Detection of combined frequency and amplitude modulation.

This article is concerned with the detection of mixed modulation (MM), i.e., simultaneously occurring amplitude modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM). In experiment 1, an adaptive two-alternative forced-choice task was used to determine thresholds for detecting AM alone. Then, thresholds for detecting FM were determined for stimuli which had a fixed amount of AM in the signal interval only. The amount of AM was always less than the threshold for detecting AM alone. The FM thresholds depended significantly on the magnitude of the coexisting AM. For low modulation rates (4, 16, and 64 Hz), the FM thresholds did not depend significantly on the relative phase of modulation for the FM and AM. For a high modulation rate (256 Hz) strong effects of modulator phase were observed. These phase effects are as predicted by the model proposed by Hartmann and Hnath [Acustica 50, 297-312 (1982)], which assumes that detection of modulation at modulation frequencies higher than the critical modulation frequency is based on detection of the lower sideband in the modulated signal's spectrum. In the second experiment, psychometric functions were measured for the detection of AM alone and FM alone, using modulation rates of 4 and 16 Hz. Results showed that, for each type of modulation, d' is approximately a linear function of the square of the modulation index. Application of this finding to the results of experiment 1 suggested that, at low modulation rates, FM and AM are not detected by completely independent mechanisms. In the third experiment, psychometric functions were again measured for the detection of AM alone and FM alone, using a 10-Hz modulation rate. Detectability was then measured for combined AM and FM, with modulation depths selected so that each type of modulation would be equally detectable if presented alone. Significant effects of relative modulator phase were found when detectability was relatively high. These effects were not correctly predicted by either a single-band excitation-pattern model or a multiple-band excitation-pattern model. However, the detectability of the combined AM and FM was better than would be predicted if the two types of modulation were coded completely independently.     

激光脉宽对谐波频移和振幅强度的影响

数值研究了激光脉宽对H_2~+和T_2~+谐波辐射的影响.计算结果表明:(i)对于谐波频移现象:在少周期激光场下,H_2~+和T_2~+谐波辐射呈现红移.随着激光脉宽增大,H_2~+谐波辐射呈现蓝移; T_2~+谐波辐射红移减弱.(ii)对于谐波振幅强度:H_2~+和T_2~+谐波辐射强度会随着激光脉宽增大而增强.但是,在少周期激光场下,H_2~+谐波截至能量附近的强度要大于T_2~+.在多周期激光场下,T_2~+谐波截至能量附近的强度要大于H_2~+.     

频率调制强吸收光谱中残余幅度调制的理论分析

由电光调制器(EOM)中双折射效应及线偏光不完全沿EOM调制方向诱发的残余幅度调制(RAM)使频率调制(FM)光谱技术在微量气体检测中的应用受到极大的限制。基于光场与晶体相互作用及光学干涉原理推导出存在RAM时FM光谱的线型表达式,确定出输入线偏光角度、EOM中双折射效应、FM系数等是影响线型的主要因素,且当入射EOM光的偏振角度偏离调制方向越大,双折射效应引起的特征偏振方向相位差越大,线型扭曲越严重;同时在FM色散光谱中存在一个受两者影响的直流偏置;最后给出通过伺服控制这两过程可以达到抑制RAM的目的。这些现象及线型的分析将为基于光纤器件的FM光谱提供必要的理论支持。     

Perception of amplitude and frequency modulated signals (mixed modulation)

This article discusses the detection of mixed modulation, i.e., simultaneous amplitude and frequency modulation (MM). The investigations have incorporated both a sine wave modulating signal and an irregular modulating signal, a very narrow noise band, of a specified center frequency. The results revealed that for a sinusoidal low-frequency modulating signal, amplitude and frequency changes that were separately subthreshold could be detected by listeners in mixed modulation. This indicates summation of sensations caused by simultaneous AM and FM modulation. This effect was not observed in the case of the irregular modulating signal. A hypothesis is advanced that the perception of modulated signals is governed by two mechanisms, viz., temporal and spectral. The operation of the two mechanisms depends mainly on the modulating frequency. The type of modulation does not play any significant role in this case.     

