Showing papers on "Noise (radio) published in 1997"

A 1.5-V, 1.5-GHz CMOS low noise amplifier

Abstract: A 1.5-GHz low noise amplifier (LNA), intended for use in a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, has been implemented in a standard 0.6-/spl mu/m CMOS process. The amplifier provides a forward gain (S21) of 22 dB with a noise figure of only 3.5 dB while drawing 30 mW from a 1.5 V supply. In this paper, we present a detailed analysis of the LNA architecture, including a discussion on the effects of induced gate noise in MOS devices.

Southern California permanent GPS geodetic array: Error analysis of daily position estimates and site velocities

Abstract: We analyze time series of daily positions estimated from data collected by 10 continuously monitoring Global Positioning System (GPS) sites in southern California during the 19-month period between the June 28, 1992 (Mw=7.3), Landers and January 17, 1994 (Mw=6.7), Northridge earthquakes. Each time series exhibits a linear tectonic signal and significant colored noise. Spectral power at frequencies in the range 5 yr−1 to 0.5 d−1 is dominated by white noise or possibly fractal white noise and is several orders of magnitude higher than what would be expected from random walk noise (in this short-period range) attributed by others to geodetic monument motions. Estimating a single slope for the time series' power spectra suggests fractal white noise processes with spectral indices of about 0.4. Site velocity uncertainties assuming this fractal white noise model are 2–4 times larger than uncertainties obtained assuming a purely white noise model. A combination white noise plus flicker noise (spectral index of 1) model also fits the data and suggests that the velocity uncertainties should be 3–6 times larger than for the white noise model. We cannot adequately distinguish between these two noise models, nor can we rule out the possibility of a random walk signal at the lowest frequencies; these questions await the analysis of longer time series. In any case, reducing the magnitude of low-frequency colored noise is critical and appears to be best accomplished by building sites with deeply anchored and braced monuments. Otherwise, rate uncertainties estimated from continuous GPS measurements may not be improved significantly compared to those estimated from infrequent campaign-mode measurements.

Correlated errors in geodetic time series: Implications for time‐dependent deformation

Abstract: Analysis of frequent trilateration observations from the two-color electronic distance measuring networks in California demonstrate that the noise power spectra are dominated by white noise at higher frequencies and power law behavior at lower frequencies. In contrast, Earth scientists typically have assumed that only white noise is present in a geodetic time series, since a combination of infrequent measurements and low precision usually preclude identifying the time-correlated signature in such data. After removing a linear trend from the two-color data, it becomes evident that there are primarily two recognizable types of time-correlated noise present in the residuals. The first type is a seasonal variation in displacement which is probably a result of measuring to shallow surface monuments installed in clayey soil which responds to seasonally occurring rainfall; this noise is significant only for a small fraction of the sites analyzed. The second type of correlated noise becomes evident only after spectral analysis of line length changes and shows a functional relation at long periods between power and frequency of 1/ƒα, where ƒ is frequency and α≈2. With α=2, this type of correlated noise is termed random-walk noise, and its source is mainly thought to be small random motions of geodetic monuments with respect to the Earth's crust, though other sources are possible. Because the line length changes in the two-color networks are measured at irregular intervals, power spectral techniques cannot reliably estimate the level of 1/ƒα noise. Rather, we also use here a maximum likelihood estimation technique which assumes that there are only two sources of noise in the residual time series (white noise and random-walk noise) and estimates the amount of each. From this analysis we find that the random-walk noise level averages about 1.3 mm/√yr and that our estimates of the white noise component confirm theoretical limitations of the measurement technique. In addition, the seasonal noise can be as large as 3 mm in amplitude but typically is less than 0.5 mm. Because of the presence of random-walk noise in these time series, modeling and interpretation of the geodetic data must account for this source of error. By way of example we show that estimating the time-varying strain tensor (a form of spatial averaging) from geodetic data having both random-walk and white noise error components results in seemingly significant variations in the rate of strain accumulation; spatial averaging does reduce the size of both noise components but not their relative influence on the resulting strain accumulation model.

