1,153 research outputs found
Autofocus and analysis of geometrical errors within the framework of fast factorized back-projection
This paper describes a Fast Factorized Back-Projection (FFBP) formulation that includes a fully integrated autofocus algorithm, i.e. the Factorized Geometrical Autofocus (FGA) algorithm. The base-two factorization is executed in a horizontal plane, using a Merging (M) and a Range History Preserving (RHP) transform. Six parameters are adopted for each sub-aperture pair, i.e. to establish the geometry stage-by-stage via triangles in 3-dimensional space. If the parameters are derived from navigation data, the algorithm is used as a conventional processing chain. If the parameters on the other hand are varied from a certain factorization step and forward, the algorithm is used as a joint image formation and autofocus strategy. By regulating the geometry at multiple resolution levels, challenging defocusing effects, e.g. residual space-variant Range Cell Migration (RCM), can be corrected. The new formulation also serves another important purpose, i.e. as a parameter characterization scheme. By using the FGA algorithm and its inverse, relations between two arbitrary geometries can be studied, in consequence, this makes it feasible to analyze how errors in navigation data, and topography, affect image focus. The versatility of the factorization procedure is demonstrated successfully on simulated Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data. This is achieved by introducing different GPS/IMU errors and Focus Target Plane (FTP) deviations prior to processing. The characterization scheme is then employed to evaluate the sensitivity, to determine at what step the autofocus function should be activated, and to decide the number of necessary parameters at each step. Resulting FGA images are also compared to a reference image (processed without errors and autofocus) and to a defocused image (processed without autofocus), i.e. to validate the novel approach further
Factorized Geometrical Autofocus for Synthetic Aperture Radar Processing
This paper describes a factorized geometrical autofocus (FGA) algorithm, specifically suitable for ultrawideband synthetic aperture radar. The strategy is integrated in a fast factorized back-projection chain and relies on varying track parameters step by step to obtain a sharp image; focus measures are provided by an object function (intensity correlation). The FGA algorithm has been successfully applied on synthetic and real (Coherent All RAdio BAnd System II) data sets, i.e., with false track parameters introduced prior to processing, to set up constrained problems involving one geometrical quantity. Resolution (3 dB in azimuth and slant range) and peak-to-sidelobe ratio measurements in FGA images are comparable with reference results (within a few percent and tenths of a decibel), demonstrating the capacity to compensate for residual space variant range cell migration. The FGA algorithm is finally also benchmarked (visually) against the phase gradient algorithm to emphasize the advantage of a geometrical autofocus approach
An Efficient Solution to the Factorized Geometrical Autofocus Problem
This paper describes a new search strategy within the scope of factorized geometrical autofocus (FGA) and synthetic-aperture-radar processing. The FGA algorithm is a fast factorized back-projection formulation with six adjustable geometry parameters. By tuning the flight track step by step and maximizing focus quality by means of an object function, a sharp image is formed. We propose an efficient two-stage approach for the geometrical variation. The first stage is a low-order (few parameters) parallel search procedure involving small image areas. The second stage then combines the local hypotheses into one global autofocus solution, without the use of images. This method has been applied successfully on ultrawideband CARABAS II data. Errors due to a constant acceleration are superposed on the measured track prior to processing, giving a 6-D autofocus problem. Image results, including resolution, peak-to-sidelobe ratio and magnitude values for point-like targets, finally confirm the validity of the strategy. The results also verify the prediction that there are several satisfying autofocus solutions for the same radar data
Constraining the Metallicity of the Low Density Lyman-alpha Forest Using OVI Absorption
We search for OVI absorption in a Keck HIRES spectrum of the z=3.62 quasar
Q1422+231. Comparison of CIV measurements to cosmological simulations shows
that \lya forest absorbers with N_HI > 10^{14.5} have [C/H]~=-2.5, for the UV
background spectrum of Haardt & Madau (HM). Lower column density absorption
arises in lower density gas, where OVI is the most sensitive metal tracer.