Detection and rate discrimination of amplitude modulation in electrical hearing

Three experiments were designed to examine temporal envelope processing by cochlear implant (CI) listeners. In experiment 1, the hypothesis that listeners' modulation sensitivity would in part determine their ability to discriminate between temporal modulation rates was examined. Temporal modulation transfer functions (TMTFs) obtained in an amplitude modulation detection (AMD) task were compared to threshold functions obtained in an amplitude modulation rate discrimination (AMRD) task. Statistically significant nonlinear correlations were observed between the two measures. In experiment 2, results of loudness-balancing showed small increases in the loudness of modulated over unmodulated stimuli beyond a modulation depth of 16%. Results of experiment 3 indicated small but statistically significant effects of level-roving on the overall gain of the TMTF, but no impact of level-roving on the average shape of the TMTF across subjects. This suggested that level-roving simply increased the task difficulty for most listeners, but did not indicate increased use of intensity cues under more challenging conditions. Data obtained with one subject, however, suggested that the most sensitive listeners may derive some benefit from intensity cues in these tasks. Overall, results indicated that intensity cues did not play an important role in temporal envelope processing by the average CI listener.     

Compensating for frequency shifts in modulation transfer spectroscopy caused by residual amplitude modulation

Residual amplitude modulation (RAM) distorts saturated absorption signals, limiting the accuracy of optical frequency references based on modulation transfer spectroscopy (MTS). Described here are two independent means by which RAM is produced in these references: (1) by the modulator and (2) when the overlap of the optical fields in the saturable absorber is asymmetric. Methods to vary RAM generated by either mechanism will be outlined and these will be used to show how RAM arising from one effect can be cancelled by the other. A theoretical treatment of MTS signals in references containing RAM is given and used to evaluate the level of signal distortion allowing the conditions for RAM cancellation to be determined. This technique is applied to improve the frequency accuracy of a reference by an order of magnitude.     

Detection thresholds for sinusoidal frequency modulation

An adaptive forced-choice procedure was used to measure, in four normal-hearing subjects, detection thresholds for sinusoidal frequency modulation as a function of carrier frequency (fc, from 250 to 4000 Hz) and modulation frequency (fmod. from 1 to 64 Hz). The results show that, for a wide range of fmod values, fc and fmod have almost independent effects on the thresholds when the thresholds are expressed as just-noticeable frequency swings and plotted on a log scale. In two subjects, the effect of fc on the thresholds was compared to the effect of standard frequency on the frequency just noticeable differences (jnd's) of successive and steady tones. In agreement with previous data [H. Fastl, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 63, 275-277 (1978)], it was found that the two effects are significantly different if the frequency jnd's are measured with long-duration tones. However, it was also found that the two effects are similar if the frequency jnd's are measured with 25-ms tones. These results support the idea that, at least for low fmod values, the detection of continuous and periodic frequency modulations is mediated by a pitch-sampling process using a temporal window of about 25 ms.     

Wideband Rydberg atom-based receiver for amplitude modulation radio frequency communication

Based on Autler–Townes splitting and AC Stark shifts, we present a Rydberg atom-based receiver for determining the amplitude modulation(AM) frequency among a wideband carrier range utilizing a cesium atomic vapor cell. To verify this approach, we measured the signal-to-noise ratio and the data capacity with a 10 k Hz AM frequency in the carrier range from 2 GHz to 18 GHz. Without changing the lasers, the working band can be easily extended to a higher range by optimizing the feed antenna and exp...     

