The audibility of low-frequency sounds

Contours of equal loudness and threshold of hearing under binaural free-field conditions for the frequency range 20–15 000 Hz were standardized internationally in 1961. This paper describes an extension of the data in the low-frequency range down to 3·15 Hz, at l levels from threshold to 70 phon. The latter corresponds to nearly 140 dB sound pressure level at the lowest frequency. Direct loudness comparisons were made between tones at intervals of an octave, and the resulting contours were checked by numerical loudness estimation.     

Lateralization of tonal signals which have neither onsets nor offsets.

In order to ascertain the special importance of binaural cues conveyed in the transient portions of dichotic signals, thresholds for interaural differences of time (delta t) and intensity (delta I) were studied using stimuli whose onsets and offsets were masked. Intense noise was used to mask all portions of each experimental trial except for the two intervals of a two-interval, forced-choice detection task. During the intervals, the noise was turned off with decay-rise times of 10 ms. What remained were tones whose interaural phase or intensity was different for intervals one and two. Performance was compared to control conditions which used unmasked gated sinusoids. For longer durations, detection without onsets and offsets was about as good as that with no masker. For the shorter signals, detection without transients was poorer than with standard lateralization, but this is attributed to forward and backward masking which reduced the effective durations of those stimuli. The ability to detect interaural differences of time with the onsets and offsets masked was extended to conditions in which the decay times of the noise were 100 ms. Performance here was slightly worse, but not by so much as to change the basic result. This is interpreted as showing that performance with the faster decay-rise times was not a product of momentary undershoots in neural following, but depended, rather, upon a true encoding of the interaural information in the stimulus fine-structure.     

Detectability of tonal signals with changing interaural phase differences in noise

Detectability of binaurally presented 400- and 800-Hz tonal signals was investigated in an adaptive, two-interval forced-choice experiment. A continuous 3150-Hz low-pass noise masker was presented either diotically (No), interaurally uncorrelated (NU), or interaurally phase-reversed (N pi), at an overall level of 70 dB SPL. Signal duration was either 100 or 1000 ms. The interaural phase difference (IAPD) of the signal was either fixed (0 degree-180 degrees) or time-varying (slightly different frequencies were presented to the two ears). The range of interaural phase variations was selected to yield the same varying interaural temporal differences that would be produced if real auditory targets moved through various arcs in the horizontal plane. In no case was a signal with varying IAPD any more (or less) detectable than would be expected from averaging subjects' performance in the corresponding fixed-IAPD conditions through which the variation occurred. However, in detecting these signals, subjects placed relatively more weight on the temporal central portion than on either the onset or offset. It is proposed that this weighting effect is based on two factors: (1) the signal's 20-ms rise-decay time (i.e., the onset and offset receive less binaural weight because of monaural attenuation); and (2) the very low-pass filtering effected by the binaural system, which results in some minimum time required for it to become "fully engaged." Another finding was that signal detectability became gradually worse as the antiphasic moment in a varying-IAPD signal was moved from the temporal midpoint toward the onset. No evidence was found that a signal's onset and offset were weighted differently in a binaural signal detection task.     

Theoretical analysis of third order interferometric autocorrelation signals for enhanced sensitivity towards pulse chirp and asymmetry

In this paper, we report theoretical analysis of third order interferometric autocorrelation to achieve enhanced sensitivity towards pulse chirp and asymmetry. The analysis is based on interferometric correlative envelope (ICE) functions and ICE difference signals derived from interferometric autocorrelation signals. The third order ICE signals are compared with second order ICE signals obtained from a second order interferometric autocorrelation signals. It is shown that one out of six third order ICED signals may be used to obtain simultaneous detection and measurement of pulse chirp as well as pulse asymmetry of the chirped ultrashort laser pulse. This is in contrast to use of two out of three second order ICED signals for simultaneous detection of pulse chirp and asymmetry.     

Physical modeling of active cancellation of low-frequency sound signals

Some new methods of active cancellation of low-frequency sound signals have been developed in view of the low efficiency of passive methods at these frequencies. Examples of developing algorithms and technical tools for active suppression of sound signals in air and water are presented. The solution of this problem is of paramount importance for reducing noise and providing ecological safety in transport, aviation, and shipbuilding industry. A real possibility of suppressing the low-frequency discrete components by no less than 10 to 15 dB and reducing the sound level in a wide frequency band by no less than 6 to 8 dB is demonstrated. A wide range of applications for the technology of active cancellation of discrete components and noise is indicated.     

