Grazing Angles Research Articles

Design and Implementation of a Shipborne Echo Sounder Simulator Based on a Seabed Echo Scattering and Noise Model

The Manila Amendment 2010 to the STCW International Convention has made clear requirements for seafarers to use the navigation simulation system for training. A shipborne echo sounder is an important navigation aid equipment necessary for a ship’s bridge. Proper use of this equipment can effectively prevent ship grounding accidents. Given the lack of research on simulating different seabed substrate echoes within echo sounder simulations, this paper proposes an algorithm for generating echoes and clutter from various seabed substrates, based on the Jackson model and noise model. Using the seabed echo generation algorithm, the bathymetric data and seabed echo under the influence of ship rolling are generated, the seabed echo simulation of the sounder under the influence of four different grazing angles and six different substrates is realized. Clutter images, including random noise, bubble interference, co-frequency interference, and fish school interference, are also simulated. A typical ship echo sounder simulator is designed and developed. The echo sounder simulator developed in this paper has high realism in seabed echoes and clutter simulation, complete functions, and friendly human–computer interaction. The system has been used by college students and crews, with satisfactory results, which can effectively meet the needs of actual training of seafarers.

Sea clutter prediction based on fusion of Fourier transform and graph neural network

ABSTRACT Radar is a crucial tool for remote sensing and monitoring of marine environments. However, its effectiveness is significantly influenced by sea clutter. The complex interplay between radar parameters and various maritime environmental factors gives rise to a dynamic and intricate sea clutter pattern. The conventional approach to sea clutter prediction only considers the temporal dependence, neglecting the spatial changes. To address this limitation, this study proposes the Fusion of Fourier Transform and Graph Neural Network (FFTaGNN) to enhance the accuracy of multi-dimensional sea clutter data forecasting. FFTaGNN captures the correlations and time dependencies among sequences in the spectral domain. By combining the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) and graph Fourier transform (GFT), it extracts the temporal correlation characteristics and establishes correlations between multidimensional sea clutter data sequences. Importantly, FFTaGNN can automatically discover data correlations between sequences without relying on predetermined priors. To validate the effectiveness of the model, an experimental verification process is conducted, considering different grazing angles and sea clutter High Range Resolution Profile (HRRP) data. The results of the experiment demonstrate that the proposed strategy achieves a minimum Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.0574 in predicting sea clutter HRRP data. This technique holds great potential in effectively suppressing sea clutter, thereby enhancing the overall performance of radar systems in marine environments and small target detection capabilities at the sea surface.

Методы монохроматизации синхротронного излучения (обзор исследований)

The paper presents an analysis of studies related to the monochromatization of X-ray radiation (XR) at synchrotron radiation sources. A review of monochromators based on of X-ray diffraction on crystals is given, and the peculiarities of their technical realization are considered. The ideas about monochromators which include multilayer structures are examined. The authors also study technical problems arising during designing devices and its possible solutions. Introduction. The possibilities of using X-rays in scientific research are described. The high efficiency of synchrotron radiation sources is noted, and its characterization is given. Elementary information about diffraction of X-rays. The paper describes the properties of X-ray radiation and the possibilities of its using while studying various materials. Degree of monochromaticity. The degree of monochromaticity is an important characteristic of the synchrotron radiation (SR). Depending on the width of the wavelength band, “white”, “pink” and monochromatic beams are distinguished. Monochromators based on multilayer structures are used to obtain “pink” beams. Monochromatic radiation is formed using monocrystals. When conducting experiments with “white” beams, the monochromator is not used. The authors also describe the factors that violate the ideal fulfillment of the Wolf-Bragg condition and affect the degree of monochromaticity (heat, vibration). The reflectivity values at different beam grazing angles are noted to have different widths. Monochromators based on multilayer structures. Periodic structures combining thin layers of two heterogeneous materials make it possible to obtain “pink” beams. The wavelength bandwidth of such devices is one or two orders of magnitude greater than that of monochromators using crystals as optical elements. Configurations and geometry of optical elements. There are two types of X-ray diffraction on a crystal: Bragg and Laue diffraction. Bragg diffraction refers to reflective geometry, Laue diffraction is based on the passage of beams through the crystal. The section provides examples of monochromators with different configurations of crystals and X-ray mirrors. The arrangement of optical elements in a monochromator plays an important role in the geometry of the beam path. When designing monochromators, it is necessary to take into account the methods of fixation and orientation of the rotation axes of optical elements. Examples of monochromators with different configurations of crystals and X-ray mirrors are given. Focusing monochromators. It is possible to provide sagittal and meridional types of deformation by bending the optical element of the monochromator. Due to the curved crystal surface the beam is not only monochromatized but also subjected to focusing. Modern focusing monochromators are equipped with adaptivity elements allowing it to change the radius of curvature of the optical element. Examples of practical realization of such monochromators are presented. Thermal load of SR on optical elements. The SR is characterized by high brightness and a wide spectrum of emitted wavelengths. While operating optical elements of SR stations absorb a large amount of thermal power. The problems of heat dissipation have a fundamental influence on the quality of synchrotron radiation monochromatization. Additional information about monochromators. Examples of special design solutions for monochromators are given. Conclusion. The design of monochromators is relevant to the synchrotron radiation source 4+ “SKIF” under construction in Novosibirsk.

