On the possibility of quasi-vertical radio sounding of the ionosphere in the extremely low frequency band

The experimental measurements show that the state of the ionosphere pronouncedly affects the field of the extremely low frequency (ELF) band in the transition zone. The measurements were performed on the Kola Peninsula at different times of day and in different seasons of 2006. The observed seasonal variations in the results are larger than the diurnal variations. The measured field strength does not tend to the calculated statistical value with decreasing frequency if the effect of the ionosphere is ignored. The possibility of using quasivertical radio sounding of the ionosphere in the ELF band to study the structure and electric parameters of the ionosphere is discussed.     

Correlation characteristics of variations of the ambient noise level in the shelf zone of the Pacific Ocean

Results of measuring normalized autocorrelation functions and frequency correlation functions of slow random variations in the ambient noise levels are presented. The measurements were carried out in the shelf zone of the Pacific Ocean, near Shikotan Island, at a depth of 130 m in the frequency range from 0.9 Hz to 11 kHz. The noise level’s variations were fairly synchronous in a wide frequency range. Their autocorrelation interval varied from 11 to 42 h for different frequencies, and the frequency correlation was no smaller than 0.77 within 2 decades. The integral autocorrelation interval of the wind speed’s variations was 14.1 h.     

三维浅海下弹性结构声辐射预报的有限元-抛物方程法

利用多物理场耦合有限元法对结构和流体适应性强、抛物方程声场计算高效准确的特点,提出了三维浅海波导下弹性结构声振特性研究的有限元-抛物方程法.该方法采用多物理场耦合有限元理论建立浅海下结构近场声辐射模型,计算局域波导下结构声振信息,并提取深度方向上复声压值作为抛物方程初始值;然后采用隐式差分法求解抛物方程以步进计算结构辐射声场.重点介绍了该方法对浅海下结构声辐射计算的准确性、高效性以及快速收敛性后,对Pekeris波导中有限长弹性圆柱壳的声振特性进行了分析.研究得出,当圆柱壳靠近海面(海底)时,其耦合频率比自由场下的要高(低),当潜深达到一定范围时,与自由场耦合频率基本趋于一致;在低频远场,结构辐射场与同强度点源声场具有一定的等效性,且等效距离随着频率增加而增加;由于辐射声场受结构振动模态、几何尺寸和简正波模式影响,结构辐射场传播的衰减规律按近场声影响区、球面波衰减区、介于球面波和柱面波衰减区、柱面波衰减区四个扩展区依次进行.     

On the optimal frequency of observation of Cherenkov radiation in the radio astronomy method for measuring superhigh-energy cosmic-ray particle flux

Possible reasons for the absence of direct observations of individual events in measuring the super-high-energy particle flux by the radio astronomy technique are considered. One of these reasons is probably associated with the choice of extremely high frequencies (∼1.5 GHz) for detecting radio pulses. Calculations show that the radiation intensity attains its peak value at frequencies ∼500–600 MHz and then sharply decreases so that it becomes three orders of magnitude lower even at a frequency of ∼1.5 GHz. The effectiveness of particle detection in the range of high (∼600 MHz) and low (∼60 MHz) frequencies is analyzed.     

Solving a Two-Dimensional Telegraph Equation with Anisotropic Parameters

We solve a two-dimensional telegraph equation with anisotropic parameters, which models the propagation of electromagnetic waves in the Earth–ionosphere waveguide, in the frequency range 0.1-30 Hz. The results are generalized to allow for the Earth's sphericity and the horizontal inhomogeneity of the waveguide. It is shown that the resonance character of reflection from the ionosphere at frequencies below 10 Hz becomes pronounced for the horizontal magnetic-field components and for the vertical electric-field component of a horizontal dipole. In the case of low solar activity under nighttime conditions, the oscillations in the frequency dependences of the field components are much more pronounced compared with the case of high solar activity.     