Since OVI lines lie at wavelengths contaminated by Lyman series absorption, we
interpret our Q1422 results by comparing to artificial spectra drawn from an
SPH simulation of a Lambda-dominated CDM model. A search for deep, narrow
features in Q1422 yields only a few candidate OVI lines, statistically
consistent with the number in artificial spectra with no metals; spectra
generated with the HM background and [O/H] >= -2.5 predict too many narrow
lines. However, applying the optical depth ratio technique of Songaila (1998),
we DO find significant OVI associated with CIV systems; matching Q1422 requires
[O/C]~=+0.5, implying [O/H]~=-2.0. Taken together these results imply that (a)
the metallicity in the low density IGM is at least a factor of three below that
in the overdense regions where CIV absorption is detectable, and (b) oxygen is
overabundant in these regions, consistent with the enrichment pattern of old
halo stars. If the UV background is heavily truncated above 4 Ry, an
implausibly high oxygen overabundance ([O/C]>+2) is required by the data; thus
a majority of the volume of the universe must have undergone helium
reionization by z=3.(Abridged)Comment: Submitted to ApJ, 48 pp including 14 ps figures, uses aaspp4.st
The Observability of Metal Lines Associated with the Lyman-alpha Forest
We develop a prescription for characterizing the strengths of metal lines
associated with Lyman-alpha forest absorbers (LYFAs) of a given neutral
hydrogen column density N_HI and metallicity [Fe/H]. This Line Observability
Index (LOX) is line-specific and translates, for weak lines, into a measure of
the equivalent width. It can be evaluated quickly for thousands of transitions
within the framework of a given model of the Lyman-alpha forest, providing a
ranking of the lines in terms of their strengths and enabling model builders to
select the lines that should be detectable in observed spectra of a given
resolution and signal-to-noise ratio. We compute the LOX for a large number of
elements and transitions in two cosmological models of the Lyman-alpha forest
at z=3 derived from a hydrodynamic simulation of structure formation, and we
discuss how the LOX depends on redshift and on model parameters such as the
mean baryonic density and radiation field. We find that the OVI (1032,1038)
doublet is the best probe of the metallicity in low column density LYFAs N_{HI}
\approx 10^{14.5} cm^{-2}). Metallicities down to [O/H] \sim -3 ([Fe/H] \sim
-3.5 with the assumed [O/Fe] ratio) yield OVI absorption features that should
be detectable in current high-quality spectra, provided that the expected
position of the OVI feature is not contaminated by HI absorption. The strongest
transitions in lower ionisation states of oxygen are OV(630), OIV(788), and
OIII(833), and are likely to be detected with next generation UV instruments.
Of the lines with rest wavelengths \lambda_r > 1216, which can potentially be
observed redwards of the \lya forest, the CIV(1548,1551) doublet is expected to
dominate in all LYFAs, regardless of the value of N_HI.Comment: Substantially revised version: larger line database, additional
cosmological model analyzed. Accepted for Ap
Comparison of modelled and monitored deposition fluxes of sulphur and nitrogen to ICP-forest sites in Europe
The EMEP MSC-W Eulerian chemical transport model, and its predictions of deposition of acidifying and eutrophying pollutants over Europe, play a key role in the development of emission control strategies for Europe. It is important that this model is tested against observational data. Here we compare the results of the EMEP model with measured data from 160 sites of the European Union/ICP Forest (Level II) monitoring network, for the years 1997 and 2000. This comparison comprises: (a) Precipitation amount, (b) Total deposition of SO42- to coniferous and deciduous forests, (c) Wet deposition of SO42-, NO3- and NH4+ in open field sites, and (d) Concentrations of SO42-, NO3- and NH4+ in precipitation. Concerning precipitation, the EMEP model and ICP network showed very similar overall levels (within 4% for 1997 and 11% for 2000). The correlation was, however, poor (r2=0.15-0.23). This can be attributed largely to the influence of a few outliers, combined with a small range of rainfall amounts for most points. Correlations between modelled and observed deposition values in this study were rather high (r2 values between 0.4-0.8 for most components and years), with mean values across all sites being within 30%. The EMEP model tends to give somewhat lower values for SO42-, NO3- and NH4+ wet deposition to ICP, but differences in mean values were within 20% in 1997 and 30% in 2000. Modelled and observed concentrations of SO 42-, NO3- and NH4+ in precipitation are very similar on average (differences of 0-14%), with good correlation between modelled and observed data (r 2=0.50-0.78). Differences between the EMEP model and ICP measurements are thought to arise from a mixture of problems with both the observations and model. However, the overall conclusion is that the EMEP model performs rather well in reproducing patterns of S and N deposition to European forests
The Structure of Isothermal, Self-gravitating Gas Spheres for Softened Gravity
A theory for the structure of isothermal, self-gravitating gas spheres in
pressure equilibrium in a softened gravitational field is developed. The one
parameter spline softening proposed by Hernquist & Katz (1989) is used. We show
that the addition of this extra scale parameter implies that the set of
equilibrium solutions constitute a one-parameter family, rather than the one
and only one isothermal sphere solution for Newtonian gravity. We demonstrate
the perhaps somewhat surprising result that for any finite choice of softening
length and temperature, it is possible to deposit an arbitrarily large mass of
gas in pressure equilibrium and with a non-singular density distribution inside
of r_0 for any r_0 > 0. The theoretical predictions of our models are compared
with the properties of the small, massive, quasi-isothermal gas clumps which
typically form in numerical Tree-SPH simulations of 'passive' galaxy formation
of Milky Way sized galaxies. We find reasonable agreement despite the neglect
of rotational support in the models. We comment on whether the hydrodynamical
resolution in our numerical simulation of galaxy formation is sufficient, and
finally we conclude that one should be cautious, when comparing results of
numerical simulations involving gravitational softening and hydrodynamical
smoothing, with reality.Comment: 22 pages Latex + 12 figure
Ischemic Preconditioning Improves Microvascular Endothelial Function in Remote Vasculature by Enhanced Prostacyclin Production.
