Implementation of a GNU Radio and Python FMCW radar toolkit

Abstract: The use of GNU Radio in order to explore FMCW radar is growing rapidly, where it is used for radar signal processing. In this paper we implement FMCW surveillance radar for drone detection on SDR using GNU Radio and the USRP B210. The requirement was to design and implement an FMCW surveillance radar to detect a drone with a radar cross-section of 0.1 m2 and a maximum range of 150 m for the purpose of point detection..

Beyond the Dipole Approximation: Angular-Distribution Effects in the 1s Photoemission from Small Molecules

Over the past two decades, the dipole approximation has facilitated a basic understanding of the photoionization process in atoms and molecules. Recent experiments on the 1s inner shells of small molecules at relatively low photon energies (⩽ 1000 eV) show strong nondipole effects. They are significant and measurable at energies close to threshold, in conflict with a common assumption that the dipole approximation is valid for photon energies below 1 keV

Large Nondipole Effects in the Angular Distributions of K-Shell Photoelectrons from Molecular Nitrogen

Measurements of angular distributions of K-shell electrons photoejected from molecular nitrogen are reported which reveal large deviations at relatively low photon energies ( ħω≤500eV) from emission patterns anticipated from the dipole approximation to interactions between radiation and matter. A concomitant theoretical analysis incorporating the effects of electromagnetic retardation attributes the observed large nondipole behaviors in N2 to bond-length-dependent terms in the E1⊗(E2,M1) photoelectron emission amplitudes which are indicative of a potentially universal nondipole behavior in molecular photoionization

Thermal and Rheological Properties of Fischer–Tropsch Wax/High-Flow LLDPE Blends

[Abstract]: Waxes find use as processing aids in filled compounds and polyethylene-based masterbatches. In such applications, the thermal and physical property changes they impart to the polymer matrix are important. Therefore, this study details results obtained for blends prepared by mixing a Fischer–Tropsch (F–T) wax with a high-flow linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). The melting and crystallization behavior are studied using hot-stage polarized optical microscopy (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The calorimetry results are consistent with partial cocrystallization of the two components. The melting and crystallization exo- and endotherms for the wax- and LLDPE-rich phases remained separate. However, they change in shape and shift toward higher- and lower temperature ranges, respectively. It is found that increasing the wax content delays the crystallization, decreases the overall crystallinity, and reduces the size of the crystallites of the polyethylene-rich phase. Rotational viscosity is measured at 170 °C in the Newtonian shear-rate range. The variation of the zero-shear viscosity with blend composition is consistent with the assumption of a homogeneous melt in which the chains are in an entangled state. Therefore, it is concluded that the wax and LLDPE are, in effect, miscible in the melt and partially compatible in the solid state.Generous financial support from Sasol is gratefully acknowledged. Sasol research grant agreement SAP No. 126/20 G

A relatively simple look at the rather complex crystallization kinetics of PLLA

[Abstract] This work demonstrates that, despite the existence of a significant number of works on PLA crystallization, there is still a relatively simple way, different from those already described, in which its complex kinetics can be observed. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results presented here confirm that the PLLA under study crystallizes mostly in the α and α′ forms. An interesting observation is that at any temperature in the studied range of the patterns, the X-ray reflections stabilize with a given shape and at a given angle, different for each temperature. That means that both α and α′ forms coexist and are stable at the same temperatures so that the shape of each pattern results from both structures. However, the patterns obtained at each temperature are different because the predominance of one crystal form over the other depends on temperature. Thus, a two-component kinetic model is proposed to account for both crystal forms. The method involves the deconvolution of the exothermic DSC peaks using two logistic derivative functions. The existence of the rigid amorphous fraction (RAF) in addition to the two crystal forms increases the complexity of the whole crystallization process. However, the results presented here show that a two-component kinetic model can reproduce the overall crystallization process fairly well over a broad range of temperatures. The method used here for PLLA may be useful for describing the isothermal crystallization processes of other polymers

RXTE Observation of Cygnus X-1 In Its High State

We present the results from the RXTE observations of Cygnus X-1 in its high state. In the energy range of 2-200 keV, the observed X-ray spectrum can be described by a model consisting of a soft blackbody component and a broken power-law with a high energy cutoff. The low energy spectrum (below about 11 keV) varies significantly from observation to observation while the high energy portion changes little. The X-ray flux varies on all timescales down to milliseconds. The power density spectrum (PDS) can be characterized by excess red noise (``1/f'') at low frequencies and a white noise component that extends to 1-3 Hz before being cut off. At higher frequencies, the PDS becomes power-law again, with a slope of roughly -2 (i.e., ``1/f^2''). Broad peaks in the range of 3-9 Hz are present, and might be due to quasi-periodic oscillations. The PDS shows interesting spectral dependence: the 1/f component becomes more prominent when the low-energy spectrum becomes softer. The difference in the observed spectral and timing properties between the low and high states is qualitatively consistent with a simple ``fluctuating corona'' model.Comment: 11 pages including 3 figures, LaTeX (aaspp4.sty). Accepted for publication in ApJ Letter