人工头近场头相关传输函数及其特性

采用球形正十二面体声源及其空间定位系统,测量并建立了KEMAR人工头的近场头相关传输函数(HRTF)数据库。基于数据库分析了近场HRTF在频域和时域随声源距离变化的规律;讨论了用近场HRTF算得的双耳声级差(TLD)和双耳时间差(ITD)所包含的声源距离定位信息。结果表明,测量系统和所得数据具有较好的重复性和准确性,保留了1 kHz以下的低频定位信息。并且,近场HRTF幅度谱和ILD随声源距离的变化明显;用相关法算得2 kHz以下频段的ITD随声源距离略有变化。本文数据库及其分析结果将为声源距离定位的应用提供基础。      

Laser conferral of a directed character to near-field energy transfer

With sufficient intensity, an off-resonant laser beam can modify the character of electromagnetic near-field radiation produced by a nanoscale point source, narrowing its spatial distribution. The mechanism, for which the laser frequency is significantly off-resonant from the emission radiation, is detailed and analyzed through a quantum electrodynamical analysis. Results are calculated for various positions of a polarization-sensitive probe relative to the point source, sited within the throughput beam, and contour maps exhibit variations in the registered signal over a range of input intensities. A key feature is the clear exhibition of directed propagation features, usually emergent only in the wave zone, within the near-field region of the source.     

Parametric acoustic antenna in the atmosphere

We consider the principles of development of a parametric antenna in the atmosphere. It is shown that to excite an infrasound at a frequency lower than 1 Hz in the atmosphere, one can use an acoustic system emitting simultaneously two waves whose frequencies differ by the infrasound frequency. In the pump-wave frequency range 20–500 Hz, the main contribution to infrasound emission is given by the region located at altitudes from 30 to 75 km, in which the oscillatory velocity in the pump wave is maximum. We propose an algorithm for calculation of the infrasound amplitude in the E and F layers of the ionosphere. Realization of a parametric antenna in the atmosphere makes it possible to broaden the capabilities of experiments based on the modification of the ionosphere by an infrasound. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 49, No. 7, pp. 570–576, July 2006.     

Disturbances of the upper atmosphere and ionosphere caused by acoustic-gravity wave sources in the lower atmosphere

The results of observations of acoustic-gravity waves in the troposphere and the ionosphere at middle latitudes during periods of passage of the solar terminator are presented. Tropospheric observations were performed using a lidar. The frequency characteristics of variations of the tropospheric parameters are determined based on observations of the intensity of the scattered lidar signal. The characteristics of variations of the total electron content (TEC) in the atmosphere are determined from data collected by GPS navigation satellites. An analysis of the observational data showed that the spectrum of variations of the atmospheric and ionospheric parameters is indicative of acoustic-gravity waves (AGW) propagating from the lower atmosphere. Modeling studies of the vertical propagation of AGW from the Earth’s surface showed that such waves quickly (within ~15 min) reach altitudes of the upper atmosphere (~300 km). The refraction and dissipation of waves in the upper atmosphere produces perturbations of the background state of the atmosphere and gives rise to the waveguide propagation of infrasonic wave components. The observed manifestations of TEC disturbances caused by AGW propagating from the lower atmosphere can be explained by the diurnal variation of the altitude of the ionosphere and the waveguide propagation of infrasonic waves.     

Observations of Acoustic Gravity Waves during the Solar Eclipse of March 20, 2015 in Kaliningrad

Results of observations of atmospheric and ionospheric parameters during the solar eclipse of March 20, 2015 have been described. The observations have been conducted by lidar sensing in the lower atmosphere and analysis of the total electron content (TEC) in the ionosphere in Kaliningrad. Observations at the troposphere altitudes have been conducted using an atmospheric lidar. Ionospheric parameter TEC has been determined according to observations of navigation satellite signals. The spectral analysis of the monitored parameters during the solar eclipse has shown that, in the lower atmosphere and the ionosphere in a period range of 2–20 min, internal gravity waves (IGWs) and infrasonic waves are excited. During the main phase of the eclipse, the major contribution to variations in the parameters of the medium comes from infrasonic vibrations. Changes in the variations in the atmospheric and ionospheric parameters with IGW periods are observed only in the initial and final phases of the eclipse.     

