Periodic Bursts Research Articles

Improving the Split-Spectrum Method for Sentinel-1 Differential TOPSAR Interferometry

Differential SAR interferometry (DInSAR) is a useful technique used to measure small movements and surface deformation. However, ionospheric phase screens are a major error source in multipass terrain observation by progressive scans sar (TOPSAR) interferograms. In this letter, an improved split-spectrum method is proposed. First, the burst used for ionospheric phase estimation is selected through coherence, and then, the ionospheric phase of the burst is estimated based on the split-spectrum method. Finally, the TOPSAR ionospheric space-variable phase in a large scene is obtained through 2-D space-variable fitting, which avoids the complicated processing of splicing between bursts of different periods and reduces the number of unwrapping calculations for large scenes after splicing. The method can ensure that the number of calculations is reduced without loss of accuracy. Sentinel-1 TOPSAR real data processing verifies the correctness of the proposed method.

Are There Magnetars in High-mass X-Ray Binaries?* *Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Magnetars form a special population of neutron stars with strong magnetic fields and long spin periods. About 30 magnetars and magnetar candidates known currently are probably isolated, but the possibility that magnetars are in binaries has not been excluded. In this work, we perform spin evolution of neutron stars with different magnetic fields in wind-fed high-mass X-ray binaries and compare the spin period distribution with observations, aiming to find magnetars in binaries. Our simulation shows that some of the neutron stars, which have long spin periods or are in widely-separated systems, need strong magnetic fields to explain their spin evolution. This implies that there are probably magnetars in high-mass X-ray binaries. Moreover, this can further provide a theoretical basis for some unclear astronomical phenomena, such as the possible origin of periodic fast radio bursts from magnetars in binary systems.

Quasi-periodical kinetic instabilities in minimum-B confined plasma

We present the results of an experimental investigation of quasi-periodical kinetic instabilities exhibited by magnetically confined electron cyclotron resonance heated plasmas. The instabilities were detected by measuring plasma microwave emission, electron losses, and wall bremsstrahlung. The instabilities were found to be grouped into fast sequences of periodic plasma losses, separated by ∼100 µs between the bursts, followed by 1–10 ms quiescent periods before the next event. Increasing the plasma energy content by adjusting the plasma heating parameters, in particular the magnetic field strength, makes the instabilities more chaotic in the time domain. Statistical analysis reveals that the energy released in a single instability event depends on the magnetic field strength and microwave power but not on the neutral gas pressure. The effects of these ion source parameters on the instability characteristics are explained qualitatively by considering their influence on the electron energy distribution. A correlation is found between the energy dissipated in an instability event and the recovery time of the periodic bursts, i.e., a large amplitude instability leads to a long recovery time of the electron energy distribution.

Understanding the nonlinear dynamics of seizure and sleep EEG patterns generated using hierarchical chaotic neuronal network

The purpose of this article is to describe how a chaotic biological neural network based on a mammalian olfactory system can be used to generate EEG patterns during seizures, REM and NREM sleep. The parameters governing the connection between each node at each layer of an olfactory system's K3 topology have been tuned to replicate low and high dimensional activities as well as periodic bursts matching to distinct brain states. The chaotic qualities of the simulated time series are evaluated against practical recordings of EEG patterns generated during distinct brain states by computing Hurst exponent, fractal dimension, and detrended fluctuation analysis. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the complex cognitive tasks involved in various functional stages of the brain, as well as to the modelling of these activities using a biologically plausible hierarchical network of neurons.

Developmentally Regulated Modulation of Lumbar Motoneurons by Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors: A Cellular and Behavioral Analysis in Newborn Mice.