BACKGROUND The mechanisms underlying the effect of preconditioning on remote microvasculature remains undisclosed. The primary objective was to document the remote effect of ischemic preconditioning on microvascular function in humans. The secondary objective was to test if exercise also induces remote microvascular effects. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 12 healthy young men and women participated in 2 experimental days in a random counterbalanced order. On one day the participants underwent 4Ă5 minutes of forearm ischemic preconditioning, and on the other day they completed 4Ă5 minutes of hand-grip exercise. On both days, catheters were placed in the brachial and femoral artery and vein for infusion of acetylcholine, sodium nitroprusside, and epoprostenol. Vascular conductance was calculated from blood flow measurements with ultrasound Doppler and arterial and venous blood pressures. Ischemic preconditioning enhanced (P<0.05) the remote vasodilator response to intra-arterial acetylcholine in the leg at 5 and 90 minutes after application. The enhanced response was associated with a 6-fold increase (P<0.05) in femoral venous plasma prostacyclin levels and with a transient increase (P<0.05) in arterial plasma levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and vascular endothelial growth factor. In contrast, hand-grip exercise did not influence remote microvascular function. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate that ischemic preconditioning of the forearm improves remote microvascular endothelial function and suggest that one of the underlying mechanisms is a humoral-mediated potentiation of prostacyclin formation
A Search for Oxygen in the Low-Density Lyman-alpha Forest Using the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
We use 2167 Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) quasar spectra to search for
low-density oxygen in the Intergalactic Medium (IGM). Oxygen absorption is
detected on a pixel-by-pixel basis by its correlation with Lyman-alpha forest
absorption. We have developed a novel Locally Calibrated Pixel (LCP) search
method that uses adjacent regions of the spectrum to calibrate interlopers and
spectral artifacts, which would otherwise limit the measurement of OVI
absorption. Despite the challenges presented by searching for weak OVI within
the Lyman-alpha forest in spectra of moderate resolution and signal-to-noise,
we find a highly significant detection of absorption by oxygen at 2.7 < z < 3.2
(the null hypothesis has a chi^2=80 for 9 data points).
We interpret our results using synthetic spectra generated from a lognormal
density field assuming a mixed quasar-galaxy photoionizing background (Haardt &
Madau 2001) and that it dominates the ionization fraction of detected OVI. The
LCP search data can be fit by a constant metallicity model with [O/H] =
-2.15_(-0.09)^(+0.07), but also by models in which low-density regions are
unenriched and higher density regions have a higher metallicity. The
density-dependent enrichment model by Aguirre et al. (2008) is also an
acceptable fit. All our successful models have similar mass-weighted oxygen
abundance, corresponding to [_MW] = -2.45+-0.06. This result can be used
to find the cosmic oxygen density in the Lyman-alpha forest, Omega_(Oxy, IGM) =
1.4(+-0.2)x10^(-6) = 3x10^(-4) Omega_b. This is the tightest constraint on the
mass-weighted mean oxygen abundance and the cosmic oxygen density in the
Lyman-alpha forest to date and indicates that it contains approximately 16% of
metals produced by star formation (Bouch\'e et al. 2008) up to z = 3.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures. Accepted by ApJ (minor changes
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