Results of Determining the Electron Number Density in the Ionospheric E Region from Relaxation Times of Artificial Periodic Irregularities of Different Scales

We present the first results of determining the electron number density in the ionospheric E region by a novel technique based on the creation of artificial periodic irregularities when the ionosphere is affected by powerful radio emission at two frequencies. Using the results of the measurements performed in October 2006 during heating of the ionosphere by the “Sura” facility radiation at frequencies 4.7 and 5.6 MHz, we obtained the electron number density profiles in an altitude range of 100 to 110 km. Features of the procedure of measurement and calculation of the electron number density are described in detail. It is shown that the method can be used for a study of the irregular structure of the lower ionosphere. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 51, No. 6, pp. 477–484, June 2008.     

无线电窄波束在低电离层中的聚焦和散焦

 推导了无线电窄波束在电离层中传输的非线性几何光学方程，分析了无线电窄波束在低电离层中传输的聚焦和散焦原理，推导出了散焦参数和聚焦参数的计算公式，研究了无线电窄波束在低电离层中传输的散焦现象，讨论了电波频率和功率对发散波束宽度的影响。计算结果表明：低电离层主要表现为一种散焦介质，使电波波束发散，当电波频率较低并且功率较大时，波束散焦现象非常明显，使到达目标点的功率密度大幅度降低，而当频率达到数GHz时，波束散焦现象很微弱。     

Cochlear nonlinearity between 500 and 8000 Hz in listeners with normal hearing

Cochlear nonlinearity was estimated over a wide range of center frequencies and levels in listeners with normal hearing, using a forward-masking method. For a fixed low-level probe, the masker level required to mask the probe was measured as a function of the masker-probe interval, to produce a temporal masking curve (TMC). TMCs were measured for probe frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz, and for masker frequencies 0.5, 0.7, 0.9, 1.0 (on frequency), 1.1, and 1.6 times the probe frequency. Across the range of probe frequencies, the TMCs for on-frequency maskers showed two or three segments with clearly distinct slopes. If it is assumed that the rate of decay of the internal effect of the masker is constant across level and frequency, the variations in the slopes of the TMCs can be attributed to variations in cochlear compression. Compression-ratio estimates for on-frequency maskers were between 3:1 and 5:1 across the range of probe frequencies. Compression did not decrease at low frequencies. The slopes of the TMCs for the lowest frequency probe (500 Hz) did not change with masker frequency. This suggests that compression extends over a wide range of stimulus frequencies relative to characteristic frequency in the apical region of the cochlea.     

The influence of carrier level and frequency on modulation and beat-detection thresholds for sinusoidal carriers

This paper is concerned with modulation and beat detection for sinusoidal carriers. In the first experiment, temporal modulation transfer functions (TMTFs) were measured for carrier frequencies between 1 and 10 kHz. Modulation rates covered the range from 10 Hz to about the rate equaling the critical bandwidth at the carrier frequency. In experiment 2, TMTFs for three carrier frequencies were obtained as a function of the carrier level. In the final experiment, thresholds for the detection of either the lower or the upper modulation sideband (beat detection) were measured for "carrier" frequencies of 5 and 10 kHz, using the same range of modulation rates as in experiment 1. The TMTFs for carrier frequencies of 2 kHz and higher remained flat up to a modulation rate of about 100-130 Hz and had similar values across carrier frequencies. For higher rates, modulation thresholds initially increased and then decreased rapidly, reflecting the subjects' ability to resolve the sidebands spectrally. Detection thresholds generally improved with increasing carrier level, but large variations in the exact level dependence were observed, across subjects as well as across carrier frequencies. For beat rates up to about 70 Hz (at 5 kHz) and 100 Hz (at 10 kHz), beat detection thresholds were the same for the upper and the lower sidebands and were about 6 dB higher than the level per sideband at the modulation-detection threshold. At higher rates the threshold for both sidebands increased, but the increase was larger for the lower sideband. This reflects an asymmetry in masking with more masking towards lower frequencies. Only at rates well beyond the maximum of the TMTF did detection for the lower sideband start to be better than that for the upper sideband. The asymmetry at intermediate frequency separations can be explained by assuming that detection always takes place in filters centered above the stimulus spectrum. The shape of the TMTF and the beat-detection data reflects a limitation in resolving fast amplitude variations, which must occur central to the inner-ear filtering. Its characteristic resembles that of a first-order low-pass filter with a cutoff frequency of about 150 Hz.     

