler-Resilient Sequence Design in Integrated Sensing and Communication Systems

In radar sensing and communications, designing Doppler resilient sequences (DRSs) with low ambiguity function for delay over the entire signal duration and Doppler shift over the entire signal bandwidth is an extremely difficult task. However, in practice, the Doppler frequency range is normally much smaller than the bandwidth of the transmitted signal, and it is relatively easy to attain quasi-synchronization for delays far less than the entire signal duration. Motivated by this observation, we propose a new concept called low ambiguity zone (LAZ) which is a small area of the corresponding ambiguity function of interest defined by the certain Doppler frequency and delay. Such an LAZ will reduce to a zero ambiguity zone (ZAZ) if the maximum ambiguity values of interest are zero. In this paper, we derive a set of theoretical bounds on periodic LAZ/ZAZ of unimodular DRSs with and without spectral constraints, which include the existing bounds on periodic global ambiguity function as special cases. These bounds may be used as theoretical design guidelines to measure the optimality of sequences against Doppler effect. We then introduce four optimal constructions of DRSs with respect to the derived ambiguity lower bounds based on some algebraic tools such as characters over finite field and cyclic difference sets

Wide-Field InfraRed Survey Telescope (WFIRST) Final Report

In December 2010, NASA created a Science Definition Team (SDT) for WFIRST, the Wide Field Infra-Red Survey Telescope, recommended by the Astro 2010 Decadal Survey as the highest priority for a large space mission. The SDT was chartered to work with the WFIRST Project Office at GSFC and the Program Office at JPL to produce a Design Reference Mission (DRM) for WFIRST. Part of the original charge was to produce an interim design reference mission by mid-2011. That document was delivered to NASA and widely circulated within the astronomical community. In late 2011 the Astrophysics Division augmented its original charge, asking for two design reference missions. The first of these, DRM1, was to be a finalized version of the interim DRM, reducing overall mission costs where possible. The second of these, DRM2, was to identify and eliminate capabilities that overlapped with those of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (henceforth JWST), ESA's Euclid mission, and the NSF's ground-based Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (henceforth LSST), and again to reduce overall mission cost, while staying faithful to NWNH. This report presents both DRM1 and DRM2.Comment: 102 pages, 57 figures, 17 table

Supernova / Acceleration Probe: A Satellite Experiment to Study the Nature of the Dark Energy

The Supernova / Acceleration Probe (SNAP) is a proposed space-based experiment designed to study the dark energy and alternative explanations of the acceleration of the Universe's expansion by performing a series of complementary systematics-controlled measurements. We describe a self-consistent reference mission design for building a Type Ia supernova Hubble diagram and for performing a wide-area weak gravitational lensing study. A 2-m wide-field telescope feeds a focal plane consisting of a 0.7 square-degree imager tiled with equal areas of optical CCDs and near infrared sensors, and a high-efficiency low-resolution integral field spectrograph. The SNAP mission will obtain high-signal-to-noise calibrated light-curves and spectra for several thousand supernovae at redshifts between z=0.1 and 1.7. A wide-field survey covering one thousand square degrees resolves ~100 galaxies per square arcminute. If we assume we live in a cosmological-constant-dominated Universe, the matter density, dark energy density, and flatness of space can all be measured with SNAP supernova and weak-lensing measurements to a systematics-limited accuracy of 1%. For a flat universe, the density-to-pressure ratio of dark energy can be similarly measured to 5% for the present value w0 and ~0.1 for the time variation w'. The large survey area, depth, spatial resolution, time-sampling, and nine-band optical to NIR photometry will support additional independent and/or complementary dark-energy measurement approaches as well as a broad range of auxiliary science programs. (Abridged)Comment: 40 pages, 18 figures, submitted to PASP, http://snap.lbl.go