Applicability of energy-theta mapping in resonant soft X-ray reflectometry to probe depth dependence of oxidation state and crystallographic environment in iron oxide multilayers

In the present paper we discuss applicability of the synchrotron method of resonant x-ray reflectometry to non-destructive depth profiling of multilayer heterostructures with low optical contrast between the sublayers. The two-dimensional mapping approach comprising evaluation and measurement of reflectance as a function of photon energy and grazing angle is shown to provide a convenient way to effectively utilize the enhancement of optical contrast between the sublayers that exists at the absorption edges of chemical elements due to particular spectral shape peculiarities related to oxidation state, crystallographic environment and magnetization. In the present study the evaluation of the resonant X-ray reflectivity maps is performed using a specially developed modeling and fitting software. Estimation of the photon energy / grazing angle combinations at which the reflectance is most sensitive to the minor changes in the physical properties of the sublayers is illustrated by the example of ferroic-on-semiconductor nanoscale heterostructures composed of nanoscale film of metallic iron oxidized from either top or bottom side. The subtle differences in resonant soft x-ray reflectance caused by variation of the oxide film thickness, oxidation state and crystallographic environment are discussed. The presented approach is applicable to a large class of heterostructures composed of sublayers that can be distinguished only by the differences in their near edge X-ray absorption fine structure.

Plane-wave and cylindrical-wave acoustic reflection from a marine sediment with layering representative of the New England Mud Patch.

An analysis is presented of reflection from a marine sediment consisting of a homogeneous mud layer overlying a sand-mud basement, the latter with an upward-refracting, inverse-square sound speed profile. Such layering is representative of the sediment at the New England Mud Patch (NEMP). By applying appropriate integral transforms and their inverses to the Helmholtz equations for the ocean and the two sediment layers, along with the boundary conditions, a Sommerfeld-Weyl type of wavenumber integral is obtained for the cylindrical-wave reflection coefficient of the sediment, R. A stationary phase evaluation of this integral yields a closed-form expression for the plane-wave reflection coefficient, R0. In the absence of attenuation, the plane-wave solution exhibits total reflection up to a critical grazing angle, ac, but when attenuation in the sediment is introduced, the region of total reflection in |R0| is replaced by a sequence of contiguous peaks. With realistic levels of sediment attenuation, the cylindrical-wave solution, |R|, exhibits a quasi-critical grazing angle, less than ac, which is strongly dependent on the source-plus-receiver height above the seabed, which is mildly dependent on the depth of the mud layer but is essentially independent of frequency. Such behavior is consistent with independent experimental observations at the NEMP.

Small grazing angle reflection and the sound siphon effect over a low velocity layer of sediments.