The present study explores the impact of metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) activation on activity-dependent synaptic plasticity (ADSP) and the intrinsic membrane properties of lumbar motoneurons (MNs) using a combination of biochemical, pharmacological, electrophysiological and behavioral techniques. Using spinal cord slices from C57BL/6JRJ mice at two developmental stages, 1-3 and 8-12 postnatal days (P1-P3; P8-P12, respectively), we found that ADSP expressed at glutamatergic synapses between axons conveyed in the ventrolateral funiculus (VLF) and MNs, involved mGluR activation. Using specific agonists of the three groups of mGluRs, we observed that mGluR stimulation causes subtype-specific and developmentally regulated modulation of the ADSP and synaptic transmission at VLF-MN synapses as well as the intrinsic membrane properties of MNs. RT-qPCR analysis revealed a downregulation of mGluR gene expression with age in the ventral part of the lumbar spinal cord. Interestingly, the selective harvest by laser microdissection of MNs innervating the Gastrocnemius and Tibialis anterior muscles unraveled that the level of Grm2 expression is higher in Tibialis MNs compared to Gastrocnemius MNs suggesting a specific mGluR gene expression profile in these two MN pools. Finally, we assessed the functional impact of mGluR modulation on electrically induced bouts of fictive locomotion in the isolated spinal cord preparation of P1-P3 mice, and in vivo during spontaneous episodes of swimming activity in both P1-P3 and P8-P12 mouse pups. We observed that the mGluR agonists induced distinct and specific effects on the motor burst amplitudes and period of the locomotor rhythms tested and that their actions are function of the developmental stage of the animals. Altogether our data show that the metabotropic glutamatergic system exerts a complex neuromodulation in the developing spinal lumbar motor networks and provide new insights into the expression and modulation of ADSP in MNs.

Effect of Nonlinear Detection Response Characteristics of Electric Field Probe on LTE Signal Measurement and Statistical Evaluation of Its Detection Response

To improve the calibration accuracy of an electric field (E-field) probe loaded with a diode detector for digital wireless communication signals with complex waveforms, the effect of the nonlinear characteristics of the E-field probe on the detection response of a long-term evolution (LTE) signal is investigated. In this article, we focused on single-carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) and orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing access (OFDMA) signals used for LTE uplink and downlink, respectively. First, we investigated the effect of the nonlinear characteristics of the E-field probe on the detection response of continuous SC-FDMA and OFDMA signals simulating frequency division duplexing LTE. Then, intermittent SC-FDMA and OFDMA signals simulating time-division LTE were also investigated. Furthermore, we proposed a method of estimating the detection response of SC-FDMA and OFDMA signals using the probability density function of the envelope amplitude. When the envelope variation of the LTE signal is fully covered within the response time of the E-field probe, the estimated detection response agrees well with the measured result. In addition, the detection response of an intermittent LTE signal with a typical repetition period can be calculated with the proposed approximation formula by separately considering the probability density functions of the envelope amplitude for the burst and nonburst periods.

Observational results of MUSER during 2014–2019

The solar radio signal that can be received by the ground-based telescopes covers a wide frequency range, allowing us to monitor the complex physical processes occurred from the solar surface to the vast interplanetary space. MingantU SpEctral Radioheliograph (MUSER), as the latest generation of solar dedicated radio spectral-imaging instrument in the centimeter-decimeter wavelengths, has accumulated a large number of observational data since its commissioning observation in 2014. This paper presents the main observational results identified by MUSER from 2014 to 2019, including the quiet Sun and 94 solar radio burst events. We find that there are 81 events accompanied with Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) soft X-ray (SXR) flares, among which the smallest flare class is B1.0. There are 13 events without accompanying any recorded flares, among which the smallest SXR intensity during the radio burst period is equivalent to level-A. The main characteristics of all radio burst events are presented, which shows the powerful ability of MUSER to capture the valuable information of the solar non-thermal processes and the importance for space weather. This work also provides a database for further in-depth research.

An Accreting Stellar Binary Model for Active Periodic Fast Radio Bursts

Abstract In this work, we propose an accreting stellar binary model for understanding the active periodic fast radio bursts (FRBs). The system consists of a stellar compact object (CO) and a donor star (DS) companion in an eccentric orbit, where the DS fills its own Roche lobe near the periastron. The CO accretes the material from the DS and then drives relativistic magnetic blobs. The interaction between the magnetic blobs and the stellar wind of the DS produces a pair of shocks. We find that both the reverse shock and the forward shock are likely to produce FRBs via the synchrotron maser mechanism. We show that this system can in principle sufficiently produce highly active FRBs with a long lifetime, and also can naturally explain the periodicity and the duty cycle of the activity that appeared in FRBs 180916 and 121102. The radio nebula excited by the long-term injection of magnetic blobs into the surrounding environment may account for the associated persistent radio source. In addiction, we discuss the possible multiwavelength counterparts of FRB 180916 in the context of this model. Finally, we encourage the search for FRBs in ultraluminous X-ray sources.