Constraining Source Models, Underlying Mechanisms, and Hazards Associated with Slow Slip Events: Insight from Space-Borne Geodesy and Seismology

abstract: The movement between tectonic plates is accommodated through brittle (elastic) displacement on the plate boundary faults and ductile permanent deformation on the fault borderland. The elastic displacement along the fault can occur in the form of either large seismic events or aseismic slip, known as fault creep. Fault creep mainly occurs at the deep ductile portion of the crust, where the temperature is high. Nonetheless, aseismic creep can also occur on the shallow brittle portion of the fault segments that are characterized by frictionally weak material, elevated pore fluid pressure, or geometrical complexity. Creeping segments are assumed to safely release the accumulated strain(Kodaira et al., 2004; Rice, 1992)(Kodaira et al., 2004; Rice, 1992)(Kodaira et al., 2004; Rice, 1992)(Kodaira et al., 2004; Rice, 1992)(Kodaira et al., 2004; Rice, 1992) on the fault and also impede propagation of the seismic rupture. The rate of aseismic slip on creeping faults, however, might not be steady in time and instead consist of successive periods of acceleration and deceleration, known as slow slip events (SSEs). SSEs, which aseismically release the strain energy over a period of days to months, rather than the seconds to minutes characteristic of a typical earthquake, have been interpreted as earthquake precursors and as possible triggering factor for major earthquakes. Therefore, understanding the partitioning of seismic and aseismic fault slip and evolution of creep is fundamental to constraining the fault earthquake potential and improving operational seismic hazard models. Thanks to advances in tectonic geodesy, it is now possible to detect the fault movement in high spatiotemporal resolution and develop kinematic models of the creep evolution on the fault to determine the budget of seismic and aseismic slip. In this dissertation, I measure the decades-long time evolution of fault-related crustal deformation along the San Andrea Fault in California and the northeast Japan subduction zone using space-borne geodetic techniques, such as Global Positioning System (GPS) and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR). The surface observation of deformation combined with seismic data set allow constraining the time series of creep distribution on the fault surface at seismogenic depth. The obtained time-dependent kinematic models reveal that creep in both study areas evolves through a series of SSEs, each lasting for several months. Using physics-based models informed by laboratory experiments, I show that the transient elevation of pore fluid pressure is the driving mechanism of SSEs. I further investigate the link between SSEs and evolution of seismicity on neighboring locked segments, which has implications for seismic hazard models and also provides insights into the pattern of microstructure on the fault surface. I conclude that while creeping segments act as seismic rupture barriers, SSEs on these zones might promote seismicity on adjacent seismogenic segments, thus change the short-term earthquake forecast.Dissertation/ThesisDoctoral Dissertation Geological Sciences 201

Aptamers as cross-reactive receptors : using binding patterns to discriminate biomolecules

textExploration into the use of aptamers as cross-reactive receptors was the focus of this work. Cross-reactivity is of interest for developing assays to identify complex targets and solutions. By exploiting the simple chemistries of aptamers, we hope to introduce a new class of receptors to the science of molecular discrimination. This manuscript first addresses the use designed aptamers for the identification of variants of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. In this research aptamers were immobilized on a platform and were used to discriminate four variants of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. It was found that not only could the array discriminate HIV-1 reverse transcriptase variants for which aptamers were designed, it would also discriminate variants for which no aptamers exist. A panel of aptamers was used to discriminate four separate cell lines, which were chosen as examples of complex targets. This aptamer panel was used to further explore the use of aptamers as cross-reactive sensors. Forty-six aptamers were selected from the literature that were designed to be specific to cells or molecules expected to be in the surface of cells. This panel showed differential binding patterns to each of the cell types, displaying cross-reactive behavior. During the course of this research, we also developed a novel ratiometric method of using aptamer count derived from next-generation sequencing as a method for discrimination. This is in lieu of the more commonly used fluorescent signals. Finally the use of multiple signals for pattern recognition routines was further explored by running various models using artificial data. Various situations were applied to replicate different possible situation which might arise when working with macromolecular interactions. The purpose of this was to advance the communities understanding and ability to interpret results from the pattern recognition methods of PCA and LDA.Cellular and Molecular Biolog