The low-order normal modes with small grazing angles (SGA) often control long-range sound field characteristics in shallow water. The SGA reflection loss from a half-space low-velocity bottom (LVB) is independent of the sound attenuation, except around the angle of complete transmission; the SGA bottom reflection loss (BRL) from a seafloor with a top low-velocity layer is very insensitive to the LVB attenuation also, except around a few selected frequencies. Thus, the "seafloor velocity-attenuation coupling" problem will be more fatal for LVB geo-acoustic inversions. The dispersion equation of the normal modes in the LVB layer is coincidentally the same as the singularity expression of the SGA reflection coefficient in the water column, resulting in a sound siphon effect that causes the abnormally high SGA BRL and transmission loss in the water at the siphon frequencies. The siphon effect is very sensitive to seafloor acoustic parameters, might offer a physical base for geo-acoustic inversion, and show a dim light in a "gray area" for inverting the LVB sound attenuation at low to mid frequencies. As an example, the acoustic siphon effect and related seafloor geophysical parameters forming it in the Yellow Sea are reported in this paper.

Segmented propagation model for the paths and travel times of surface duct leaky signals.

In the deep ocean environment with a surface duct, sound propagating within the duct leaks into the geometric shadow zone below it. However, the propagation paths and time of these leaky parts have not been fully characterized. This paper investigates the mechanism of surface duct leaky (SDL) signals based on normal mode theory. It reveals that SDL signals are caused by specific modes with grazing angles close to zero at the bottom of the surface duct. Combining the theory of diffracted sound rays, the study proposes a Segmented Propagation model (SPM) for SDL signals. The propagation paths of SDL signals are divided into three segments: S1, which extends from the source to the surface duct; S2, the segment propagating within the surface duct; and S3, the segment leading from the surface duct to the receiver. The proposed SPM describes the propagation mechanism of SDL signals and allows for precise calculation of their propagation time. Experimental data from the western Pacific are used to verify the SPM.

Reconstruction of rough surfaces from a single receiver at grazing angle

AbstractThis article develops a method for recovering a one‐dimensional rough surface profile from scattered wave field, using a single receiver and repeated measurements when the surface is moving with respect to source and receiver. This extends a previously introduced marching method utilizing low grazing angles, and addresses the key issue of the requirement for many simultaneous receivers. The algorithm recovers the surface height below the receiver point step‐by‐step as the surface is moved, using the parabolic wave integral equations. Numerical examples of reconstructed surfaces demonstrate that the method is robust in both Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions, and with respect to different roughness characteristics and measurement noise.

Analysis of the Structure of Heavy Ion Irradiated LaFeO3 Using Grazing Angle X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy.

Crystalline ceramics are candidate materials for the immobilization of radionuclides, particularly transuranics (such as U, Pu, and Am), arising from the nuclear fuel cycle. Due to the α-decay of transuranics and the associated recoil of the parent nucleus, crystalline materials may eventually be rendered amorphous through changes to the crystal lattice caused by these recoil events. Previous work has shown irradiation of titanate-based ceramics to change the local cation environment significantly, particularly in the case of Ti which was shown to change from 6- to 5-fold coordination. Here, this work expands the Ti-based study to investigate the behavior in Fe-based materials, using LaFeO3 as an example material. Irradiation was simulated by heavy ion implantation of the bulk LaFeO3 ceramic, with the resulting amorphous layer characterized with grazing angle X-ray absorption spectroscopy (GA-XAS). Insights into the Fe speciation changes exhibited by the amorphized surface layer were provided through quantitative analysis, including pre-edge analysis, and modeling of the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), of the GA-XAS data.

Method for stabilizing the detection efficiency of grazing angle incidence boron-lined neutron detectors

