Effect of nonlinear filters on detrended fluctuation analysis

We investigate how various linear and nonlinear transformations affect the scaling properties of a signal, using the detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA). Specifically, we study the effect of three types of transforms: linear, nonlinear polynomial and logarithmic filters. We compare the scaling properties of signals before and after the transform. We find that linear filters do not change the correlation properties, while the effect of nonlinear polynomial and logarithmic filters strongly depends on (a) the strength of correlations in the original signal, (b) the power of the polynomial filter and (c) the offset in the logarithmic filter. We further investigate the correlation properties of three analytic functions: exponential, logarithmic, and power-law. While these three functions have in general different correlation properties, we find that there is a broad range of variable values, common for all three functions, where they exhibit identical scaling behavior. We further note that the scaling behavior of a class of other functions can be reduced to these three typical cases. We systematically test the performance of the DFA method in accurately estimating long-range power-law correlations in the output signals for different parameter values in the three types of filters, and the three analytic functions we consider.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figure

Electronic structure calculations for PrFe4P12 filled skutterudite using Extended Huckel tight-binding method

To get insight into the electronic properties of PrFe4P12 skutterudite, band electronic structure calculations, Total and Projected Density of States, Crystal Orbital Overlap Population and Mulliken Population Analysis were performed. The energy bands yield a semi metallic behavior with a direct gap (at gamma) of 0.02 eV. Total and Projected Density of States provided information of the contribution from each orbital of each atom to the total Density of States. Moreover, the bonding strength between some atoms within the unit cell was obtained. Mulliken Population analysis suggests ionic behavior for this compound

The 2009 Samoa and 2010 Chile Tsunamis as Observed in the Ionosphere using GPS Total Electron Content

Ground‐based Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements of ionospheric total electron content (TEC) show variations consistent with atmospheric internal gravity waves caused by ocean tsunamis following two recent seismic events: the Samoa earthquake of 29 September 2009 and the Chile earthquake of 27 February 2010. Both earthquakes produced ocean tsunamis that were destructive to coastal communities near the epicenters, and both were observed in tidal gauge and buoy measurements throughout the Pacific Ocean. We observe fluctuations in TEC correlated in time, space, and wave properties with these tsunamis using the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Global Ionospheric Mapping software. These TEC measurements were band‐pass filtered to remove ionospheric TEC variations with wavelengths and periods outside the typical range for tsunamis. Observable variations in TEC appear correlated with the tsunamis in some locations (Hawaii and Japan), but not in others (Southern California or near the epicenters). Where variations are observed, the typical amplitude tends to be ∼0.1–0.2 TEC units for these events, on the order of ∼1% of the background TEC value. These observations are compared to estimates of expected tsunami‐driven TEC variations produced by Embry Riddle Aeronautical University’s Spectral Full Wave Model, an atmosphere‐ionosphere coupled model, and are found to be in good agreement. Significant TEC variations are not always seen when a tsunami is present, but in these two events the regions where a strong ocean tsunami was observed coincided with clear TEC observations, while a lack of clear TEC observations coincided with smaller sea surface height amplitudes. There exists the potential to apply these detection techniques to real‐time GPS TEC data, providing estimates of tsunami speed and amplitude that may be useful for early warning systems

The Magnetic Electron Ion Spectrometer (MagEIS) Instruments Aboard the Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) Spacecraft

This paper describes the Magnetic Electron Ion Spectrometer (MagEIS) instruments aboard the RBSP spacecraft from an instrumentation and engineering point of view. There are four magnetic spectrometers aboard each of the two spacecraft, one low-energy unit (20–240 keV), two medium-energy units (80–1200 keV), and a high-energy unit (800–4800 keV). The high unit also contains a proton telescope (55 keV–20 MeV). The magnetic spectrometers focus electrons within a selected energy pass band upon a focal plane of several silicon detectors where pulse-height analysis is used to determine if the energy of the incident electron is appropriate for the electron momentum selected by the magnet. Thus each event is a two-parameter analysis, an approach leading to a greatly reduced background. The physics of these instruments are described in detail followed by the engineering implementation. The data outputs are described, and examples of the calibration results and early flight data presented

