13,330 research outputs found
Comparisons of the execution times and memory requirements for high-speed discrete fourier transforms and fast fourier transforms, for the measurement of AC power harmonics
Conventional wisdom dictates that a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) will be a more computationally effective method for measuring multiple harmonics than a Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) approach. However, in this paper it is shown that carefully coded discrete transforms which distribute their computational load over many frames can be made to produce results in shorter execution times than the FFT approach, even for large number of harmonic measurement frequencies. This is because the execution time of the presented DFT actually rises with N and not the classical N2 value, while the execution time of the FFT rises with Nlog2N
Non-circular features in Saturn's D ring: D68
D68 is a narrow ringlet located only 67,627 km (1.12 planetary radii) from
Saturn's spin axis. Images of this ringlet obtained by the Cassini spacecraft
reveal that this ringlet exhibits persistent longitudinal brightness variations
and a substantial eccentricity (ae=25+/-1 km). By comparing observations made
at different times, we confirm that the brightness variations revolve around
the planet at approximately the local orbital rate (1751.6 degrees/day), and
that the ringlet's pericenter precesses at 38.243+/-0.008 degrees/day,
consistent with the expected apsidal precession rate at this location due to
Saturn's higher-order gravitational harmonics. Surprisingly, we also find that
the ringlet's semi-major axis appears to be decreasing with time at a rate of
2.4+/-0.4 km/year between 2005 and 2013. A closer look at these measurements,
along with a consideration of earlier Voyager observations of this same
ringlet, suggests that the mean radius of D68 moves back and forth, perhaps
with a period of around 15 Earth years or about half a Saturn year. These
observations could place important constraints on both the ringlet's local
dynamical environment and the planet's gravitational field.Comment: 39 Pages, 11 Figures accepted for publication in Icarus Text slightly
modified to match corrections to proof
Benchmarking and optimisation of Simulink code using Real-Time Workshop and Embedded Coder for inverter and microgrid control applications
When creating software for a new power systems control or protection device, the use of auto-generated C code via MATLAB Simulink Real-Time Workshop and Embedded Coder toolboxes can be a sensible alternative to hand written C code. This approach offers the benefits of a simulation environment, platform independence and robust code. This paper briefly summarises recent experiences with this coding process including the pros and cons of such an approach. Extensive benchmarking activities are presented, together with descriptions of simple (but non-obvious) optimisations made as a result of the benchmarking. Examples include replacement of certain Simulink blocks with seemingly more complex blocks which execute faster. "S functions" are also designed for certain key algorithms. These must be fully "in-lined" to obtain the best speed performance. Together, these optimisations can lead to an increase in execution speed of more than 1.4x in a large piece of auto-generated C code. An example is presented, which carries out Fourier analysis of 3 signals at a common (variable) frequency. The overall speed improvement relative to the baseline is 2.3x, of which more than 1.4x is due to non-obvious improvements resulting from benchmarking activities. Such execution speed improvements allow higher frame rates or larger algorithms within inverters, drives, protection and control applications
Integration of a mean-torque diesel engine model into a hardware-in-the-loop shipboard network simulation using lambda tuning
This study describes the creation of a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) environment for use in evaluating network architecture, control concepts and equipment for use within marine electrical systems. The environment allows a scaled hardware network to be connected to a simulation of a multi-megawatt marine diesel prime mover, coupled via a synchronous generator. This allows All-Electric marine scenarios to be investigated without large-scale hardware trials. The method of closing the loop between simulation and hardware is described, with particular reference to the control of the laboratory synchronous machine, which represents the simulated generator(s). The fidelity of the HIL simulation is progressively improved in this study. First, a faster and more powerful field drive is implemented to improve voltage tracking. Second, the phase tracking is improved by using two nested proportional–integral–derivative–acceleration controllers for torque control, tuned using lambda tuning. The HIL environment is tested using a scenario involving a large constant-power load step. This provides a very severe test of the HIL environment, and also reveals the potentially adverse effects of constant-power loads within marine power systems
Modelling electron distributions within ESA's Gaia satellite CCD pixels to mitigate radiation damage
The Gaia satellite is a high-precision astrometry, photometry and
spectroscopic ESA cornerstone mission, currently scheduled for launch in 2012.
Its primary science drivers are the composition, formation and evolution of the
Galaxy. Gaia will achieve its unprecedented positional accuracy requirements
with detailed calibration and correction for radiation damage. At L2, protons
cause displacement damage in the silicon of CCDs. The resulting traps capture
and emit electrons from passing charge packets in the CCD pixel, distorting the
image PSF and biasing its centroid. Microscopic models of Gaia's CCDs are being
developed to simulate this effect. The key to calculating the probability of an
electron being captured by a trap is the 3D electron density within each CCD
pixel. However, this has not been physically modelled for the Gaia CCD pixels.
