Critical Frequency Research Articles

Pattern of variation of TEC, hmF2 and foF2, and their correlation during the geomagnetic storm time conditions

This paper mainly examines the diurnal variation of the Total Electron Content (TEC) and critical frequency of the F2-layer (foF2) and their correlation with the height of the peak electron density (hmF2). This is carried out employing the observations (co-located Global Positioning System (GPS) and digisonde) and empirical models (International Reference Ionosphere, IRI, 2016 and IRI-extended to the Plasmasphere, IRI-Plas, 2017) in the low-to-high latitudes during relatively similar intense level geomagnetic storms that occurred during the high solar activity (February 19, 2014) and low solar activity (September 08, 2017). The GPS-derived TEC and digisonde-derived TEC, hmF2 and foF2 variabilities show large fluctuations on most of the stations when compared to the IRI 2016 and IRI-Plas 2017 variations. Moreover, the highest GPS-derived TEC values are observed when the hmF2 values reach in the ranges of about 270–309 km (low latitude), 203–266 km (mid latitude) and 259–311 km (high latitude) regions. The highest digisonde-derived TEC values are also depicted at the height ranges of about 256–451 km (low latitude), 250–326 km (mid latitude) and 309–388 km (high latitude) regions. In addition, the highest digisonde-derived foF2 values are observed when the hmF2 values reach about 253–384, 217–311 and 259–281 km in the low, mid and high latitudes, respectively. The model-derived TEC and foF2 variations also reveal that the highest values are generally observed at relatively similar height ranges with the observations. Moreover, the highest TEC and foF2 values are observed relatively at lower altitudes in the mid latitudes when compared to the low and high latitudes. The highest values also tend to move to the lower altitudes in shifting from the high to the low solar activity during similar intense level geomagnetic storms.

Experimental observation of parabolic wakes in thin plates

Wakes are medium perturbations created by a moving object, such as wave patterns behind boats, or wingtip vortices following an aircraft. Here, we report about an experimental study of an uncharted form of parabolic wakes occurring in media with the group velocity twice larger than the phase velocity, as opposed to the conventional case of Kelvin wakes. They are formed by moving a laser spot on a thin plate, which excites a unique wake pattern made of confocal parabolas, due to the quadratic dispersion of the zero-order flexural Lamb mode. If the spatial dimensions are rescaled by the perturbation velocity and material constant, we obtain a single universal wake with constant parabolic focal lengths. We demonstrate an evanescent regime above the critical frequency where the wave components oscillate exclusively in the direction parallel to the perturbation path, with an opening angle of 90∘. We define a dimensionless number, analogous to Froude and Mach numbers, which determines whether or not the complete parabolic wake pattern will be excited by the moving source. Finally, we generalize the physics of wake shapes to arbitrary dispersion relations. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Critical and Parasitic Parameters Identification and Frequency Regulation Strategies for UWPT Systems

Critical and Parasitic Parameters Identification and Frequency Regulation Strategies for UWPT Systems

Artificial excitation and propagation of ultra-low frequency signals in the polar ionosphere

This paper has established a relatively comprehensive model for ultra-low frequency (ULF) current induced by thermal pressure gradients and its propagation. In the ULF current excitation model, we decomposed the current into a constant term unaffected by altitude and a product with a function significantly influenced by altitude. Combining this with the EISCAT background, we determined that for modulation frequencies below 5 Hz, the optimal height for ULF current excitation corresponds to the critical frequency height. We calculated the ionospheric currents at heating altitudes of 332 km for modulation frequencies of 5 Hz; the corresponding maximum currents were 1.03 × 10−10 A·m−2. By incorporating the current into the ULF waves propagation model based on magnetoionic theory, we found that the electromagnetic field energy is mainly concentrated in the horizontal direction, indicating that the energy primarily propagates outward through magnetosonic waves. The dominant components are the electric field component Ey and the magnetic field component Bz, whose maximum values reached 1.1 μV·m−1 and 1.5 pT. Unfortunately, magnetosonic waves cannot propagate downward due to the sharp variation in the real part of the refractive index between 200 and 300 km. However, the shear Alfvén waves component By can propagate downward, and there is still an intensity of approximately 0.1 pT at the bottom of the ionosphere, which is because the refractive index of shear Alfvén waves is most uniform in the parallel magnetic field direction, allowing By to propagate parallel to the magnetic field effectively.