Interference structure of low-frequency reverberation signals in shallow water

Using numerical simulation, an analysis was conducted of the interference structure of a bottomscattered sound field generated by a wideband point source in shallow water under winter and summer conditions. The scattered signals were received from the place where the source was located and were subjected to Fourier transform with a sliding window. The paper demonstrates the possibility of estimating the waveguide invariant for backscattered signals when processing the sound intensity distributions in wide frequency and distance ranges up to the scattering area. A technique is proposed for reconstructing the twodimensional field of internal waves using variations of the interference pattern of reverberation signals. The influence of wind surface waves on the degree of interference band contrast is illustrated.     

Some features of sensing by cochlear neurons of low-frequency signals

Some features of sensing by human cochlear neurons of the infrasound vibrations generated by a change in frequency and volume of the audible range are discussed. It has been shown that auditory neurons respond to a volume envelope that selects corresponding infrasonic frequencies for their further processing. This mechanism is possible if the ear operates nonlinearly performing detection with further time averaging of no less than over 40–50 ms. If the frequency of the sound code coincides with any rhythm of the brain, resonance may occur, increasing the amplitude of the corresponding rhythm.     

Correlation of neural responses in the cochlear nucleus with low-frequency noise amplitude modulation of a tonal signal

The responses of single neurons of the cochlear nucleus of a grass frog to long tonal signals amplitude-modulated by repeat intervals of low-frequency noise have been studied. The carrier frequency always corresponded to the characteristic frequency of the studied cell (a range of 0.2 kHz–2 kHz); the modulated signal was noise in the ranges 0–15 Hz, 0–50 Hz, or 0–150 Hz. We obtained the correlation functions of the cyclic histogram reflecting the change in probability of a neuron pulse discharge (spike) during the modulation period with the shape of the signal envelope in the same period. The form of the obtained correlation functions usually does not change qualitatively with a change in carrier level or modulation depth; however, this could essentially depend of the frequency component of the modulating function. In the majority of cases, comparison of the cyclic histogram of the reaction with only the current amplitude value does not adequately reveal the signal’s time features that determine the reaction of a neuron. The response is also determined by the other sound features, primarily by the rate of the change in amplitude. The studied neurons differed among themselves, both in preference toward a certain range of modulated frequencies and in the features of the envelope that caused the cell’s response.     

Scattering of low-frequency pulsed sound signals from elastic cylindrical shells

A method and experimental setup intended for measuring the amplitude and phase of acoustic field in the near zone of a scatterer are described. The results of measuring the scattering characteristics of low-frequency sound signals scattered by elastic cylindrical shells are analyzed.     

A comparison among three measures of cross-spectral processing of amplitude modulation with tonal signals

Results were obtained from three paradigms used to study cross-spectral processing of envelope modulation [comodulation masking release (CMR), comodulation detection difference (CDD), and modulation detection interference (MDI)]. When tonal carriers separated by two octaves (flanking tone at 1000 Hz and target tone at 4000 Hz) were amplitude modulated at 20 Hz, there was no evidence of a cMR or CDD effect, but there was substantial MDI.     

平板边界层转捩过程中低频信号的产生

利用Fourier频谱分析和小波变换处理在平板边界层转捩过程中测得的速度信号,观察到频谱中存在低于基本扰动波频率的含能信号,即文中所谓的低频信号.在进一步分析中,发现这种低频信号的产生可能与流动的间歇性有关.由于流动的间歇性导致速度信号的脉动,数据结构产生间歇变化,这种信号并不一定对应于流场中的某一物理结构的真实频率 关键词： 边界层 转捩 Fourier频谱分析 小波变换     

Numerical analysis of tonal airfoil self-noise and acoustic feedback-loops

In this study the role of acoustic feedback instabilities in the tonal airfoil self-noise phenomenon is investigated. First, direct numerical simulations are conducted of the flow around a NACA-0012 airfoil at Re=1×10⁵ and four angles of attack. At the two lowest angles of attack considered the airfoil self-noise exhibits a clear tonal contribution, whereas at the two higher angles of attack the tonal contribution becomes less significant in comparison to the broadband noise. Classical linear stability analysis of time-averaged boundary layer profiles shows that the tonal noise occurs at a frequency significantly lower than that of the most convectively amplified instability wave. Two-dimensional linear stability analysis of the time-averaged flowfield is then performed, illustrating the presence of an acoustic feedback loop involving the airfoil trailing edge. The feedback loop is found to be unstable only for the cases where tonal self-noise is prominent, and is found to self-select a frequency almost identical to that of the tonal self-noise. The constituent mechanisms of the acoustic feedback loop are considered, which appear to explain why the preferred frequency is lower than that of the most convectively amplified instability wave.     