Time-synchronized laser-induced fluorescence in the near-field of a 600 Watt Hall thruster

We report on the results of an experimental campaign to measure time-varying velocity distributions in the near-field of a low power Hall thruster. We employ a sample-hold technique, enhanced by parallelizing the measurement hardware into several signal processing channels that vastly increases the data acquisition rate. The measurements are applied to study flow field dynamics in a commercial BHT-600 Hall thruster undergoing unforced breathing mode oscillations in the 44–49 kHz range. A very detailed experimental picture of the near-field emerges from these studies. The results indicate that velocity fluctuations lessen further downstream of the exit plane. Along the thruster axis where there is a general appearance of a central jet, there is evidence of a low velocity ion population in between the periodic bursts of high velocity ions, indicative of local ionization of neutrals outside of the thruster. One possible source of this residual ionization may be background chamber gas, which is not unexpected with the limited pumping capacity of ground test facilities.

Compensation of target signal migration in the multichannel matched filter

The study proposes a method of target range signal compensation within different pulse burst periods during in-period matched filtering. The proposed method allows to reduce losses in case of long-term signal integration. This is especially important for signals highly sensitive to Doppler frequency shift. In terms of this parameter, a multichannel configuration of the compression filter is a probable solution for such signals. Based on the example of a signal with non-linear frequency modulation and the results of simulation modelling, we analyse the effectiveness of migration compensation and give recommendations on channel multiplexing for the compression filter with an integrated migration compensator.

Effectiveness of target signal migration compensation at compression filter output

The paper describes a case study with the target moving at unknown radial velocity. Exemplified by the frequency modulation signal, the study presents the analysis of specific features of channel multiplexing for the target range migration compensator at the compression filter output within pulse burst periods. Channel multiplexing allows to reduces losses in case of long-term signal integration. The solution effectiveness is estimated and a method is proposed for compensator channel multiplexing ensuring protection against unwanted signal expansion.

Short Periodic VLF Emissions Observed Simultaneously by Van Allen Probes and on the Ground

AbstractWe present simultaneous observations of very low‐frequency emissions with periodic bursts by Van Allen Probe near geomagnetic equator and Kannuslehto and Lovozero ground‐based sites. The repetition period and ground–spacecraft delay are consistent with guided whistler wave propagation between conjugate ionospheres. In contrast to lightning whistlers, the group velocity dispersion is not accumulated from one burst to another, thus implying a nonlinear mechanism of its compensation. Two regimes are observed. In one regime, Poynting flux direction alternates in the magnetosphere, and the burst period (2 s) is half of that detected on the ground (4 s), corresponding to single‐wave packet bouncing along the field line. This regime is switched to the other one, with burst period unchanged in the magnetosphere but halved on the ground. In this second regime, no alternating Poynting flux direction is observed. The second regime corresponds to two symmetrically propagating wave packets synchronously meeting at the equator.

Josephson junction model with cosine interference term: Analysis, microcontroller implementation, and network analysis

The dynamical behavior of a single and network of Josephson junction (JJ) model with cosine interference term (CIT) is explored in this paper. The rate-equations describing a single JJ model with CIT have no or two equilibrium points as a function of direct current (DC). The stability of two equilibrium points reveals that one of the equilibrium points is stable node and other is saddle node. The presence of CIT leads to the change of regular spiking and intrinsic bursting to periodic bursting. JJ circuit model with CIT shows the existence of bistable periodic attractors, periodic attractors, hidden chaotic attractors, and coexisting attractors during the numerical simulations. By increasing the coherence parameter, the coexisting attractors are controlled to bistable limit cycles. The microcontroller implementation of the JJ model with CIT is implemented to ascertain the results of numerical simulations. To demonstrate the collective behavior of the JJ model with CIT, a lattice array of identical JJ models with CIT is constructed and studied. By considering the coupling constant as the control parameter, it is demonstrated that the existence of incoherent nodes for lower coupling values and formation of chimera states when the coupling strength is increased.