Detection and discrimination of frequency modulation of complex signals

Detection and discrimination of frequency modulation were studied for harmonic signals with triangular spectral envelopes. The center frequency of the stimuli was near 2 kHz; the fundamental frequency was near 100 Hz. To prevent the possibility that the discrimination was based on differences of initial or final frequencies, these frequencies were equal within and across modulations in each individual experiment. Differences between modulations consisted of differences in the trajectories between the initial and final frequencies. Performance worsened as the slopes of the spectral envelopes decreased. Addition of noise also impaired modulation discrimination. The dependence on the signal-to-noise ratio was similar to what is found for stationary stimuli: Discrimination of frequency modulation deteriorated more rapidly with decreasing signal-to-noise ratio when stimuli had shallow spectral slopes than when they had steep spectral slopes. In spite of the precautions taken (i.e., initial and final frequency the same), the discrimination of these stimuli was more likely based on quasistationary frequency discrimination than on discrimination of modulation rate. This conclusion is consistent with previous findings for pure tones presented in quiet that frequency discrimination is more acute than modulation-rate discrimination.     

多光谱打印的变频调幅加网设计方案研究

基于多光谱颜色复制理论与变频调幅加网理论及其应用的技术规律,提出了多光谱打印的变频调幅加网设计方案(以六基色印刷为例),基本原则为预测的颜色主成分油墨按照其贡献率分别安排在加网角度45°、15°、75°、0°,而第五和第六主成分油墨分别安排在15°和75°。经理论验证分析与试验仿真,它满足实现高保真印刷的五个关键要件,这为实现高保真印刷提供了新的思路和技术途径,并且丰富了数字加网理论。     

Intermodal interference induced significant frequency modulation to amplitude modulation conversion in a broadband large-mode-area fiber laser

The conversion of the FM-to-AM effect induced by intermodal interference in the broadband large-mode-area (LMA) fiber laser was first investigated theoretically and experimentally. The numerical simulation results show that the spectrum transfer functions are different at different positions of the LMA fiber end face owing to the intermodal interference, so the output broadband pulses are different. We attain the similar results in the experiment when measuring the output pulse with the single mode fiber sampling oscilloscope. Whereas there is no amplitude modulation for the output pulse when measured by the bulk detector owing to the orthogonal characteristic of the eigenmodes.     

Time course of adaptation and recovery of channels selectively sensitive to frequency and amplitude modulation

In a series of experiments we investigated the time course of adaptation and recovery of channels in the human auditory system selectively sensitive to frequency and amplitude modulation (FM and AM). We determined the rate of loss of sensitivity to modulation using sinusoidal frequency or amplitude modulation (SFM or SAM) of a 50 dB SL, 500-Hz pure tone carrier over a 30-min period. Adaptation stimuli were modulated at ten times the preadaptation modulation detection threshold, as determined immediately before the 30-min adaptation session. Modulation rates investigated were 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 Hz. Long exposure to SFM always elevated thresholds for detection of SFM more than this exposure elevated thresholds for detection of SAM. Similarly, adapting to SAM always elevated SAM detection thresholds more than SFM thresholds. Loss of sensitivity during adaptation was relatively slow; asymptotic loss of modulation sensitivity took 20 to 30 min. The recovery of modulation sensitivity after cessation of the modulation component of the adapting stimulus was determined in a second experiment. Recovery was found to be rapid; most of the recovery occurred within the first 60 sec. Our evidence suggests that there exist two types of modulation-sensitive channels in the human auditory system--one selectively sensitive to amplitude modulation and the other to frequency modulation. They appear to have similar time courses for adaptation and for recovery.     

Two-fold mode-locking by amplitude modulation at neighbouring harmonics of the laser-cavity fundamental frequency

A model is presented for the pulse-shaping dynamics in an actively mode-locked laser in which the losses are AM modulated at two harmonic frequencies differing by the cavity fundamental mode spacing and is applied to the case of third and fourth harmonics. Coupling to eight side modes is demonstrated. Computer simulations are implemented for a linear resonator which show the effects of modulation and gain for different initial conditions of field-amplitude and phases. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Detection of electron paramagnetic resonance absorption using frequency modulation

