PCM synchronization by word stuffing

When a transmitted word, consisting of a number of pulses, is detected and removed from the data stream, the space left by the removal is eliminated by a memory buffer. This eliminates the need for a clock synchronizer thereby removing instability problems

Multichannel telemetry system

A two-channel telemetry system is described in which one channel is used for high-rate data and the other channel for low-rate data communication. In the transmitter a signal, which subsequently phase modulates a carrier, is produced which is a function of at least the high-rate data, the low-rate data and the frequency of the subcarrier of the low-rate channel. In the receiver which includes a phase-locked loop, the high-rate data is detected off the receiver inphase channel output and the low-rate off the quadrature channel output

Interplex modulation and a suppressed-carrier tracking loop for coherent communications systems

Simple addition to hardware and new mode of operation of transmitter and receiver in coherent, PCM/PSK/PM configuration greatly improves channel efficiency. Procedure reduces amount of power lost to intermodulation products

On the error statistics of Viterbi decoding and the performance of concatenated codes

Computer simulation results are presented on the performance of convolutional codes of constraint lengths 7 and 10 concatenated with the (255, 223) Reed-Solomon code (a proposed NASA standard). These results indicate that as much as 0.8 dB can be gained by concatenating this Reed-Solomon code with a (10, 1/3) convolutional code, instead of the (7, 1/2) code currently used by the DSN. A mathematical model of Viterbi decoder burst-error statistics is developed and is validated through additional computer simulations

Mass-spectrometric study of molecular and ionic sublimation of gadolinium and terbium tribromides in Knudsen and Langmuir modes

Molecular and ionic sublimation of gadolinium and terbium tribromides in Knudsen and Langmuire modes was studied by the method of high-temperature mass-spectrometry. On the basis of obtained enthalpies of sublimation and ion-molecule reactions the enthalpies of formation of LnBr3 and Ln2Br6 molecules and LnBr4− and Ln2Br7− negative ions were determined. For the first time the electron work function for crystals of the studied tribromides was calculate

The Mars Observer Ka-band link experiment

The Ka-Band Link Experiment was the first demonstration of a deep-space communications link in the 32- to 35-GHz band (Ka-band). It was carried out using the Mars Observer spacecraft while the spacecraft was in the cruise phase of its mission and using a 34-meter beam-waveguide research and development antenna at the Goldstone complex of the DSN. The DSN has been investigating the performance benefits of a shift from X-band (8.4 GHz) to Ka-band (32 GHz) for deep-space communications. The fourfold increase in frequency is expected to offer a factor of 3 to 10 improvement (5 to 10 dB) in signal strength for a given spacecraft transmitter power and antenna size. Until recently, the expected benefits were based on performance studies, with an eye to implementing such a link, but theory was transformed to reality when a 33.7-GHz Ka-band signal was received from the spacecraft by DSS 13. This article describes the design and implementation of the Ka-Band Link Experiment from the spacecraft to the DSS-13 system, as well as results from the Ka-band telemetry demonstration, ranging demonstration, and long-term tracking experiment. Finally, a preliminary analysis of comparative X- and Ka-band tracking results is included. These results show a 4- to 7-dB advantage for Ka-band using the system at DSS 13, assuming such obstacles as antenna pointing loss and power conversion loss are overcome

Normal, Abby Normal, Prefix Normal

A prefix normal word is a binary word with the property that no substring has more 1s than the prefix of the same length. This class of words is important in the context of binary jumbled pattern matching. In this paper we present results about the number $pnw(n)$ of prefix normal words of length $n$, showing that $pnw(n) =\Omega\left(2^{n - c\sqrt{n\ln n}}\right)$ for some $c$ and $pnw(n) = O \left(\frac{2^n (\ln n)^2}{n}\right)$. We introduce efficient algorithms for testing the prefix normal property and a "mechanical algorithm" for computing prefix normal forms. We also include games which can be played with prefix normal words. In these games Alice wishes to stay normal but Bob wants to drive her "abnormal" -- we discuss which parameter settings allow Alice to succeed.Comment: Accepted at FUN '1

A modified beam-to-earth transformation to measure short-wavelength internal waves with an acoustic Doppler current profiler

The algorithm used to transform velocity signals from beam coordinates to earth coordinates in an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) relies on the assumption that the currents are uniform over the horizontal distance separating the beams. This condition may be violated by (nonlinear) internal waves, which can have wavelengths as small as 100-200 m. In this case, the standard algorithm combines velocities measured at different phases of a wave and produces horizontal velocities that increasingly differ from true velocities with distance from the ADCP. Observations made in Massachusetts Bay show that currents measured with a bottom-mounted upward-looking ADCP during periods when short-wavelength internal waves are present differ significantly from currents measured by point current meters, except very close to the instrument. These periods are flagged with high error velocities by the standard ADCP algorithm. In this paper measurements from the four spatially diverging beams and the backscatter intensity signal are used to calculate the propagation direction and celerity of the internal waves. Once this information is known, a modified beam-to-earth transformation that combines appropriately lagged beam measurements can be used to obtain current estimates in earth coordinates that compare well with pointwise measurements

Study of Molecular and Ionic Vapor Composition over CeI3 by Knudsen Effusion Mass Spectrometry

The molecular and ionic composition of vapor over cerium triiodide was studied by Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry. In the saturated vapor over CeI3 the monomer, dimer, and trimer molecules and the negative ions I−, CeI4−, and Ce2I7− were identified in the temperature range of 753–994 K. The partial pressures of CeI3, Ce2 I6, and Ce3I9 were determined and the enthalpies of sublimation, Δ