In Seabroke, Holland & Cropper (2008), the first paper of this series, we
motivated the need for such specialised 3D device modelling and outlined how
its future results will fit into Gaia's overall radiation calibration strategy.
In this paper, the second of the series, we present our first results using
Silvaco's physics-based, engineering software: the ATLAS device simulation
framework. Inputting a doping profile, pixel geometry and materials into ATLAS
and comparing the results to other simulations reveals that ATLAS has a free
parameter, fixed oxide charge, that needs to be calibrated. ATLAS is
successfully benchmarked against other simulations and measurements of a test
device, identifying how to use it to model Gaia pixels and highlighting the
effect of different doping approximations.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, appearing in Proc. of SPIE Optics and Photonics
Conference (Focal Plane Arrays for Space telescopes IV), 2-6 August 2009, San
Diego, US
Modelling Gaia CCD pixels with Silvaco 3D engineering software
Gaia will only achieve its unprecedented measurement accuracy requirements
with detailed calibration and correction for radiation damage. We present our
Silvaco 3D engineering software model of the Gaia CCD pixel and two of its
applications for Gaia: (1) physically interpreting supplementary buried channel
(SBC) capacity measurements (pocket-pumping and first pixel response) in terms
of e2v manufacturing doping alignment tolerances; and (2) deriving electron
densities within a charge packet as a function of the number of constituent
electrons and 3D position within the charge packet as input to microscopic
models being developed to simulate radiation damage.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, contributed poster, appearing in proceedings of
the ELSA conference: Gaia, at the frontiers of astrometry, 7-11 June 2010,
S\`evres, Pari
Solid metabolic waste transport and stowage investigation
The basic Waste Collection System (WCS) design under consideration utilized air flow to separate the stool from the WCS user and to transport the fecal material to a slinger device for subsequent deposition on a storage bowel. The major parameters governing stool separation and transport were found to be the area of the air inlet orifices, the configuration of the air inlet orifice and the transport air flow. Separation force and transport velocity of the stool were studied. The developed inlet orifice configuration was found to be an effective design for providing fecal separation and transport. Simulated urine tests and female user tests in zero gravity established air flow rates between 0.08 and 0.25 cu sm/min (3 and 9 scfm) as satisfactory for entrapment, containment and transport of urine using an urinal. The investigation of air drying of fecal material as a substitute for vacuum drying in a WCS breadboard system showed that using baseline conditions anticipated for the shuttle cabin ambient atmosphere, flow rates of 0.14 cu sm/min (5 cfm) were adequate for drying and maintaining biological stability of the fecal material
Lunar mining of oxygen using fluorine
Experiments during the first year of the project were directed towards generating elemental fluorine via the electrolysis of anhydrous molten fluorides. Na2SiF6 was dissolved in either molten NaBF4 or a eutectic (minimum-melting) mixture of KF-LiF-NaF and electrolyzed between 450 and 600 C to Si metal at the cathode and F2 gas at the anode. Ar gas was continuously passed through the system and F2 was trapped in a KBr furnace. Various anode and cathode materials were investigated. Despite many experimental difficulties, the capability of the process to produce elemental fluorine was demonstrated
Quantum hierarchic models for information processing
Both classical and quantum computations operate with the registers of bits.
At nanometer scale the quantum fluctuations at the position of a given bit,
say, a quantum dot, not only lead to the decoherence of quantum state of this
bit, but also affect the quantum states of the neighboring bits, and therefore
affect the state of the whole register. That is why the requirement of reliable
separate access to each bit poses the limit on miniaturization, i.e, constrains
the memory capacity and the speed of computation. In the present paper we
suggest an algorithmic way to tackle the problem of constructing reliable and
compact registers of quantum bits. We suggest to access the states of quantum
register hierarchically, descending from the state of the whole register to the
states of its parts. Our method is similar to quantum wavelet transform, and
can be applied to information compression, quantum memory, quantum
computations.Comment: 14 pages, LaTeX, 1 eps figur
Effective attraction between oscillating electrons in a plasmoid via acoustic waves exchange
We consider the effective interaction between electrons due to the exchange
of virtual acoustic waves in a low temperature plasma. Electrons are supposed
to participate in rapid radial oscillations forming a spherically symmetric
plasma structure. We show that under certain conditions this effective
interaction can result in the attraction between oscillating electrons and can
be important for the dynamics of a plasmoid. Some possible applications of the
obtained results to the theory of natural long-lived plasma structures are also
discussed.Comment: 14 pages in LaTeX2e, two columns, 3 eps figures; minimal changes,
some typos are corrected; version published on-line in Proc. R. Soc.
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