Digital communications over fading channels

In this report, the probabilities of bit error for the most commonly used digital modulation techniques are analyzed. Analytic solutions are developed for the probability of bit error when the signal is affected by the most commonly encountered impairment to system performance for a wireless channel, the transmission of the signal over a fading channel. In this report, the effect of a slow, flat Ricean fading channel on communications systems performance is examined. Since channel fading significantly degrades the performance of a communication system, the performance of digital communication systems that also use forward error correction channel coding is analyzed for hard decision decoding and, where appropriate, for soft decision decoding. Diversity, another technique to mitigate the effect of fading channels on digital communication systems performance, is also discussed. Also included is a discussion of the effect of narrowband noise interference, both continuous and pulsed, on digital communication systems. We then discuss the analysis of the probability of bit error for the combination of error correction coding and diversity. Following this, we briefly discuss spread spectrum systems. Next, we examine the link budget analysis and various models for channel loss. Finally, we examine in detail the second generation digital wireless standard Global System for Mobile (GSM).Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

The representation of speech in a nonlinear auditory model: time-domain analysis of simulated auditory-nerve firing patterns

A nonlinear auditory model is appraised in terms of its ability to encode speech formant frequencies in the fine time structure of its output. It is demonstrated that groups of model auditory nerve (AN) fibres with similar interpeak intervals accurately encode the resonances of synthetic three-formant syllables, in close agreement with physiological data. Acoustic features are derived from the interpeak intervals and used as the input to a hidden Markov model-based automatic speech recognition system. In a digits-in-noise recognition task, interval-based features gave a better performance than features based on AN firing rate at every signal-to-noise ratio tested

Polar motion and UT1: Comparison of VLBI, lunar laser, satellite laser, satellite Doppler, and conventional astrometric determinations

Very long baseline interferometry observations made with a 3900 km baseline interferometer (Haystack Observatory in Massachusetts to Owens Valley Observation in California) were used to estimate changes in the X-component of the position of the Earth's pole and in UT1. These estimates are compared with corresponding ones from lunar laser ranging, satellite laser ranging, satellite Doppler, and stellar observations

Precision surveying using very long baseline interferometry

Radio interferometry measurements were used to measure the vector baselines between large microwave radio antennas. A 1.24 km baseline in Massachusetts between the 36 meter Haystack Observatory antenna and the 18 meter Westford antenna of Lincoln Laboratory was measured with 5 mm repeatability in 12 separate experiments. Preliminary results from measurements of the 3,928 km baseline between the Haystack antenna and the 40 meter antenna at the Owens Valley Radio Observatory in California are presented

Reactions of (-)-sparteine with alkali metal HMDS complexes : conventional meets the unconventional

Conventional (-)-sparteine adducts of lithium and sodium 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazide (HMDS) were prepared and characterised, along with an unexpected and unconventional hydroxyl-incorporated sodium sodiate, [(-)-sparteine·Na(-HMDS)Na·(-)-sparteine]+[Na4(-HMDS)4(OH)]--the complex anion of which is the first inverse crown ether anion

Characterization of Fast Ion Transport via Position-Dependent Optical Deshelving

Ion transport is an essential operation in some models of quantum information processing, where fast ion shuttling with minimal motional excitation is necessary for efficient, high-fidelity quantum logic. While fast and cold ion shuttling has been demonstrated, the dynamics and specific trajectory of an ion during diabatic transport have not been studied in detail. Here we describe a position-dependent optical deshelving technique useful for sampling an ion's position throughout its trajectory, and we demonstrate the technique on fast linear transport of a $^{40}\text{Ca}^+$ ion in a surface-electrode ion trap. At high speed, the trap's electrode filters strongly distort the transport potential waveform. With this technique, we observe deviations from the intended constant-velocity (100 m/s) transport: we measure an average speed of 83(2) m/s and a peak speed of 251(6) m/s over a distance of 120 $\mu$

Morning Increase in Onset of Ischemic Stroke

The Time of Onset of Ischemic Stroke Was Determined for 1,167 of 1,273 Patients during the Collection of Data by Four Academic Hospital Centers between June 30, 1983, and June 30, 1986. More Strokes Occurred in Awake Patients from 10:00 Am to Noon Than during Any Other 2-Hour Interval. the Incidence of Stroke Onset Declined Steadily during the Remainder of the Day and Early Evening. the Onset of Stroke is Least Likely to Occur in the Late Evening, Before Midnight. © 1989 American Heart Association, Inc