Characterization and High‐Frequency Applications of Barium Antimonide Thin Films for Voltage‐Controlled Negative Capacitance and 6G Technology

Herein, films of barium antimonides (BaSb) are fabricated by a thermal deposition technique under a vacuum pressure of 10−5 mbar. BaSb films exhibit orthorhombic lattice. Over a wide range of scans, the films are mostly stoichiometric, displaying atomic contents of 50.17 and 49.83 at% for Ba and Sb, respectively. Morphological analyses of these films show the growth of large grains with sizes ranging from 1.64 to 4.14 μm. Dynamic electrical measurements on Ag/BaSb/Ag films are conducted in the frequency domain of 0.01–1.80 GHz. The films display features of voltage‐controlled negative capacitance source (VCNC) and resonance–antiresonance peaks at a critical frequency of 1.64 GHz. Lorentz models spectral analyses on these peaks indicate that they correspond to a high‐frequency capacitance value of 2.8 nF, a density of oscillators of 4 × 1010 cm−3, and a scattering time constant of τ = 100 ns. Additionally, Ag/BaSb/Ag films show a wide variety in the cutoff frequency spectra, making them suitable for high‐frequency applications. The cutoff frequency varies from 2.6 GHz to 1.0 THz as driving frequency increases from 1.0 to 1.64 GHz. The features of VCNC sources, resonance–antiresonance behavior, and high cutoff frequency make BaSb thin films promising for thin‐film transistors and 6 G technology applications.

A machine learning approach for estimating the drift velocities of equatorial plasma bubbles based on All-Sky Imager and GNSS observations

Equatorial Plasma Bubbles (EPBs) are zones characterized by fluctuations in plasma densities which form in the low-latitude ionosphere primarily during the post-sunset. They subject radio signals to amplitude and phase variabilities, affecting the functioning of technological systems that utilize the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) signals for navigation. Thus, understanding EPB occurrence patterns and morphological features is vital for mitigating their effects. In this work, we employed two GNSS receivers and an All-Sky Imager (ASI) to conduct simultaneous observations on the morphology of EPBs over Brazil. The main objectives of the study were (1) to develop a Random Forest (RF) machine-learning model to estimate and predict the zonal drift velocities of EPBs, and (2) to compare the model predictions with actual EPB drifts inferred from the two instruments, as well as zonal neutral wind speeds obtained from the Horizontal Wind Model (HWM-14). In the model development, we utilized reliable EPB drift measurements made during geomagnetically quiet days between 2013 and 2017 in Brazil. The model predicted the velocities based on parameters including the day of the year, universal time, critical frequency of the F2 layer (foF2), solar and interplanetary indices. The correlation coefficients of 0.98 and 0.96 and RMSE values of 10.61 m/s and 10.06 m/s were obtained upon training and validation correspondingly. We evaluated the accuracy of the model in predicting EPB drifts on two geomagnetically quiet nights where an average correlation coefficient of 0.89 and an RMSE of 15.74 m/s were obtained. The predicted drifts, the zonal neutral wind velocities, and the GNSS and ASI velocity measurements were put into context for validation purposes. Overall, the velocities were comparable and ranged between ∼100 m/s and ∼30 m/s from the hours of 00 UT to 05 UT. The results confirmed the accuracy and applicability of the model, revealing the ionosphere-thermosphere coupling influence on the nocturnal propagation of EPBs under the full activation of the F region dynamo.

