Directionality and maneuvering effects on a surface ship underwater acoustic signature

This work examines underwater source spectra of a small (560 tons, 40 m length), single-screw oceanographic vessel, focusing on directionality and effects of maneuvers. The measurements utilized a set of four, self-contained buoys with GPS positioning, each recording two calibrated hydrophones with effective acoustic bandwidth from 150 Hz to 5 kHz. In straight, constant-speed runs at speeds up to 6.2 m s(-1), the ship source spectra showed spectral levels in reasonable agreement with reference spectra. The broadband source level was observed to increase as approximately speed to the fourth power over the range of 2.6-6.1 m s(-1), partially biased at low speeds by nonpropulsion machinery signals. Source directionality patterns were extracted from variations in source spectra while the ship transited past the buoy field. The observed spectral source levels exhibited a broadside maximum, with bow and stern aspect reduced by approximately 12-9 dB, respectively, independent of frequency. An empirical model is proposed assuming that spectral source levels exhibit simultaneous variations in aspect angle, speed, and turn rate. After correction for source directionality and speed during turning maneuvers, an excess of up to 18 dB in one-third octave source levels was observed.     

A monopole mass filter with a hyperbolic V-shaped electrode

In this article we compare the classical monopole mass filter of von Zahn and the monopole mass filter with a hyperbolic V-shaped electrode. The experimental results and those of computer simulation for both mass spectrometers are presented. We show that the replacement of a conventional 90 degrees V-shaped electrode by an electrode with a hyperbolic profile substantially improves the peak shape of any given mass, and increases the mass resolution by a factor of 3-4 and the abundance sensitivity by a factor of 100. The potential of high analytical performance combined with electroforming techniques for electrode manufacture indicate future practical uses of such instruments. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

How to write a research article for MRC

This nonscientific tutorial proposes best practice for authors publishing research articles in Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry (MRC). It offers authors essential insights into writing eye-catching article titles, author/co-author names and hierarchy, IMRaD and IRDaM article structures, referencing and the composition of abstracts, introductions, experimental, results and discussion, and conclusions together with the all-important covering letter. This arsenal of insights aims to provide tools for authors to maximize the chance of success for their research articles.     

Measurements of near-surface bubble plumes in the open ocean with implications for high-frequency sonar performance

This study examines near-surface bubble data obtained with a self-contained 200-kHz inverted echo-sounder deployed at Ocean Station Papa (NE Pacific, 1400 km west of Vancouver Is.) over an 81-day period in the spring of 1996. The instrument operated continuously, recording calibrated volume scattering profiles from near-surface bubbles with 3-s and 30-cm resolution. The data show the frequent occurrence of bubbles organized into vertical, plume-like structures, presumably drawn downwards by turbulence and other near-surface circulations. Average bubble plume penetrations of up to 15 m were observed, with maximum penetrations up to 25 m. Within the plumes, the backscatter cross section exhibited an exponential decay with depth, with e-folding scale in the range 0.5 to 3 m, increasing proportionally to the square of average plume depth. Using standard models for bubble scattering, and incorporating recent acoustic resonator measurements of bubble-size distributions along with actual bubble plume data, high-frequency near-surface sonar performance models were developed. These models show that on a ping-to-ping basis the bubble plume structures can induce significant spatial variations in the reverberation level and path-integrated extinction losses to near-surface targets.     

Local canted spin behaviour in Co1.4−x Zn x Ge0.4Fe1.2O4 spinels: A macroscopic, mesoscopic and microscopic study

DC magnetization, neutron depolarization and neutron diffraction (with both polarized and unpolarized neutrons) measurements have been reported for the Co_1.1−x Zn _x Ge_0.1Fe_1.2O₁ spinels with x=0.5, 0.6 and 0.7. Neutron depolarization and neutron diffraction measurements confirm the presence of a long range ferrimagnetic ordering of the local canted spins in these ferrite samples. The observed features of low field magnetization have been explained under the framework of thermally activated domain wall movement of ferrimagnetic arrangement of local canted spins. An important role of magnetic anisotropy (due to the presence of Co²⁺ ions) in establishing the magnetic ordering and domain kinetics in these ferrites has been observed.