Masking of low-frequency signals by high-frequency, high-level narrow bands of noise

Low-frequency masking by intense high-frequency noise bands, referred to as remote masking (RM), was the first evidence to challenge energy-detection models of signal detection. Its underlying mechanisms remain unknown. RM was measured in five normal-hearing young-adults at 250, 350, 500, and 700 Hz using equal-power, spectrally matched random-phase noise (RPN) and low-noise noise (LNN) narrowband maskers. RM was also measured using equal-power, two-tone complex (TC2) and eight-tone complex (TC8). Maskers were centered at 3000 Hz with one or two equivalent rectangular bandwidths (ERBs). Masker levels varied from 80 to 95 dB sound pressure level in 5 dB steps. LNN produced negligible masking for all conditions. An increase in bandwidth in RPN yielded greater masking over a wider frequency region. Masking for TC2 was limited to 350 and 700 Hz for one ERB but shifted to only 700 Hz for two ERBs. A spread of masking to 500 and 700 Hz was observed for TC8 when the bandwidth was increased from one to two ERBs. Results suggest that high-frequency noise bands at high levels could generate significant low-frequency masking. It is possible that listeners experience significant RM due to the amplification of various competing noises that might have significant implications for speech perception in noise.     

Use of surface-wave spectroscopy to characterize tilt modes of a vortex in a Bose-Einstein condensate

A vortex in a condensate in a nonspherical trapping potential will in general experience a torque. The torque will induce tilting of the direction of the vortex axis. We observe this behavior experimentally and show that by applying small distortions to the trapping potential, we can control the tilting behavior. By suppressing vortex tilt, we have been able to hold the vortex axis along the line of sight for up to 15 sec. Alternatively, we can induce a 180 degrees tilt, effectively reversing the charge on the vortex as observed in the lab frame. We characterize the vortex nondestructively with a surface-wave spectroscopic technique.     

Inverse moment analysis of time dependent autocorrelation functions

We apply inverse moment techniques to analyse certain time dependent autocorrelation functions. The experimentally measured values are interpreted as moments of a probability distributionf(x) which is calculated numerically. For this purpose we use Chebychev's algorithm. By means of the inverse algorithm we can reproduce the original data within numerical precision. The ill-conditioning of the inverse moment problem is circumvented by making an ansatz for the unknown higher order moments. We discuss in particular exponentially and algebraically decaying correlation functions.     

纯音段的强度差阈与强度的关系

为研究不同持续时间纯音信号的强度差阈与强度的关系,采用计算机控制D/A合成在开始、结束处没有在传统测试中普遍存在的倾斜的上升沿和下降沿的测听信号,对持续时间为1ms、10ms、100ms、1000ms、5000ms、10000ms的1kHz纯音在声压为20dB、30dB、40dB、50dB、60dB、70dB、80dB、90dB、100dB时的强度差阈进行了测量,测试方式为2AFC。所得Weber比随强度的变化趋势与Riesz的纯音调制测试结果及饱和内部泊松噪声理论的预期有很大差别。所得不同持续时间信号的Weber比随强度的变化趋势相似,只是Weber比随信号持续时间增加而减小,随着信号持续时间的增加Weber比随强度的变化曲线趋于相同。这表明脉冲段比较法所得结果与Riesz的纯音调制测试结果及饱和内部泊松噪声理论的预期之间存在差别并不是因为脉冲段比较法采用长度有限的测听信号,并可能为听觉机制的研究提供了新线索。     

Use of the method of tryptophan fluorescence to characterize disruptions of the structure of ozonized proteins

Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 49, No. 1, pp. 36–40, July, 1988.     

Application of autocorrelation techniques to the recording and analysis of electron spin resonance spectra

A discussion is given of the possibility of applying autocorrelation techniques to the recording and analysis of electron spin resonance spectra showing first-order hyperfine structure. Procedures and computer program for the implementation of these possibilities are described and the anthracene cation is used as an illustrative example.