Boron-lined gaseous neutron detectors intrinsically suffer from the “self-absorption” effect and hence their neutron detection efficiencies might be nonconstant, when the threshold of them undergoes unexpected variation. To address this problem, we propose a maximum likelihood estimation-based threshold determining method, via which the pulse height spectra acquired under different high voltages could be rescaled to the same abscissa axis of deposited energies. Monte Carlo simulations were conducted to study the relationship between the precision of the threshold determination and the counting statistics, as well as the energy deposition spectrum, indicating that the grazing angle incidence neutron detector can achieve a fairly small relative standard variation for a spectrum with a modest total neutron counts. A prototype grazing angle incidence neutron detector has been constructed and tested under high voltages ranging from 500 V to 950 V. The experimental results show that, with the maximum likelihood estimation-based method, the threshold's relative standard deviations are less than 10% even with a total neutron counts as low as 100. As a result, the maximum relative variance of the counting plateau curve is 4.8% in the region of [500 V, 900 V] when the detector operates at a grazing angle of 1.8°. The results presented in this study indicate that combining the grazing angle incidence and the maximum likelihood estimation-based threshold determining method would be a promising way to achieve stable neutron detection efficiency for neutron detectors with the boron layer as the neutron convertor.

Fast Ray-Tracing-Based Precise Localization for Internet of Underwater Things without Prior Acknowledgment of Target Depth

Underwater localization is one of the key techniques for positioning, navigation, timing (PNT) services that could be widely applied in disaster warning, underwater rescues and resource exploration. One of the reasons why it is difficult to achieve accurate positioning for underwater targets is due to the influence of uneven distribution of underwater sound velocity. The current sound-line correction positioning method mainly aims at scenarios with known target depth. However, for nodes that are non-cooperative nodes or lack depth information, sound-line tracking strategies cannot work well due to non-unique positional solutions. To solve this problem, we propose an iterative ray tracing 3D underwater localization (IRTUL) method for stratification compensation. To demonstrate the feasibility of fast stratification compensation, we first derive the signal path as a function of initial |grazing angle, and then prove that the signal propagation time and horizontal propagation distance are monotonic functions of the initial grazing angle, which guarantees the fast achievement of ray tracing. Simulation results indicate that IRTUL has the most significant correction effect in the depth direction, and the average accuracy has been improved by about 3 m compared to a localization model with constant sound velocity.

Angular dependence of acoustic scattering statistics for rocky outcrops

The use of automated detection algorithms in undersea remote sensing and target detection allows for decreased timelines and risk to human assets. However, understanding the performance of these systems requires a thorough understanding of the physical processes that affect the acoustic scattering statistics of the sonar image. Many studies have reported on the scattering statistics of the seafloor generally, and recent work has quantified the dependence of scintillation index on range for sandy seafloors. To date, no studies have examined the angular dependence of acoustic scattering statistics for rocky bottoms, which have more complex spatial texture. This paper analyzes synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) images of rocky outcrops imaged near Bergen Norway to quantify the grazing angle dependency of scattering statistics for rocky seafloors. Outcrops are categorized by texture and analyzed using scintillation index and relative scattering strength with respect to both true grazing angle and a flat seafloor assumption. Comparisons between results utilizing calibrated (beampattern removed) and non-calibrated images will be presented to display the complexity of the grazing angle dependence of scattering statistics for rocky seafloors. SAS imagery provided by the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment. [Funding provided by the Office of Naval Research]

Visible proton Bragg curve imaging by colour centre photoluminescence in radiation detectors based on lithium fluoride films on silica

Passive solid-state radiation detectors, based on the visible photoluminescence (PL) of radiation-induced colour centres in optically transparent lithium fluoride (LiF), polycrystalline thin films are under investigation for proton beam advanced diagnostics. After proton exposure, the latent images stored in LiF as local formations of stable F2 and F3 + aggregate defects, are directly read with a fluorescence microscope under illumination in the blue spectral range. Adopting a suitable irradiation geometry, the energy density that protons deposit in the material can be recorded as a spatial distribution of these light-emitting defects, from which a luminous replica of the proton Bragg curve can be thereafter extracted and analysed to reconstruct the proton beam energy spectrum. Their peculiar properties, such as wide dynamic range and linearity of the spectrally-integrated PL response vs. dose, make the investigation of two-dimensional LiF film radiation detectors grown on several types of substrate highly attractive. Here, the case of a LiF thin film thermally evaporated on a silica substrate, irradiated at grazing incidence with a 35 MeV proton beam, is investigated and reported for the first time. A comparison of the measured photoluminescent Bragg curve with Monte Carlo simulations demonstrates that the Bragg peak in the film is located at the very same position that would be expected in the underlying silica substrate rather than in LiF. The film packing density is shown not to have a significant effect on the peak depth, while even small nonzero grazing angle of the impinging proton beam is able to significantly modify the shape of the Bragg curve. These findings are ascribed to the effects of multiple Coulomb scattering in both the film and the substrate and are interesting for proton beam diagnostics and dosimetry.