A frequency modulation (FM) method was developed to measure electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) absorption. The first-derivative spectrum of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) powder was measured with this FM method. Frequency modulation of up to 1.6 MHz (peak-to-peak) was achieved at a microwave carrier frequency of 1.1 GHz. This corresponds to a magnetic field modulation of 57microT (peak-to-peak) at 40.3 mT. By using a tunable microwave resonator and automatic control systems, we achieved a practical continuous-wave (CW) EPR spectrometer that incorporates the FM method. In the present experiments, the EPR signal intensity was proportional to the magnitude of frequency modulation. The background signal at the modulation frequency (1 kHz) for EPR detection was also proportional to the magnitude of frequency modulation. An automatic matching control (AMC) system reduced the amplitude of noise in microwave detection and improved the baseline stability. Distortion of the spectral lineshape was seen when the spectrometer settings were not appropriate, e.g., with a lack of the open-loop gain in automatic tuning control (ATC). FM is an alternative to field modulation when the side-effect of field modulation is detrimental for EPR detection. The present spectroscopic technique based on the FM scheme is useful for measuring the first derivative with respect to the microwave frequency in investigations of electron-spin-related phenomena.     

Effects of the use of personal music players on amplitude modulation detection and frequency discrimination

Measures of auditory performance were compared for an experimental group who listened regularly to music via personal music players (PMP) and a control group who did not. Absolute thresholds were similar for the two groups for frequencies up to 2 kHz, but the experimental group had slightly but significantly higher thresholds at higher frequencies. Thresholds for the frequency discrimination of pure tones were measured for a sensation level (SL) of 20 dB and center frequencies of 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 kHz. Thresholds were significantly higher (worse) for the experimental than for the control group for frequencies from 3 to 8 kHz, but not for lower frequencies. Thresholds for detecting sinusoidal amplitude modulation (AM) were measured for SLs of 10 and 20 dB, using four carrier frequencies 0.5, 3, 4, and 6 kHz, and three modulation frequencies 4, 16, and 50 Hz. Thresholds were significantly lower (better) for the experimental than for the control group for the 4- and 6-kHz carriers, but not for the other carriers. It is concluded that listening to music via PMP can have subtle effects on frequency discrimination and AM detection.     

Optical access transmission with improved channel capacity using non-orthogonal frequency quadrature amplitude modulation

A new modulation scheme that improves the bandwidth efficiency of an optical access link is proposed in this paper. It is implemented using non-orthogonal frequency shift keying (FSK) and quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) simultaneously. We call the proposed technique non-orthogonal frequency quadrature amplitude modulation (NOFQAM). Especially, non-orthogonal FSK based on digital signal processing (DSP) is proposed for the first time. DSP-aided non-orthogonal FSK allows us to select RF carrier frequency irrespective of the channel bandwidth to allocate FSK symbols, unlike the existing orthogonal FSK. The non-orthogonality is implemented using a sequential correlation, where a received NOFQAM signal is correlated with only one RF carrier at a time by using DSP. After the sequential correlation is completed, both the FSK and the QAM symbols are recovered successfully and merged to generate the NOFQAM symbols. For experimental verification, a 20-km optical access link, which can transmit a 64-NOFQAM signal sampled at 10 Gsample/s, is implemented. We observed no increase in occupied channel bandwidth and a power penalty <0.5 dB compared to the 16-QAM scheme. A bit error rate lower than 10^?11 was obtained for the frequency spacing considered herein, which corresponds to 3% of the used RF carrier (1.5 GHz) when there are 50 sampling points per 64-NOFQAM symbol.     

Effect of modulator asynchrony of sinusoidal and noise modulators on frequency and amplitude modulation detection interference