Optical Communication Receiver Design

Abstract: Optical communications system performance photodetection photodetectors receiver noise modelling receiver front-end design receiver performance analysis.

Crosstalk reduction for VLSI

Abstract: The performance of high-speed electronic systems is limited by interconnect-related failure modes such as coupled noise. We propose new techniques for alleviating the problems caused by coupling between signal lines on integrated circuits. We show that models used by previous work on coupled noise-constrained layout synthesis do not allow the use of several important degrees of freedom. These degrees of freedom include the ability to utilize dynamic noise margins rather than static noise margins, the dependence of coupled noise on drive strength, and the possibility of using overlaps to reduce susceptibility to noise. We derive an expression for the coupled noise integral and a bound for the peak coupled noise voltage which shows order of magnitude improvements in both accuracy and fidelity compared to the charge sharing model used in previous work. We use the new bounds to guide a greedy channel router, which manipulates exact adjacency information at every stage, allowing it to introduce jogs or doglegs when necessary for coupled noise reduction. Experimental results indicate that our algorithm compares favorably to previous work. The coupled noise is significantly reduced on benchmark instances.

Laser-noise-induced heating in far-off resonance optical traps

Abstract: Using a simple model, we calculate the heating rates arising from laser intensity noise and beam-pointing fluctuations in far-off resonance optical traps. Intensity noise causes exponential heating, while beam-pointing noise causes heating at a constant rate. The achievement of heating time constants well beyond 10 sec imposes stringent requirements on the laser noise power spectra. Noise spectra are measured for a commercial argon-ion laser to illustrate the expected time scales.

Ultrasensitive laser measurements without tears

Abstract: Several easily implemented devices for doing ultrasensitive optical measurements with noisy lasers are presented. They are all-electronic noise cancellation circuits that largely eliminate excess laser intensity noise as a source of measurement error and are widely applicable. Shot-noise-limited optical measurements can now easily be made at baseband with noisy lasers. These circuits are especially useful in situations where strong intermodulation effects exist, such as current-tuned diode laser spectroscopy. These inexpensive devices ~parts cost ’$10! can be optimized for particular applications such as wideband or differential measurements. Although they cannot eliminate phase noise effects, they can reduce amplitude noise by 55‐70 dB or more, even in unattended operation, and usually achieve the shot-noise limit. With 1-Hz signal-to-noise ratios of 150‐160 dB, they allow performance equal or superior to a complex heterodyne system in many cases, while using much simpler dual-beam or homodyne approaches. Although these devices are related to earlier differential and ratiometric techniques, their noise cancellation performance is much better. They work well at modulation frequencies from dc to several megahertz and should be extensible to ’100 MHz. The circuits work by subtracting photocurrents directly, with feedback applied outside the signal path to continuously adjust the subtraction for perfect balance; thus the excess noise and spurious modulation ideally cancel at all frequencies, leaving only the shot noise. The noise cancellation bandwidth is independent of the feedback bandwidth; it depends only on the speeds of the photodiodes and of the bipolar junction transistors used. Two noise-canceled outputs are available; one is a high-pass filtered voltage proportional to the signal photocurrent and the other is a low-pass filtered voltage related to the log ratio of the signal and comparison photocurrents. For reasonable current densities, the noise floors of the outputs depend only on the shot noise of the signal beam. Four variations on the basic circuit are presented: low noise floor, high cancellation, differential high power, and ratio-only. Emphasis is placed on the detailed operation and design considerations, especially performance extension by compensation of the nonideal character of system components. Experience has shown that some applications advice is required by most users, so that is provided as well. © 1997 Optical Society of America

Laser Noise Induced Heating in Far Off Resonance Optical Traps

Abstract: We calculate the heating rates arising from laser intensity noise and beam pointing fluctuations in far off resonance optical traps. Achievement of long heating time constants imposes stringent requirements on the laser noise spectra.