Simulation on Critical Frequency of Polymer in Electrostrictive Properties

AbstractThe critical frequency and the relaxation time are analyzed through deformation and displacement during electrostriction which is induced by the electrical field at different frequencies. First, when the frequency is 50 Hz and the field strength is 2.5 kV mm−1, the electrostrictive displacement of polyethylene is 6.72 × 10−4 mm. After the data fitting, it is found that the displacement increases linearly with the square of field strength and that the proportional coefficient of 50 Hz is 1.08 × 10−4. Second, due to the influence of relaxation polarization and power loss, with the increase of frequency, the displacement and the proportional coefficient first increases then decreases, and when the frequency is 10 kHz, the displacement of 2.20 × 10−6 mm and the proportional coefficient of 3.51 × 10−7 have minimum values, which are 99.67% and 99.68% lower than that of 50 Hz, respectively. There is the critical frequency. Finally, based on the characteristic of anomalous dispersion, the relaxation time of polyethylene is 9.19 × 10−6s, which is in the time range of thermionic relaxation polarization and consistent with the actual situation. This analysis confirms the quantitative relationship between electrostrictive characteristics, field strength, and polarization. In addition, the relationship between frequency and strain is discussed, and the critical frequency in polymer and the relaxation time are confirmed.

Modeling and solution of eigenvalue problems of laminated cylindrical shells consisting of nanocomposite plies in thermal environments

This work is dedicated to the modeling and solution of eigenvalue problems within shear deformation theory (SDT) of laminated cylindrical shells containing nanocomposite plies subjected to axial compressive load in thermal environments. In this study, the shear deformation theory for homogeneous laminated shells is extended to laminated shells consisting of functionally graded (FG) nanocomposite layers. The nanocomposite plies of laminated cylindrical shells (LCSs) are arranged in a piecewise FG distribution along the thickness direction. Temperature-dependent material properties of FG-nanocomposite plies are estimated through a micromechanical model, and CNT efficiency parameters are calibrated based on polymer material properties obtained from molecular dynamics simulations. After mathematical modeling, second-order time-dependent and fourth-order coordinate-dependent partial differential equations are derived within SDT, and a closed-form solution for the dimensionless frequency parameter and critical axial load is obtained for first time. After the accuracy of the applied methodology is confirmed by numerical comparisons, the unique influences of ply models, the number and sequence of plies and the temperature on the critical axial load and vibration frequency parameter within SDT and Kirchhoff–Love theory (KLT) are presented with numerical examples.

Discussing the limitations of unconditional stability indicators in evaluating thermoacoustic quality of burners with flames

Assessing the thermoacoustic performance of designed combustors, with a focus on the stability quality factor, is crucial. Thermoacoustic instability in combustion appliances arises from intricate interactions among unsteady combustion, heat transfer, and (maybe) acoustic modes within the system. Accurate prediction of system stability requires modeling all components, including the burner with flame. Traditionally, the burner in the presence of combustion is represented as an acoustically (active) two-port block with passive upstream and downstream acoustic terminations. The dispersion relation of the thermoacoustic system is commonly used for anticipating eigen-frequencies and assessing stability. However, practical scenarios often lack specific information about upstream and downstream terminations during development. This raises a critical question: How can the thermoacoustic performance of burners and their associated flames be evaluated without specified acoustics? This article addresses this question by exploring the concept of unconditional stability in a generic two-port thermoacoustic system. The unconditional stability criteria have been used as quality indicators in designing electrical devices. This rich toolbox has been introduced in thermoacoustics. We first scrutinize assumptions underlying two most known unconditional stability-based criteria called [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] factors, connecting them to the general thermoacoustic problems. Then, the application of these criteria in assessing the thermoacoustic quality of burners with flames are discussed. This investigation revealed that while they are able to accurately predict the histogram of unstable frequencies and critical frequency bands, their use as reliable indicators to assess thermoacoustic quality in burners are not recommended due to their mathematical limitations and high level of conservatism of these factors.