The effect on modulation detection interference (MDI) of timing of gating of the modulation of target and interferer, with synchronously gated carriers, was investigated in three experiments. In a two-interval, two-alternative forced choice adaptive procedure, listeners had to detect 15 Hz sinusoidal amplitude modulation (AM) or frequency modulation (FM) imposed for 200 ms in the temporal center of a 600 ms target sinusoidal carrier. In the first experiment, 15 Hz sinusoidal FM was imposed in phase on both target and interferer carriers. Thresholds were lower for nonoverlapping than for synchronous modulation of target and interferer, but MDI still occurred for the former. Thresholds were significantly higher when the modulators were gated synchronously than when the interferer modulator was gated on before and off after that of the target. This contrasts with the findings of Oxenham and Dau [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 110, 402-408 (2001)], who reported no effect of modulation asynchrony on AM detection thresholds, using a narrowband noise modulator. Using FM, experiment 2 showed that for temporally overlapping modulation of target and interferer, modulator asynchrony had no significant effect when the interferer was modulated by a narrowband noise. Experiment 3 showed that, for AM, synchronous gating of modulation of the target and interferer produced lower thresholds than asynchronous gating, especially for sinusoidal modulation of the interferer. Results are discussed in terms of specific cues available for periodic modulation, and differences between perceptual grouping on the basis of common AM and FM.     

Potentials evoked by the sinusoidal modulation of the amplitude or frequency of a tone

Steady state responses to the sinusoidal modulation of the amplitude or frequency of a tone were recorded from the human scalp. For both amplitude modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM), the responses were most consistent at modulation frequencies between 30 and 50 Hz. However, reliable responses could also be recorded at lower frequencies, particularly at 2-5 Hz for AM and at 3-7 Hz for FM. With increasing modulation depth at 40 Hz, both the AM and FM response increased in amplitude, but the AM response tended to saturate at large modulation depths. Neither response showed any significant change in phase with changes in modulation depth. Both responses increased in amplitude and decreased in phase delay with increasing intensity of the carrier tone, the FM response showing some saturation of amplitude at high intensities. Both responses could be recorded at modulation depths close to the subjective threshold for detecting the modulation and at intensities close to the subjective threshold for hearing the stimulus. The responses were variable but did not consistently adapt over periods of 10 min. The 40-Hz AM and FM responses appear to originate in the same generator, this generator being activated by separate auditory systems that detect changes in either amplitude or frequency.     

Detection performance improvement of photon counting chirped amplitude modulation lidar with response probability correction

Geiger mode avalanche photodiode detector(Gm-APD) possesses the ultra-high sensitivity. Photon counting chirped amplitude modulation(PCCAM) light detection and ranging(lidar) uses the counting results of the returned signal detected by Gm-APD to mix with the reference signal, which makes PCCAM lidar capable of realizing the ultra-high sensitivity, and this is very important for detecting the remote and weak signal. However, Gm-APD is a nonlinear device, different from traditional linear detectors. Due to the nonlinear response of Gm-APD, the counting results of the returned signal detected by Gm-APD are different from those of both the original modulation signal and the reference signal. This will affect the mixing effect and thus degrade the detection performance of PCCAM lidar. In this paper, we propose a response probability correction method. First, the response probability correction model is established on the basis of Gm-APD Poisson probability response model. Then, the response probability correction model is used to adjust the original modulation signal that is used to drive laser, in order to make the counting results of the returned signal detected by Gm-APD better mix with the local reference signal in the same form. Through this method, the detection performance of PCCAM lidar is enhanced efficiently.     

Temporal integration in amplitude modulation detection

Thresholds for detecting sinusoidal amplitude modulation (AM) of a wideband noise carrier were measured as a function of the duration of the modulating signal. The carrier was either; (a) gated with a duration that exceeded the duration of modulation by the combined stimulus rise and fall times; (b) presented with a fixed duration that included a 500-ms carrier fringe preceding the onset of modulation; or (c) on continuously. In condition (a), the gated-carrier temporal modulation transfer functions (TMTFs) exhibited a bandpass characteristic. For AM frequencies above the individual subject's TMTF high-pass segment, the mean slope of the integration functions was - 7.46 dB per log unit duration. For the fringe and continuous-carrier conditions [(b) and (c)], the mean slopes of the integration functions were, respectively, - 9.30 and - 9.36 dB per log unit duration. Simulations based on integration of the output of an envelope detector approximate the results from the gated-carrier conditions. The more rapid rates of integration obtained in the fringe and continuous-carrier conditions may be due to "overintegration" where, at brief modulation durations, portions of the unmodulated carrier envelope are included in the integration of modulating signal energy.