Mean-field approximations of networks of spiking neurons with short-term synaptic plasticity.

Low-dimensional descriptions of spiking neural network dynamics are an effective tool for bridging different scales of organization of brain structure and function. Recent advances in deriving mean-field descriptions for networks of coupled oscillators have sparked the development of a new generation of neural mass models. Of notable interest are mean-field descriptions of all-to-all coupled quadratic integrate-and-fire (QIF) neurons, which have already seen numerous extensions and applications. These extensions include different forms of short-term adaptation considered to play an important role in generating and sustaining dynamic regimes of interest in the brain. It is an open question, however, whether the incorporation of presynaptic forms of synaptic plasticity driven by single neuron activity would still permit the derivation of mean-field equations using the same method. Here we discuss this problem using an established model of short-term synaptic plasticity at the single neuron level, for which we present two different approaches for the derivation of the mean-field equations. We compare these models with a recently proposed mean-field approximation that assumes stochastic spike timings. In general, the latter fails to accurately reproduce the macroscopic activity in networks of deterministic QIF neurons with distributed parameters. We show that the mean-field models we propose provide a more accurate description of the network dynamics, although they are mathematically more involved. Using bifurcation analysis, we find that QIF networks with presynaptic short-term plasticity can express regimes of periodic bursting activity as well as bistable regimes. Together, we provide novel insight into the macroscopic effects of short-term synaptic plasticity in spiking neural networks, as well as two different mean-field descriptions for future investigations of such networks.

Firing activities induced by memristive autapse in Fitzhugh–Nagumo neuron with time delay

Due to the natural non-volatility and distinctive plasticity, memristors are considered as ideal devices to mimic biological synapses. In this study, an autapse which is implemented with a locally active memristor, is introduced into Fitzhugh–Nagumo neuron and thus a new neuron model is established. The local stability of the neuron model with and without time delay is analyzed, respectively. Four coexisting firing patterns, including chaotic spiking, periodic spiking, periodic bursting and chaotic bursting, dependent on the memristor initial values, are explored. We find that the neuron has four regular attraction basins and its firing pattern can be regulated by choosing appropriate initial values. The time delay has an important effect on firing activities and the neuron model transits from periodic spiking, to chaotic bursting, and then to chaotic spiking with the increase of the time delay. Furthermore, the influence of the autaptic intensity on firing activities of the neuron is also revealed. In order to verify the complex firing activities, a neuron circuit is constructed and circuit simulations are performed.

Dynamics of synaptically coupled FitzHugh–Nagumo neurons

An extended FitzHugh–Nagumo model is developed to model the synaptic coupling of neurons and the associated dynamics. The neurons are coupled via chemical synapses, which can excite or inhibit the postsynaptic neuron. The neurotransmitter–receptor dynamics is governed with a gating dynamic, which allows for the distinction between fast and slow synapses. Detailed nonlinear dynamics analysis are performed for simple neural motifs of a self-synapsed neuron and two synaptically coupled neurons for the instabilities that lead to neural oscillations, and the associated phase diagrams are obtained. Interesting dynamics such as synchronization of fast and slow firing neurons, frequency enhancement, quiescent neurons coupled to oscillators, chaotic spiking, and periodic bursting are found.

Online and Offline Diagnosis of Motor Power Cables Based on 1D CNN and Periodic Burst Signal Injection.