Low noise p-π-n GaN ultraviolet photodetectors

Abstract: We report on the fabrication and characterization of p-π-n GaN ultraviolet detectors. The peak responsivity at ∼363 nm is measured to be 0.1 A/W in the photovoltaic mode, and 0.14 A/W with a bias of −15 V. Speed measurements have shown the photoresponse to be RC-limited with the response time decreasing from 17.4 ns at zero bias to 10.3 ns at −6 V bias. For a 200×200 μ m2 device, we measure the dark current to be 2.7 pA at −3 V bias, and a noise density of less than 10−25 A2/Hz, the noise floor of the measurement. Extrapolating the noise data taken at higher reverse biases, we estimate the noise equivalent power to be 6.6×10−15 W/Hz1/2.

Rotation Sensing with an Atom Interferometer

Abstract: We have measured the phase shift induced by rotation of an atom interferometer at rates of $\ensuremath{-}2$ to $+2$ earth rates and obtained $1%$ agreement with the predicted Sagnac phase shift for atomic matter waves. The rotational rms noise of our interferometer was $42$ milliearth rates for $1$ sec of integration time, within $9%$ of shot noise. The high sensitivity and agreement of predicted and measured behavior suggest useful future scientific applications of atom interferometers as inertial sensors.

High-Tc super conducting quantum interference devices with slots or holes: Low 1/f noise in ambient magnetic fields

Abstract: High-transition temperature dc superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) have been fabricated with arrays of slots or holes patterned in the 186×204 μm2 washers. In two designs, with seven slots or 248 holes, the linewidth of the remaining YBa2Cu3O7−x film was 4 μm. These devices exhibited virtually no increase in their low-frequency noise when they were cooled in static magnetic fields up to a certain threshold, above 100 μT in the best case. Furthermore, the mutual inductance between these devices and a seven-turn, spiral coil was at least 85% of that for a solid SQUID with the same outer dimensions.

"IF" bandstacked low noise block converter combined with diplexer

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for combining the video and audio signals from a satellite antenna with other auxiliary input signals producing a frequency stacked band arrangement for transmission by a single cable to a satellite receiver or TV monitor located within a home or structure. Multiple TV input signals from the satellite antenna are processed and separated into intermediate frequency bands which are then combined in a diplexer with one or more auxiliary input frequency bands. The output of the diplexer is connected directly to the signal output terminal at the antenna. All components for performing this combining process are included within the sealed housing of the LNB provided at the satellite antenna. Improved band isolation and reduced noise and interference are produced by the novel arrangement.

Effect of Modification to Tongue and Impeller Geometry on Unsteady Flow, Pressure Fluctuations, and Noise in a Centrifugal Pump

Abstract: Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), pressure, and noise measurements are used to study the effect of modifications to tongue and impeller geometries on the flow structure and resulting noise in a centrifugal pump. It is demonstrated that the primary sources of noise are associated with interactions of the nonuniform outflux from the impeller (jet/wake phenomenon) with the tongue. Consequently, significant reduction of noise is achieved by increasing the gap between the tongue and the impeller up to about 20 percent of the impeller radius. Further increase in the gap affects the performance adversely with minimal impact on the noise level. When the gap is narrow, the primary sources of noise are impingement of the wake on the tip of the tongue, and tongue oscillations when the pressure difference across it is high. At about 20 percent gap, the entire wake and its associated vorticity trains miss the tongue, and the only (quite weak) effect of nonuniform outflux is the impingement of the jet on the tongue. An attempt is also made to reduce the nonuniformity in outflux from the impeller by inserting short vanes between the blades. They cause reduction in the size of the original wakes, but generate an additional jet/wake phenomenon of their own. Both wakes are weak to a level that their impacts on local pressure fluctuations and noise are insignificant. The only remaining major contributor to noise is tongue oscillations. This effect is shown to be dependent on the stiffness of the tongue.