Improving the corrosion and wear resistance of CoCrNiSi0.3 Medium-Entropy Alloy by magnetron sputtered (CrN/Cr)x multilayer films

In this study, a medium entropy alloy (MEA) system consisting of Co, Cr, and Ni was selected to incorporate Si, resulting in the creation of CoCrNiSi0.3 MEA. The surface was coated with (CrN/Cr)x multilayer films to improve wear and corrosion resistance. The hardness, wear, corrosion, and nanoindentation tests were used to analyze the characteristics of CrN/Cr multilayer films and their protective performance. Low grazing angle X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), water contact angle analyzer, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were utilized to investigate the composition and structure of (CrN/Cr)x multilayer films. The intermediate Cr layer inhibits the columnar growth of the CrN layers and is progressively refined as the number of CrN/Cr bilayers increases. The Cr layer exhibits superior toughness in the multilayer structure and effectively hinders crack propagation. Therefore, the (CrN/Cr)3 multilayer film has the most outstanding anti-wear performance. The wear rates under 2 N and 4 N loads are 3.331 × 10−6 mm3•m−1•N−1 and 1.124 × 10−5 mm3•m−1•N−1, respectively. The growth of columnar crystals is suppressed and a more compact multilayer film is formed, resulting in a reduction in the defect density and an increase in the water contact angle, which retards the ingress of corrosive liquid and improves corrosion resistance. The corrosion current density of the (CrN/Cr)3 multilayer film is 0.73 μA•cm−2, while the corrosion polarization impedance is 962.35 Ω•cm2.

Compound-Gaussian Model with Nakagami-Distributed Textures for High-Resolution Sea Clutter at Medium/High Grazing Angles

In this paper, a compound-Gaussian model (CGM) with the Nakagami-distributed textures (CGNG) is proposed to model sea clutter at medium/high grazing angles. The corresponding amplitude distributions are referred to as the CGNG distributions. The analysis of measured data shows that the CGNG distributions can provide better goodness-of-the-fit to sea clutter at medium/high grazing angles than the four types of commonly used biparametric distributions. As a new type of amplitude distribution, its parameter estimation is important for modelling sea clutter. The estimators from the method of moments (MoM) and the [zlog(z)] estimator from the method of generalized moments are first given for the CGNG distributions. However, these estimators are sensitive to sporadic outliers of large amplitude in the data. As the second contribution of the paper, outlier-robust tri-percentile estimators of the CGNG distributions are proposed. Moreover, experimental results using simulated and measured sea clutter data are reported to show the suitability of the CGNG amplitude distributions and outlier-robustness of the proposed tri-percentile estimators.

PolSAR Ship Characterization and Robust Detection at Different Grazing Angles With Polarimetric Roll-Invariant Features

PolSAR Ship Characterization and Robust Detection at Different Grazing Angles With Polarimetric Roll-Invariant Features

Design and fabrication of Cu conical (Spiral+Helical) sculptured thin films and their application in SERS