Assessment and Analysis of Reverberation Time in Hyder-Burks Arena at Tennessee Technological University

This study addresses the issue of long reverberation times in large-scale arenas, specifically the HyderBurks Arena (HBA) at Tennessee Technological University. HBA primarily hosts cattle shows and agricultural events. The current multi-speaker sound system in the facility ensures audibility, but the long reverberation time accumulates noise that impairs communication and causes dissatisfaction. The objectives of this work conducted as a student project in an undergraduate noise control class include measuring the reverberation time, analyzing the data, researching noise reduction methods, and proposing feasible plans that consider cost, achievability, and ease of implementation. The current reverberation time measured in the arena is approximately 2.313 seconds, posing challenges for speechapplications. The aim was to reduce this to a range of 1.32 to 1.02 seconds. The study employed a Larson Davis Sound Advisor 831C sound level meter to measure the reverberation time at various points in the arena. Despite low-frequency analysis challenges, critical frequencies affecting speech intelligibility were identified. The study also highlights potential issues with the arena’s sound system and the need for a synchronized, centralized speaker system. The assessment revealed that areas near the concrete walls without sound absorption have the maximum T60, indicating the need for treatment. Recommendations include ceiling treatment to reduce the reverberation time and enhance speech intelligibility. The proposed plan, considering cost-effectiveness and financial feasibility, aims to improve the atmosphere and experience for HBA users.

Perturbative versus non-perturbative renormalization

Approximated functional renormalization group (FRG) equations lead to regulator-dependent β-functions, in analogy to the scheme-dependence of the perturbative renormalization group (pRG) approach. A scheme transformation redefines the couplings to relate the β-functions of the FRG method with an arbitrary regulator function to the pRG ones obtained in a given scheme. Here, we consider a periodic sine-Gordon scalar field theory in d = 2 dimensions and show that the relation of the FRG and pRG approaches is intricate. Although both the FRG and the pRG methods are known to be sufficient to obtain the critical frequency βc2=8π of the model independently of the choice of the regulator and the renormalization scheme, we show that one has to go beyond the standard pRG method (e.g. using an auxiliary mass term) or the Coulomb-gas representation in order to obtain the β-function of the wave function renormalization. This aspect makes the scheme transformation non-trivial. Comparing flow equations of the two-dimensional sine-Gordon theory without any scheme-transformation, i.e. redefinition of couplings, we find that the auxiliary mass pRG β-functions of the minimal subtraction scheme can be recovered within the FRG approach with the choice of the power-law regulator with b = 2, which therefore constitutes a preferred choice for the comparison of FRG and pRG flows.

An Arduino-Powered Device for the Study of White Perception beyond the Visual Chromatic Critical Flicker Fusion Frequency.

Arduino microcontrollers are used for a wide range of technological and biomedical applications, such as image classification, computer vision, brain-computer interaction and vision experiments. Here, we present a new cost-effective mini-device based on RGB LED flicker stimulation for the assessment of the chromatic temporal resolution of the visual function based on the concept of critical flicker fusion frequency (CFF). The assembly of the device and its testing in thirty young subjects demonstrate the steady white visual perception of a trichromatic flicker stimulus (mixture of red, green and blue stimuli) beyond the CFF. Macular function as measured by photo-stress recovery time (PRT) was found to be independent of the CFF measurements for red, green and blue lights. However, a statistical correlation was found between the contrast modulation for CFF for red and green stimuli and PRT. Finally, wavefront measurements demonstrate that high-order aberrations improve the temporal resolution of the visual function.

Instability and transition control by steady local blowing/suction in a hypersonic boundary layer