Infall and Outflow around the HH 212 protostellar system

HH 212 is a highly collimated jet discovered in H2 powered by a young Class 0 source, IRAS 05413-0104, in the L1630 cloud of Orion. We have mapped around it in 1.33 mm continuum, 12CO ($J=2-1$), 13CO ($J=2-1$), C18O ($J=2-1$), and SO ($J_K = 6_5-5_4$) emission at $\sim$ \arcs{2.5} resolution with the Submillimeter Array. A dust core is seen in the continuum around the source. A flattened envelope is seen in C18O around the source in the equator perpendicular to the jet axis, with its inner part seen in 13CO. The structure and kinematics of the envelope can be roughly reproduced by a simple edge-on disk model with both infall and rotation. In this model, the density of the disk is assumed to have a power-law index of $p=-1.5$ or -2, as found in other low-mass envelopes. The envelope seems dynamically infalling toward the source with slow rotation because the kinematics is found to be roughly consistent with a free fall toward the source plus a rotation of a constant specific angular momentum. A 12CO outflow is seen surrounding the H2 jet, with a narrow waist around the source. Jetlike structures are also seen in 12CO near the source aligned with the H2 jet at high velocities. The morphological relationship between the H2 jet and the 12CO outflow, and the kinematics of the 12CO outflow along the jet axis are both consistent with those seen in a jet-driven bow shock model. SO emission is seen around the source and the H2 knotty shocks in the south, tracing shocked emission around them.Comment: 17 pages, 11 figures, Accepted by the Ap

Bayesian Blocks, A New Method to Analyze Structure in Photon Counting Data

I describe a new time-domain algorithm for detecting localized structures (bursts), revealing pulse shapes, and generally characterizing intensity variations. The input is raw counting data, in any of three forms: time-tagged photon events (TTE), binned counts, or time-to-spill (TTS) data. The output is the most likely segmentation of the observation into time intervals during which the photon arrival rate is perceptibly constant -- i.e. has a fixed intensity without statistically significant variations. Since the analysis is based on Bayesian statistics, I call the resulting structures Bayesian Blocks. Unlike most, this method does not stipulate time bins -- instead the data themselves determine a piecewise constant representation. Therefore the analysis procedure itself does not impose a lower limit to the time scale on which variability can be detected. Locations, amplitudes, and rise and decay times of pulses within a time series can be estimated, independent of any pulse-shape model -- but only if they do not overlap too much, as deconvolution is not incorporated. The Bayesian Blocks method is demonstrated by analyzing pulse structure in BATSE $\gamma$-ray data. The MatLab scripts and sample data can be found on the WWW at: http://george.arc.nasa.gov/~scargle/papers.htmlComment: 42 pages, 2 figures; revision correcting mathematical errors; clarifications; removed Cyg X-1 sectio

Characteristics of long-duration inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in rat neocortical neurons in vitro

1. The characteristics of long-duration inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (l-IPSPs) which are evoked in rat frontal neocortical neurons by local electrical stimulation were investigated with intracellular recordings from anin vitro slice preparation. 2. Stimulation with suprathreshold intensities evoked l-IPSPs with typical durations of 600–900 msec at resting membrane potential. Conductance increases of 15–60% were measured at the peak amplitude of l-IPSPs (150–250 msec poststimulus). 3. The duration of the conductance increases during l-IPSPs displayed a significant voltage dependence, decreasing as the membrance potential was depolarized and increasing with hyperpolarization. 4. The reversal potential of l-IPSPs is significantly altered by reductions in the extracellular potassium concentration. Therefore it is concluded that l-IPSPs in rat neocortical neurons are generated by the activation of a potassium conductance. 5. l-IPSPs exhibit stimulation fatigue. Stimulation with a frequency of 1 Hz produces a complete fatigue of the conductance increases during l-IPSPs after approximately 20 consecutive stimuli. Recovery from this fatigue requires minutes. 6. l-IPSPs are not blocked by bicuculline but are blocked by baclofen