Relativistic Effects on Interchannel Coupling in Atomic Photoionization: The Photoelectron Angular Distribution of Xe

Measurements of the photoelectron angular-distribution asymmetry parameter β for Xe 5s photoionization have been performed in the 80–200 eV photon-energy region. The results show a substantial deviation from the nonrelativistic value of β=2 and provide a clear signature of significant relativistic effects in interchannel coupling

Interval Algebra - an effective means of scheduling surveillance radar networks

Interval Algebra provides an effective means to schedule surveillance radar networks, as it is a temporal ordering constraint language. Thus it provides a solution to a part of resource management, which is included in the revised Data Fusion Information Group model of information fusion. In this paper, the use of Interval Algebra to schedule mechanically steered radars to make multistatic measurements for selected targets of importance is shown. Interval Algebra provides a framework for incorporating a richer set of requirements, without requiring modi cations to the underlying algorithms. The performance of Interval Algebra was compared to that of the Greedy Randomised Adaptive Search Procedure and the applicability of Interval Algebra to nimble scheduling was investigated using Monte-Carlo simulations of a binary radar system. The comparison was done in terms of actual performance as well as in terms of computation time required. The performance of the algorithms was quanti ed by keeping track of the number of targets that could be measured simultaneously. It was found that nimble scheduling is important where the targets are moving fast enough to rapidly change the recognised surveillance picture during a scan. Two novel approaches for implementing Interval Algebra for scheduling surveillance radars are presented. It was found that adding targets on the y and improving performance by incrementally growing the network is more e cient than pre-creating the full network. The second approach stemmed from constraint ordering. It was found that for simple constraint sets, the Interval Algebra relationship matrix reduces to a single vector of interval sets. The simulations revealed that an Interval Algebra algorithm that utilises both approaches can perform as well as the Greedy Randomised Adaptive Search Procedure with similar processing time requirements. Finally, it was found that nimble scheduling is not required for surveillance radar networks where ballistic and supersonic targets can be ignored. Nevertheless, Interval Algebra can easily be used to perform nimble scheduling with little modi - cation and may be useful in scheduling the scans of multifunction radars.Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the University of Cape Town and the University of Pretoria.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/inffushb201

Properties of Mosquito Repellent-Plasticized Poly(lactic acid) Strands

This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermal and Rheological Characterization of Polymeric Materials[Abstract] Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is an attractive candidate for replacing petrochemical polymers because it is fully biodegradable. This study investigated the potential of PLA as a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative material that can be developed into commercially viable wearable mosquito repellent devices with desirable characteristics. PLA strands containing DEET and IR3535 were prepared by twin screw extrusion compounding and simultaneously functioned as plasticizers for the polymer. The plasticizing effect was investigated by thermal and rheological studies. DSC studies showed that the addition of DEET and IR3535 into PLA strands reduced the glass transition temperature consistent with predictions of the Fox equation, thus proving their efficiency as plasticizers. The rheology of molten samples of neat PLA and PLA/repellents blends, evaluated at 200 °C, was consistent with shear-thinning pseudoplastic behaviour. Raman studies revealed a nonlinear concentration gradient for DEET in the PLA strand, indicating non-Fickian Type II transport controlling the desorption process. Release data obtained at 50 °C showed initial rapid release followed by a slower, near constant rate at longer times. The release rate data were fitted to a novel modification of the Peppas-Sahlin desorption modelThis work was financially supported from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Germany [Grant number AN 212/22-2] and University of Pretoria (UP) Postdoctoral Fellowship programme. The research has been also supported by Spanish MINECO grant MTM2017-82724-R through the ERDFDeutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG); AN 212/22-2https://www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules/special_issues/Thermal_Rheological_Polymeric_Material

Interchannel Coupling in the Photoionization of the M-shell of Kr Well Above Threshold: Experiment and Theory

Photoionization cross sections and asymmetry (β) parameters for Kr 3s, 3p, and 3d subshells have been measured and calculated in the 300–1300-eV photon energy range. Good agreement between experiment and theory is found for both cross-section branching ratios and β parameters. Interchannel coupling among the channels arising from 3s, 3p, and 3d subshells is found to be necessary for quantitative accuracy of the theory. This shows that the interchannel coupling phenomenology far above threshold, found previously for outer shells of Ne and Ar, is also operative for inner atomic shells