We introduce a new approach for online and offline soft fault diagnosis in motor power cables, utilizing periodic burst injection and nonintrusive capacitive coupling. We focus on diagnosing soft faults because local cable modifications or soft faults that occur without any indication while the cable is still operational can eventually develop into hard faults; furthermore, advance diagnosis of soft faults is more beneficial than the later diagnosis of hard faults, with respect to preventing catastrophic production stoppages. Both online and offline diagnoses with on-site diagnostic ability are needed because the equipment in the automated lines operates for 24 h per day, except during scheduled maintenance. A 1D CNN model was utilized to learn high-level features. The advantages of the proposed method are that (1) it is suitable for wiring harness cables in automated factories, where the installed cables are extremely short; (2) it can be simply and identically applied for both online and offline diagnoses and to a variety of cable types; and (3) the diagnosis model can be directly established from the raw signal, without manual feature extraction and prior domain knowledge. Experiments conducted with various fault scenarios demonstrate that this method can be applied to practical cable faults.

Abundant Firing Patterns in a Memristive Morris–Lecar Neuron Model

Improving the neuron model and studying its electrical activities according to the real biophysical environment are significant in human cognitive brain activity and neural behavior. The complex transmembrane motion of ions on the neuronal cell membrane can establish time-varying electromagnetic fields and affect the transition firing patterns of neurons. In this paper, a threshold memristor is used to describe the electromagnetic induction and magnetic field effects of neuron cell membrane ion exchange to improve the neuron model, and a memristive Morris–Lecar (mM–L) neuron model is proposed. Numerical simulation confirms that different intensities of electromagnetic fields can produce distinct pattern transitions in electrical activities of the neuron, such as periodic bursting, periodic spiking, chaotic bursting. From the perspective of neuron’s interspike interval (ISI), the ISIs bifurcation in the multiparameter planes, ISIs firing periods, the variance of ISIs and other methods are used to find the trend of the mM–L neuron firing pattern transition. Finally, based on the 4D nonlinear differential equation of the mM–L neuron model, the complete electronic implementation of the model is designed. The output of the designed circuit is consistent with the theoretical prediction, which is extremely useful for studying the dynamics of a single neuron.

Amplitude modulation control method for bursting dynamics under time-delayed feedback

Time-delayed feedback control is one of the important active control methods for complex dynamical behaviors in nonlinear systems. Yet its relationship and effectiveness on multiple time scale dynamics need to be further explored. As a purpose to gain insight into such complexity, we investigate the effectiveness of amplitude modulation in controlling (suppressing or enhancing) bursting oscillations in a classical mechanical oscillator with time-delayed feedback. It is shown how the presence of delay can change the amplitude of the singular cycle oscillations, or suppress them altogether. The results are compared to the conventional periodic perturbation method. In many cases, the amplitudes of periodic solutions under delayed feedback are easier to satisfy the technical requirements. If the delayed feedback is added, stable periodic bursting can be easily accomplished. Therefore, we demonstrate that an effective vibration modulation for bursting dynamics is possible if appropriate time delay and feedback gains are chosen.

Periodic Fast Radio Bursts from Luminous X-ray Binaries

Abstract The discovery of periodicity in the arrival times of the fast radio bursts (FRBs) poses a challenge to the oft-studied magnetar scenarios. However, models that postulate that FRBs result from magnetized shocks or magnetic reconnection in a relativistic outflow are not specific to magnetar engines; instead, they require only the impulsive injection of relativistic energy into a dense magnetized medium. Motivated thus, we outline a new scenario in which FRBs are powered by short-lived relativistic outflows (“flares”) from accreting black holes or neutron stars, which propagate into the cavity of the pre-existing (“quiescent”) jet. In order to reproduce FRB luminosities and rates, we are driven to consider binaries of stellar-mass compact objects undergoing super-Eddington mass transfer, similar to ultraluminous X-ray (ULX) sources. Indeed, the host galaxies of FRBs, and their spatial offsets within their hosts, show broad similarities with ULXs. Periodicity on timescales of days to years could be attributed to precession (e.g., Lens-Thirring) of the polar accretion funnel, along which the FRB emission is geometrically and relativistically beamed, which sweeps across the observer line of sight. Accounting for the most luminous FRBs via accretion power may require a population of binaries undergoing brief-lived phases of unstable (dynamical-timescale) mass transfer. This will lead to secular evolution in the properties of some repeating FRBs on timescales of months to years, followed by a transient optical/IR counterpart akin to a luminous red nova, or a more luminous accretion-powered optical/X-ray transient. We encourage targeted FRB searches of known ULX sources.