Search results for " sensing"

Characterization of the global network of optical magnetometers to search for exotic physics (GNOME)

2018

The Global Network of Optical Magnetometers to search for Exotic physics (GNOME) is a network of geographically separated, time-synchronized, optically pumped atomic magnetometers that is being used to search for correlated transient signals heralding exotic physics. The GNOME is sensitive to nuclear- and electron-spin couplings to exotic fields from astrophysical sources such as compact dark-matter objects (for example, axion stars and domain walls). Properties of the GNOME sensors such as sensitivity, bandwidth, and noise characteristics are studied in the present work, and features of the network's operation (e.g., data acquisition, format, storage, and diagnostics) are described. Charac…

Simulations of Array Configurations for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA)

2010

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) is a new generation radio telescope for the next decades, working at metre to centimetre wavelengths. The SKA will be operational at the same time than other new optical, X-ray and Gamma-ray telescopes. It is of extreme importance that the SKA becomes competitive and complementary to those instruments. An extensive study of technologies and possible configurations involved is needed to ensure the SKA will reach the design specifications. To compare imaging capabilities between different SKA configurations or between the SKA and other instruments, we have implemented figures of merit based on several characteristics of these instruments. In this work we are p…

Measurements of integrated direct, diffuse and global ultraviolet-B radiation

2015

Abstract We present the first multiyear set of simultaneous measurements of the global ultraviolet-B radiation and its two components: direct and diffuse. The measurements have been taken with four YES-UVB-1 radiometers: two radiometers to measure the diffuse radiation, one provided with a shadow band and the other with a shadow disk on a Sun tracker; a radiometer to measure the global horizontal radiation; and a Sun-tracking radiometer to measure the direct radiation with an especially designed radiance collimator. The diffuse minute-values measured with both instruments agree within a coefficient correlation of 1.00. The diffuse component represents at least 50% of the global UVB (ultravi…

2015

Advanced Astronomy for Heliophysics Plus (ADAHELI+) is a project concept for a small solar and space weather mission with a budget compatible with an European Space Agency (ESA) S-class mission, including launch, and a fast development cycle. ADAHELI+ was submitted to the European Space Agency by a European-wide consortium of solar physics research institutes in response to the "Call for a small mission opportunity for a launch in 2017," of March 9, 2012. The ADAHELI+ project builds on the heritage of the former ADAHELI mission, which had successfully completed its phase-A study under the Italian Space Agency 2007 Small Mission Programme, thus proving the soundness and feasibility of its in…

Linestrengths of the ν2 and ν4 bands of 12CH4 and 13CH4

1989

Absorption spectra recorded on the high-resolution Fourier transform spectrometer at Kitt Peak National Observatory/National Solar Observatory were used to measure individual line strengths of the nu(2) and nu(4) bands of (C-12)H4 and (C-13)H4. The measurements were used to obtain expressions that could be used to correctly predict individual line strengths through five orders of magnitude of absorption strength and high values of J-prime. Transition strengths were modeled using the dyad formalism of two interacting bands and a seven-term second-order dipole-moment expansion. The successful fitting of these data indicates that the method can be used to model measurements of 2- to 5-percent …

SphinX: The Solar Photometer in X-Rays

2012

Solar Photometer in X-rays (SphinX) was a spectrophotometer developed to observe the Sun in soft X-rays. The instrument observed in the energy range ≈ 1 – 15 keV with resolution ≈ 0.4 keV. SphinX was flown on the Russian CORONAS–PHOTON satellite placed inside the TESIS EUV and X telescope assembly. The spacecraft launch took place on 30 January 2009 at 13:30 UT at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia. The SphinX experiment mission began a couple of weeks later on 20 February 2009 when the first telemetry dumps were received. The mission ended nine months later on 29 November 2009 when data transmission was terminated. SphinX provided an excellent set of observations during very low solar activ…

3D reconstruction of external and internal surfaces of transparent objects from polarization state of highlights

2014

A vision-based method is proposed to measure the 3D shape of external and internal surfaces (not accessible) of smooth transparent objects. Looking at the reflections of point sources on a specular surface with a polarimetric camera, we combine the measurements of two techniques: shape from distortion and shape from polarization. It permits us to recover the position and orientation of the specular surface for each detected point. The internal surface of transparent objects exhibiting as well a specular component, the same technique is used on the highlights coming from the back surface, taking into account the refraction by using polarimetric ray tracing.

Atmospheric turbulence in phase-referenced and wide-field interferometric images

2010

Phase referencing is a standard calibration procedure in radio interferometry. It allows us to detect weak sources by using quasisimultaneous observations of closeby sources acting as calibrators. However, atmospheric turbulence may introduce strong differences in the optical paths of the signals of the target and calibrator and affect, or even waste, phase referencing in cases of relatively large calibrator-to-target separations and/or bad weather. The situation is similar in wide-field interferometric observations. We present the results of a Monte Carlo study of the astrometric precision and sensitivity of an interferometric array (a realization of the Square Kilometre Array, SKA) in pha…

Vibration Detector based on GMR Sensors

2007

Up to now, vibrations have been mostly sensed by measuring displacement, velocity and acceleration. The most common types of vibration sensors are piezoelectric, capacitive, null-balance, strain gage, optoelectronic, resonance beam or piezoresistive. We present a low cost and low power vibration detector based on the measurement of magnetic field variations induced in a recent SS501 GMR magnetic sensor, which has never been applied for that. Vibrations on small ferromagnetic pieces disturb the Earth's magnetic field. These weak perturbations can be detected and measured over the assumed constant Earth's magnetic field, which is uniform over a wide area. A novel array configuration of 3 half…

Calibration of the XRT-SOLARB flight filters at the XACT facility of INAF-OAPA

2004

The X-Ray Telescope (XRT) experiment on-board the Japanese satellite SOLAR-B (launch in 2006) aimed at providing full Sun field of view at ~ 1.5" angular resolution, will be equipped with two wheels of focal-plane filters to select spectral features of X-ray emission from the Solar corona, and a front-end filter to significantly reduce the visible light contamination. We present the results of the X-ray calibrations of the XRT flight filters performed at the X-ray Astronomy Calibration and Testing (XACT) facility of INAF-OAPA. We describe the instrumental set-up, the adopted measurement technique, and present the transmission vs. energy and position measurements.