The efficacy of steady large-amplitude blowing/suction on instability and transition control for a hypersonic flat plate boundary layer with Mach number 5.86 is investigated systematically. The influence of the blowing/suction flux and amplitude on instability is examined through direct numerical simulation and resolvent analysis. When a relatively small flux is used, the two-dimensional instability critical frequency that distinguishes the promotion/suppression mode effect closely aligns with the synchronisation frequency. For the oblique wave, as the spanwise wavenumber increases, the suppression effects would become weaker and the mode suppression bandwidth diminishes/increases in general in the blowing/suction control. Increasing the blowing/suction flux can effectively broaden the frequency bandwidth of disturbance suppression. The influence of amplitude on disturbance suppression is weak in a scenario of constant flux. To gain a deeper insight into disturbance suppression mechanism, momentum potential theory (MPT) and kinetic energy budget analysis are further employed in analysing disturbance evolution with and without control. When the disturbance is suppressed, the blowing induces the transport of certain acoustic components along the compression wave out of the boundary layer, whereas the suction does not. The velocity fluctuations are derived from the momentum fluctuations of the MPT. Compared with the momentum fluctuations, the evolutions indicated by each component's velocity fluctuations greatly facilitate the investigations of the acoustic nature of the second mode. The rapid variation of disturbance amplitude near the blowing is caused by the oscillations of the acoustic component and phase speed differences between vortical and thermal components. Kinetic energy budget analysis is performed to address the non-parallel effect of the boundary layer introduced by blowing/suction, which tends to suppress disturbances near the blowing. Moreover, viscous effects leading to energy dissipation are identified to be stronger in regions where the boundary layer is rapidly thickening. Finally, it is demonstrated that a flat plate boundary layer transition triggered by a random disturbance can be delayed by a blowing/suction combination control. The resolvent analysis further demonstrates that disturbances with frequencies that dominate the early transition stage are dampened in the controlled base flow.

Ionospheric Perturbations after Stromboli Volcano Eruptions

Based on data from ground-based vertical sounding of the ionosphere, we analyze disturbances in the region of the maximum of the ionospheric F2-layer during the period of a strong eruption of the Stromboli volcano (Italy) in the form of two explosions in July and August 2019, as well as after the resumption of volcanic activity on October 9, 2022. As characteristics of the ionospheric response to these events, we research variations in the critical frequency of the F2-layer at the Giebilmann, Rome, and San Vito stations located near (no further than 450 km) the volcano. The measurement results indicate the influence on the ionosphere of atmospheric acoustic-gravity waves generated by volcanic activity and causing the appearance of long-lived disturbances in the ionosphere.

Multiple bound states for a class of fractional critical Schrödinger–Poisson systems with critical frequency

In this paper we study the fractional Schrödinger–Poisson system ε2s(−Δ)su+V(x)u=ϕ|u|2s*−3u+|u|2s*−2u,ε2s(−Δ)sϕ=|u|2s*−1,x∈R3, where s ∈ (0, 1), ɛ > 0 is a small parameter, 2s*=63−2s is the critical Sobolev exponent and V∈L32s(R3) is a nonnegative function which may be zero in some regions of R3, e.g., it is of the critical frequency case. By virtue of a new global compactness lemma, and the Lusternik–Schnirelmann category theory, we relate the number of bound state solutions with the topology of the zero set where V attains its minimum for small values of ɛ.

The effect of mixing EUV proxies on the correlation with foF2 and on long-term trends estimations

Solar proxies are a valuable tool used in most atmospheric models to simulate or predict the state and variation of the different layers linked to the solar source. In this work, we analyze the performance, through correlation analysis, of six solar EUV proxies, and different combination of them, to reproduce annual ionospheric F2 critical frequency (foF2) from ten different stations. We find that certain combinations of traditional proxies outperform the capacity to reproduce interannual ionospheric foF2 variability, resulting in better statistical correlation and time stability, these new proxies could be a valuable tool to predict the state of the atmosphere and for interpolation in case of missing data. Different combinations of proxies such as F30, MgII, Sn or Lya, creates better indicators than using them alone. These new EUV proxies are also used to estimate long-term trends along the ten stations. As we increase the correlation, the estimated trend decrease as expected by definition. However, a key point is that the average trends, after filtering solar activity, result negative as was predicted by the increase of the greenhouse gases.