Radio frequency noise canceller

Abstract: A receiver or receiver system for high speed data communications having a radio frequency noise canceller (112) is disclosed. The radio frequency noise canceller (112) removes radio-frequency noise from received signals over a transmission medium by adaptively estimating the radio-frequency noise during data transmission. In one embodiment, the radio frequency noise canceller includes: an adaptive filter (208) for producing a noise cancellation signal by filtering a reference noise signal based on filter parameters, a subtractor (202) for subtracting the noise cancellation signal from the first signal to produce the second signal; and an update circuit (204) for enabling, at predetermined times, modification of the parameters of the adaptive filter based on the then existing second signal. A method for removing radio frequency noise is also disclosed.

Fixed-tuned submillimeter wavelength waveguide mixers using planar Schottky-barrier diodes

Abstract: The design, construction, and evaluation of fixed-tuned submillimeter wavelength waveguide mixers using planar Schottky diodes are presented in this paper. Electromagnetic fields within the planar diode package were analyzed using the finite-element method (FEM). Mixers using the University of Virginia SCIT5 planar diode were designed at both 585 and 690 GHz. A double sideband (DSB) system noise temperature of 2380 K was measured at 585 GHz using 1.16 mW of local oscillator (LO) power, and a system noise temperature of 2970 K DSB was measured at 690 GHz using 1.04 mW of LO power. In addition, the 585 GHz mixer was cooled to both 77 K and 4.2 K, with measured system noise temperatures of 1240 and 880-K DSB using LO powers of 0.47 and 0.14 mW, respectively. The modeling techniques were found to predict the measured conversion loss to within 1 dB. The performance of planar diode mixers is now within a factor of 1.5 of the best whisker-contacted Schottky diode mixers in this frequency range.

AlxGa1−xN (0⩽x⩽1) ultraviolet photodetectors grown on sapphire by metal-organic chemical-vapor deposition

Abstract: AlxGa1−xN (0⩽x⩽1) ultraviolet photoconductors with cutoff wavelengths from 365 to 200 nm have been fabricated and characterized. The maximum detectivity reached 5.5×108 cmHz1/2/W at a modulating frequency of 14 Hz. The effective majority carrier lifetime in AlxGa1−xN materials, derived from frequency-dependent photoconductivity measurements, has been estimated to be from 6 to 35 ms. The frequency-dependent noise spectrum shows that it is dominated by Johnson noise at high frequencies for low-Al-composition samples.

Phase noise in externally injection-locked oscillator arrays

Abstract: Previous investigations of noise in mutually synchronized coupled-oscillator systems are extended to include the effects of phase noise introduced by externally injected signals. The analysis is developed for arbitrarily coupled arrays and an arbitrary collection of coherent injected signals, and is illustrated with the specific case of linear chains of nearest neighbor coupled oscillators either globally locked (locking signal applied to each array element) or with the locking signal applied to a single-array element. It is shown that the general behavior is qualitatively similar to a single injection-locked oscillator, with the output noise tracking the injected noise near the carrier, and returning to the free-running array noise far from the carrier, with intermediate behavior significantly influenced by the number of array elements and injection strength. The theory is validated using a five-element GaAs MESFET oscillator array operating at S-band.

Population dynamics and the colour of environmental noise

Abstract: The effect of red, white and blue environmental noise on discrete-time population dynamics is analyzed. The coloured noise is superimposed on Moran-Ricker and Maynard Smith dynamics, the resulting power spectra are less than examined. Time series dominated by short- and long-term fluctuations are said to be blue and red, respectively. In the stable range of the Moran-Ricker dynamics, environmental noise of any colour will make population dynamics red or blue depending the intrinsic growth rate. Thus, telling apart the colour of the noise from the colour of the population dynamics may not be possible. Population dynamics subjected to red and blue environmental noises show, respectively, more red or blue power spectra than those subjected to white noise. The sensitivity to differences in the noise colours decreases with increasing complexity and ultimately disappears in the chaotic range of the population dynamics. These findings are duplicated with the Maynard Smith model for high growth rates when the strength of density dependence changes. However, for low growth rates the power spectra of the population dynamics with noise are red in stable, periodic and aperiodic ranges irrespective of the noise colour. Since chaotic population fluctuations may show blue spectra in the deterministic case, this implies that blue deterministic chaos may become red under any colour of the noise.

