770 research outputs found
Capacity Results on Multiple-Input Single-Output Wireless Optical Channels
This paper derives upper and lower bounds on the capacity of the
multiple-input single-output free-space optical intensity channel with
signal-independent additive Gaussian noise subject to both an average-intensity
and a peak-intensity constraint. In the limit where the signal-to-noise ratio
(SNR) tends to infinity, the asymptotic capacity is specified, while in the
limit where the SNR tends to zero, the exact slope of the capacity is also
given.Comment: Submitted to IEEE Transactions on Information Theor
Gamma-Ray Burst Polarization: Limits from RHESSI Measurements
Using the RHESSI satellite as a Compton polarimeter, a recent study claimed
that the prompt emission of GRB021206 was almost fully linearly polarized. This
was challenged by a subsequent reanalysis. We present an novel approach,
applying our method to the same data. We identify Compton scattering candidates
by carefully filtering events in energy, time, and scattering geometry. Our
polarization search is based on time dependent scattering rates in
perpendicular directions, thus optimally excluding systematic errors. We
perform simulations to obtain the instrument's polarimetric sensitivity, and
these simulations include photon polarization. For GRB021206, we formally find
a linear polarization degree of 41% (+57% -44%), concluding that the data
quality is insufficient to constrain the polarization degree in this case. We
further applied our analysis to GRB030519B and found again a null result.Comment: 39 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication by the Astrophysical
Journa
Spectral Analysis of GRBs Measured by RHESSI
The Ge spectrometer of the RHESSI satellite is sensitive to Gamma Ray Bursts
(GRBs) from about 40 keV up to 17 MeV, thus ideally complementing the Swift/BAT
instrument whose sensitivity decreases above 150 keV. We present preliminary
results of spectral fits of RHESSI GRB data. After describing our method, the
RHESSI results are discussed and compared with Swift and Konus.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, conference proceedings, 'Swift and GRBs:
Unveiling the Relativistic Universe', San Servolo, Venice, 5-9 June 2006, to
appear in Il Nouvo Ciment
2004 Freshwater Mussel Survey of the Big Piney River and Roubidoux Creek, Pulaski County, Missouri
Native freshwater mussels are an ecologically important group of aquatic mollusks. This group is of particular concern to conservation biologists because many species are classified as species of conservation concern (SCC). The freshwater mussel community of the Big Piney River and Roubidoux Creek, on and in the vicinity of Fort Leonard Wood, was previously surveyed by Sternburg et al. (1998). The present project was a resurvey of the area to determine the current status of the mussel community, so that appropriate measures can be taken to preserve and protect that community
On the Capacity of Free-Space Optical Intensity Channels
New upper and lower bounds are presented on the capacity of the free-space
optical intensity channel. This channel is characterized by inputs that are
nonnegative (representing the transmitted optical intensity) and by outputs
that are corrupted by additive white Gaussian noise (because in free space the
disturbances arise from many independent sources). Due to battery and safety
reasons the inputs are simultaneously constrained in both their average and
peak power. For a fixed ratio of the average power to the peak power the
difference between the upper and the lower bounds tends to zero as the average
power tends to infinity, and the ratio of the upper and lower bounds tends to
one as the average power tends to zero. The case where only an average-power
constraint is imposed on the input is treated separately. In this case, the
difference of the upper and lower bound tends to 0 as the average power tends
to infinity, and their ratio tends to a constant as the power tends to zero.Comment: To be presented at ISIT 2008 in Toront
RHESSI Spectral Fits of Swift GRBs
One of the challenges of the Swift era has been accurately determining Epeak
for the prompt GRB emission. RHESSI, which is sensitive from 30 keV to 17 MeV,
can extend spectral coverage above the Swift-BAT bandpass. Using the public
Swift data, we present results of joint spectral fits for 26 bursts co-observed
by RHESSI and Swift-BAT through May 2007. We compare these fits to estimates of
Epeak which rely on BAT data alone. A Bayesian Epeak estimator gives better
correspondence with our measured results than an estimator relying on
correlations with the Swift power law indices.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure. To appear in the proceedings of Gamma Ray Bursts
2007, Santa Fe, New Mexico, November 5-9 200
Polarization from GRB021206: No constraints from reanalysis of RHESSI data
The determination of a polarization signal in Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) would give new information about their nature and mechanism. Using the RHESSI satellite as a Compton polarimeter, Coburn W. and Boggs S. E. (Nature, 423 (2003) 415) reported that GRB021206 was highly linearly polarized. This was contradicted by Rutledge R. E. and Fox D. B. (Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc., 350 (2004) 1288) who found about 10 times less scattering events suitable for measuring
polarization. Applying our own method to thesamedata weconfirm them uch lower number of suitable scattering events. But we obtain three times smaller errors by using better selection criteria. Comparison with our Monte Carlo simulations shows that from the RHESSI data of GRB021206 we cannot distinguish between no and full polarization within less than 2 standard deviations. We also applied our method
to other GRBs observed by RHESSI. This shows that the probability to observe a GRB suitable for polarization search with such an instrument is small
Nonsolar astronomy with the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI)
The Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) is a NASA Small Explorer satellite designed to study hard x-ray and gamma-ray emission from solar flares. In addition, its high-resolution array of germanium detectors can see photons from high-energy sources throughout the Universe. Here we discuss the various algorithms necessary to extract spectra, lightcurves, and other information about cosmic gamma-ray bursts, pulsars, and other astrophysical phenomena using an unpointed, spinning array of detectors. We show some preliminary results and discuss our plans for future analyses. All RHESSI data are public, and scientists interested in participating should contact the principal author
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