An efficient controller-based architecture for AES algorithm using FPGA

An efficient controller-based architecture for AES algorithm using FPGA

Closing Eyes with Artificial Tears: A Simple and Effective Strategy to Combat Screen-Related Asthenopia and Dry Eye Symptoms

BackgroundThe widespread use of various video display terminals (VDTs) always had a detrimental impact on ocular health. Prolonged use of smartphones has been one of the leading causes of dry eye (DE) and asthenopia. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to find a simple and effective strategy to combat screen-related DE and asthenopia. MethodsA group of healthy participants aged 18 and above were randomly assigned to three groups and tasked with a 2-hour smartphone reading task. After 1 hour of usage, each group adopted different methods of rest: no rest (Group A), a 10-minute eye-closed rest (Group B), or a 10-minute eye-closed joint artificial tears rest (Group C). Ophthalmological examinations and questionnaires were administered to all participants before and after the 2-hour reading task. Results90 qualified volunteers, including 29 males and 61 females, were randomly assigned to three groups. Group A demonstrated a significant increase in the severity of DE and asthenopia as evidenced by all the evaluated indices. On the other hand, Group C did not exhibit any notable change in DE and asthenopia symptoms, with an improvement in corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) results (p > 0.05) when compared to the pre-reading values. Group B showed a significant increase in ocular surface disease index (OSDI) (p ≤ 0.05) and a decrease in critical flicker frequency (CFF) (p ≤ 0.05). ConclusionsClose-eye rest with artificial tears may be a convenient and effective prevention strategy for screen-related DE and asthenopia.

Low-frequency non-reciprocal sound propagation features in thermoacoustic waveguide.

Thermoacoustic waveguides are systems of hollow tubes and thermally graded porous segments that can operate as active materials where acoustic waves receive energy from an external heat source. This work demonstrates that by adjusting the pore geometry several unique low-frequency propagation features arise from the complex-valued band structure of periodic thermoacoustic waveguides that reflect into the acoustic pressure field within finite-length systems. Numerical methods have been employed to model waveguides with porous segments constituted by cylindrical inclusions (parallel pins). In periodic structures, a critical frequency emerges where the sign of the refractive index in one direction of propagation changes, thus zero- and negative-unidirectional refractive index, unidirectional energy transport, and amplification/attenuation crossover effects may take place. On the other hand, the study of the acoustic pressure field shows that, for wave packets with either direction of propagation, finite-length waveguides may behave as active acoustic metamaterials with zero- or negative-refractive index. The acoustic pressure field in the waveguide, generated by an upstream source, may exhibit increasing amplitude and phase recovery farther away from the source, mimicking the field created by a downstream source, propagating upstream in a non-active medium.

Prospects for the Detection of the Sgr A* Photon Ring with Next-generation Event Horizon Telescope Polarimetry

The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) has imaged two supermassive black holes, Messier 87* (M87*) and Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), using very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI). The theoretical analyses of each source suggest magnetically arrested disk (MAD) accretion viewed at modest inclination. These MADs exhibit rotationally symmetric polarization of synchrotron emission caused by symmetries of their ordered magnetic fields. We leverage these symmetries to study the detectability of the black hole photon ring, which imposes known antisymmetries in polarization. In this Letter, we propose a novel observational strategy based on coherent baseline averaging of polarization ratios On a rotating basis to detect the photon ring with 345 GHz VLBI from the Earth’s surface. Using synthetic observations from a likely future EHT, we find a reversal in polarimetric phases on long baselines that reveals the presence of the Sgr A* photon ring in a MAD system at 345 GHz, a critical frequency for lengthening baselines and overcoming interstellar scattering. We use our synthetic data and analysis pipeline to estimate requirements for the EHT using a new metric: SNRPR, the signal-to-noise ratio of this polarimetric reversal signal. We identify long, coherent integrations using frequency phase transfer as a critical enabling technique for the detection of the photon ring and predict a SNRPR ∼ 2−3 detection using proposed next-generation Event Horizon Telescope parameters and currently favored models for the Sgr A* accretion flow. We find that higher sensitivity, rather than denser Fourier sampling, is the most critical requirement for polarimetric detection of the photon ring.