Sub-shot-noise high-sensitivity spectroscopy with optical parametric oscillator twin beams.

Abstract: Nondegenerate optical parametric oscillators generate above-threshold signal and idler beams that have intensity fluctuations correlated at the quantum level (twin beams). We describe what is to our knowledge the first high-sensitivity spectroscopy experiment using twin beams emitted by a cw optical parametric oscillator: a very weak two-photon absorption signal, in the 10-7 range, is recorded on the 4S1/2–5S1/2 transition of atomic potassium with a noise background that is reduced by 1.9 dB with respect to the shot-noise limit of the light used in the experiment.

Geotail waveform observations of broadband/narrowband electrostatic noise in the distant tail

Abstract: Broadband electrostatic noise (BEN) and narrowband electrostatic noise (NEN) are common wave activities in the plasma sheet boundary and the tail lobe regions, respectively. Similar wave emissions can be observed in the magnetosheath region. We demonstrate the nature of these waves based on the waveform observations by the plasma wave instrument on board the Geotail spacecraft. The above observed waveforms are divided into two types of classifications. The BEN type emissions observed in the plasma sheet boundary and magnetosheath consist of a series of isolated bipolar pulses. They are termed after their waveforms as plasma sheet boundary layer electrostatic solitary waves (PSBL ESW) and magnetosheath electrostatic solitary waves (MS ESW). On the other hand, the waveforms of the NEN type emissions are quasi-monochromatic. They are termed as lobe electrostatic quasi-monochromatic waves (lobe EQMW) and magnetosheath electrostatic quasi-monochromatic waves (MS EQMW). The waveform observations with the high time resolution show that one of the common features of these waves is the burstiness. The burstiness means that their amplitudes or frequencies rapidly change of the order of a few milliseconds to a few hundreds of milliseconds. Further, we show that the PSBL ESW, lobe EQMW, MS ESW, and MS EQMW are parallel propagating waves relative to the ambient magnetic field. The similarities of the ESW and EQMW in the magnetosheath and magnetotail suggest the possibility that these waves are generated by the same generation mechanism.

Bioeffects induced by exposure to microwaves are mitigated by superposition of ELF noise.

Abstract: We have previously demonstrated that microwave fields, amplitude modulated (AM) by an extremely low-frequency (ELF) sine wave, can induce a nearly twofold enhancement in the activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) in L929 cells at SAR levels of the order of 2.5 W/kg. Similar, although less pronounced, effects were also observed from exposure to a typical digital cellular phone test signal of the same power level, burst modulated at 50 Hz. We have also shown that ODC enhancement in L929 cells produced by exposure to ELF fields can be inhibited by superposition of ELF noise. In the present study, we explore the possibility that similar inhibition techniques can be used to suppress the microwave response. We concurrently exposed L929 cells to 60 Hz AM microwave fields or a 50 Hz burst-modulated DAMPS (Digital Advanced Mobile Phone System) digital cellular phone field at levels known to produce ODC enhancement, together with band-limited 30–100 Hz ELF noise with root mean square amplitude of up to 10 μT. All exposures were carried out for 8 h, which was previously found to yield the peak microwave response. In both cases, the ODC enhancement was found to decrease exponentially as a function of the noise root mean square amplitude. With 60 Hz AM microwaves, complete inhibition was obtained with noise levels at or above 2 μT. With the DAMPS digital cellular phone signal, complete inhibition occurred with noise levels at or above 5 μT. These results suggest a possible practical means to inhibit biological effects from exposure to both ELF and microwave fields. Bioelectromagnetics 18:422–430, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

EMI detection in an implantable pacemaker and the like

Abstract: An implantable pacemaker receives electrical signals from a patient's heart through an electrode, the signals being either intrinsic cardiac signals or repetitive noise signals, due for instance to electromagnetic inference. The pacemaker includes circuitry for determining if the signals from the electrode are cardiac in origin or not by extracting certain signal characteristics from the signals. For example, the noise signals produced by EMI are repetitive, i.e., they have a fairly constant amplitude except for the initial peak. On the other hand cardiac signals have at most three peaks of decreasing amplitudes. These characteristics are used by the determined circuitry to differentiate between cardiac and noise signals. While this determination is taking place, the received signals are stored or delayed. Signals identified as cardiac signals are processed. The processed signals are compensated for the delay caused by the noise detection circuitry.