Trapping of lower hybrid waves in elongated plasma depletions in the Earth's ionosphere

Conditions for trapping of lower hybrid waves in plasma depletions in the Earth's ionosphere are discussed. It is shown that the trapping can take place for the frequencies not only below but also above the lower hybrid resonance frequency of the background plasma, which is important for the formation of the downshifted maximum of the secondary electromagnetic emission.     

低纬电离层人工调制所激发的ELF波射线追踪

通过大功率极低频(ELF)/甚低频(VLF)高频调幅波能有效地扰动低电离层电流, 形成等效的ELF/VLF电离层虚拟天线,辐射ELF/VLF波, 所辐射出的低频信号能够传播进入到磁层,对其传播特性的研究对于理解辐射带高能电子沉降具有重要意义.本文基于磁层射线追踪理论,通过数值模拟得到在低纬地区所激发出的ELF波在磁层中的射线路径,并对其特征进行分析.数值模拟结果表明, 从低纬激发的ELF波在南北半球来回弹跳,并逐渐传播到更远处,对于不同频率的ELF波, 频率越高,传播距离越近,频率越低,传播距离越远,在传播过程中, ELF波会逐渐倾向于在一个固定的磁层区域附近来回反射,在此过程中波法向角也逐渐变为90°,射线方向倾向于沿着背景磁场方向传播.     

Probing the speed of light with radio waves at extremely low frequencies

The speed of light, a fundamental physical constant and thought to be independent of frequency, is tested here with naturally occurring radio waves in the atmosphere at extremely low frequencies. It is shown that the speed of light in the frequency range 5-50 Hz is known with an accuracy determined by perturbations of the ionospheric reflection height associated with space weather phenomena, which place an upper limit on the photon rest mass mgamma < or approximately 4 x 10(-52) kg to date.     

Formation of a Resonance Structure of the Local Inductance of the Ionosphere at Frequencies 0.1–10 Hz

We solve the problem of determination of the local inductance of the ionosphere, which is a parameter entering a two-dimensional telegraph equation. Day- and nighttime models of the ionosphere at altitudes from 0 to 2000 km for different solar activity are presented. It is shown that the resonance structure of the local inductance is formed by interference of reflections from the upper and lower ionosphere at altitudes above 1000 km and below 300 km, respectively. We demonstrate that reflections from the upper layers of the ionosphere disappear at frequencies higher than 8 Hz.     

Results of Experiments on Modification of the Sporadic E-Layer by Powerful HF Radio Waves

We present the results of experiments on modification of the sporadic E-layer of the Earth's ionosphere by a powerful vertical beam of HF radio waves. The experiments were performed at the Sura heating facility (Radiophysical Research Institute, Nizhny Novgorod) from May 31 to June 4, 2001. The main results were obtained in May 31 from 17:30 to 20:00 MSK, when the E_s layer was fairly stable and the pump frequency was in the range where this layer was transparent. The diagnostics of the ionosphere was performed using X-mode probe waves in the frequency range f_pr=4.3-7.8 MHz. The ionosphere plasma heating was accompanied by an increase in the intensity of probe waves, reflected from the E_s layer, with frequencies close to or slightly higher than the critical frequency of the layer. Artificial fluctuations of the reflected signal appeared in the entire frequency range of sounding. We consider the dynamical characteristics of the observed phenomena and their dependence on the frequency f_pr and the parameters of the E_s layer.     

Electrodynamic response of a colloid ensemble with allowance for the influence of distant nanoparticles

The optical properties of a colloid consisting of nanoparticles are investigated on the example of interaction of three dielectric particles consisting of nonresonant atoms (whose natural transition frequencies are far from the radiation frequency) with interstitial barium atoms in the field of external optical radiation. On the basis of integrodifferential equations, expressions for the electric and magnetic fields in the wave zone are derived. The influence of distant neighbors in the ensemble on the light-scattering properties of a nanoparticle is considered, and the condition of applicability of the frequently used two-particle approximation is obtained. The spectrum of the system is investigated, and an additional resonant peak at the natural frequency of the isolated particle caused by the distant neighbor is established. Under some specific conditions, the additional peak intensity may exceed the main peak intensity of the optical near-field resonance in the two-particle system. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 8, pp. 3–11, August, 2006.