Cu conical (spiral + helical (spiral (3 turns) + helical (2, 12 and 17 turns)) nanostructures were grown on stainless steel mesh (SSM) and glass microscope slide by glancing angle deposition (GLAD). The SSM substrates were used in surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) for detection of 4,4′-Bipyridine (4,4′-Bipy) molecules. This design fulfilled the main electromagnetic mechanisms of enhancement of Raman signals, which are near field coupling and the lightning rod effect. The size of the sculptured nanostructures produced on the SSM substrates matched the wavelength of the laser beam of the Raman spectrometer and satisfied the requirements for the enhancement of the surface Raman spectroscopy of the 4,4′-Bipy molecules. A comparison is made on the morphology of the produced nanostructures on SSM, microscope slide and previously published works on other surfaces with the view to different surfaces with different surface roughness. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) analysis of the samples clearly revealed the morphology of the designed and fabricated nanostructure as conical (spiral + helical) features on both SSM and glass substrates. Crystal structures and optical spectra of the produced samples obtained using grazing angle incident x-ray diffraction (GIXRD) and Vis-NIR spectroscopy. The SERS results showed that although according to the GIXRD data the coated Cu films were oxidized, good enhancement is obtained. Hence, this can be considered as a favor to the applied fields of these samples. Vis-NIR results showed that as the number of turns of the helical part of the structure increased, the absorption of the spectra increased consistent with the discrete dipole approximation (DDA) results reported in the literature. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy results of this work when compared with the available published data showed higher/comparable enhancement irrespective of the type of material used (e.g., Ag, Au and Mn), 4,4′-Bipy concentration, Bipy substrate shape, the method of fabrication and the excitation wavelength of the Raman spectrometer.

On matching a microwave radiation with the plasma of an electron cyclotron resonance discharge

This article proposes a scheme for matching microwave radiation with a magnetized plasma of an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) discharge in an open magnetic trap, using the effect of depolarization—the transformation of the ordinary wave into the extraordinary one upon reflection from the metal walls of a plasma chamber. An analysis of the efficiency of such a transformation is carried out, and it is shown that for grazing (less than 15° with metal surface) angles of incidence; it is possible to achieve an efficiency exceeding 90%.

Characterizing Ionospheric Effects on GNSS Reflectometry at Grazing Angles from Space

Coherent observations in GNSS reflectometry are prominent in regions with smooth reflecting surfaces and at grazing elevation angles. However, within these lower elevation ranges, GNSS signals traverse a more extensive atmospheric path, and increased ionospheric effects (e.g., delay biases) are expected. These biases can be mitigated by employing dual-frequency receivers or models tailored for single-frequency receivers. In preparation for the single-frequency GNSS-R ESA “PRETTY” mission, this study aims to characterize ionospheric effects under variable parameter conditions: elevation angles in the grazing range (5° to 30°), latitude-dependent regions (north, tropic, south) and diurnal changes (day and nighttime). The investigation employs simulations using orbit data from Spire Global Inc.’s Lemur-2 CubeSat constellation at the solar minimum (F10.7 index at 75) on March, 2021. Changes towards higher solar activity are accounted for with an additional scenario (F10.7 index at 180) on March, 2023. The electron density associated with each reflection event is determined using the Neustrelitz Electron Density Model (NEDM2020) and the NeQuick 2 model. The results from periods of low solar activity reveal fluctuations of up to approximately 300 TECUs in slant total electron content, 19 m in relative ionospheric delay for the GPS L1 frequency, 2 Hz in Doppler shifts, and variations in the peak electron density height ranging from 215 to 330 km. Sea surface height uncertainty associated with ionospheric model-based corrections in group delay altimetric inversion can reach a standard deviation at the meter level.

Passive ranging of a moving target in the direct-arrival zone in deep sea using a single vector hydrophone.

The vector hydrophone covers more comprehensive sound field information over the sound pressure hydrophone. The passive target ranging method based on the shallow-located unmanned platform equipped with vector hydrophones is explored based on the measured surface ship data acquired in the deep-sea area in December 2021. First, a bearings-only target motion analysis (TMA) algorithm is proposed, determining the motion state of a moving target (e.g., azimuth angle, abeam time, heading angle, and the ratio of velocity to initial distance) in accordance with its horizontal bearing time recording (BTR) data. Subsequently, the loss function is built following the situation information and the average complex acoustic intensity to determine the real-time grazing angle of the target. Last, the real-time range of the target is determined in accordance with the situation information and the grazing angle. As revealed by the comparison of the calculated value of the sea trial data with the GPS trajectory, the average distance error of the target reaches 11.6%, the root mean square error (RMSE) of the grazing angle is 1.99°, the RMSE of the velocity is 1.9 kn, and the RMSE of the abeam time reaches 51.4 s.