Noise-induced chaos-order transitions

Abstract: Numerical simulations of the Lorenzian water wheel have been used to investigate the influence of stochastic noise on the lifetimes of chaotic transients Whereas, in one region of parameter space no noise dependency could be detected, a shortening of the lifetimes of more than four decades was found in another region This large effect was produced by a significant modification of the attraction basin of a quasistable stationary state rather than by affecting the chaotic orbits before the chaos-order transitions occurred This novel phenomenon of noise-induced chaos-order transitions is not related to stochastic resonance or other noise-induced effects

Mode-partition noise in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

Abstract: We present a numerical study of the effects of carrier diffusion and spatial hole-burning on the noise characteristics of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSEL's) under both single-mode and multimode operations. In the case of single-mode operation, VCSEL noise characteristics are similar to those of edge-emitting lasers except for a diffusion-induced damping of relaxation oscillations. Under multimode operation, VCSEL's exhibit low-frequency noise enhancement due to mode partition. However, depending on the spatial distributions of the transverse modes excited, the mode-partition noise characteristics can be quite different.

Linear transduction of natural stimuli by dark-adapted and light-adapted rods of the salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum.

Abstract: 1. We examined signal, noise and response properties of salamander rod photoreceptors by measuring: (a) the circulating current of rods which were adapted to darkness and to a wide range of backgrounds; (b) contrasts of natural environments; (c) the effect of adaptation on the linear response range of rods; and (d) the behaviour of rods responding to dynamically modulated stimuli having a range of contrasts found in nature. 2. In the dark, the circulating current contained two noise components analogous to those described in toad. A discrete noise component consisted of events occurring at a rate of 1 event per 32 s (21 degrees C) and had a variance of 0.036 pA2. A continuous noise component contributed 0.022 pA2 to the dark current, roughly equal to the discrete noise variance. 3. Exposure to a wide range of steady backgrounds (suppressing up to 80% of the circulating current), elicited a sustained fluctuating photocurrent having a power spectrum which resembled those of single photon responses and was consistent with the linear summation of single photon events; this indicates that the primary source of noise in the current is caused by the light. 4. Eighty-nine per cent of the contrasts (C) measured in natural environments had magnitude of C < 50%, where C = magnitude of I - Imean/magnitude of Imean. The linear response range elicited by brief flashes expanded with brighter backgrounds, well-encompassing flash contrasts of 100%. 5. Dynamically modulated stimuli and incremental flashes having contrasts similar to those in natural scenes elicited small currents which deviated by a few picoamps about the mean and the transfer functions computed from each type of stimulus-response pair closely corresponded to one another. These results indicate that in natural environments, rods behave as linear small-signal transducers of light.

Coronal Radio Bursts: A Signature of Nanoflares?

Abstract: Coronal heating may be a result of frequent microscopic energy releases, which Parker has termed nanoflares. Since solar radio type I bursts, which are frequently observed at meter wavelengths, involve extremely small amount of energy, we have determined the frequency distribution of the peak flux density of these bursts. The study has been performed on 11 noise storm events observed by the Nancay Radioheliograph at 164, 237, and 327 MHz. At each frequency, and for the 11 noise storms, the peak flux density distribution of type I bursts can be well represented by a power law. The index α of the distribution, ~3, is nearly independent of the observing frequency and does not vary much from one noise storm to the other, i.e., from one active region to the other. This index is significantly steeper than that measured for various other flare phenomena (<2). There are noise storm theories and various spectral and imaging radio observations that suggest that type I bursts may be a nonthermal signature of energy release fragments. If this is the case, such a steep power-law distribution is consistent with the prediction of avalanche models developed for small energy release events reminiscent of nanoflares, as well as the idea that small energy release events may contribute to the heating of an active coronal region.