A GPU based real-time GPS software receiver

Off-the-shelf graphics processing units provide low-cost massive parallel computing performance, which can be utilized for the implementation of a GPS software receiver. In order to realize a real-time capable system the crucial stages of the receiver should be optimized to suit the requirements of a parallel processor. Moreover, the receiver should be capable to provide wider correlation functions and provide easy access to the spectral domain of the signals. Thus, the most suitable correlation algorithm, which forms the core part of each receivers should be chosen and implemented on the graphics processor. Since the sampling rate of the received signal limits the real-time capabilities of the software radio it is necessary to determine an optimum value, considering that the precision of the observable varies with sampling bandwidth. We are going to discuss details and present our single frequency multi-channel implementation, which is capable of operating in real-time mode. Our implementation differs from other solutions by the wideness of the correlation function and allows simple handling of data in the spectral domain. Comparison with output from a commercial hardware receiver, which shares the antenna with the software radio, confirms the consistency and accuracy of our development.     

Geochemical characteristics of ores and surface waters for environmental risk assessment in the Pinpet iron deposit,southern Shan State,Myanmar

Mining operations in the Pinpet Fe deposit, which is the second‐largest Fe deposit in Myanmar, are currently suspended, in part because of possible contamination of heavy metals and hazardous elements (e.g., Fe, As, Cu, Zn, and U) into the surrounding aquatic environment and associated public concern. However, a scientific investigation of the source and degree of contamination in streams near the deposit has not yet been conducted. Therefore, we quantified heavy‐metal and hazardous‐element concentrations of stream waters and sediments in stream beds, and measured the speciation and concentration of these metals in deposit Fe ores using the sequential extraction method, to better understand the influence of mining activities on the surrounding environment. Geochemical results for Nan‐tank‐pauk stream and its tributaries indicate that the chemical compositions of their waters are controlled by carbonate bedrock and that no detectable contamination has occurred as a result of mining activity or hematite and limonite ore beneficiation processes in either the wet or dry seasons. All measured heavy‐metal and hazardous‐element concentrations were below the World Health Organization standards for drinking water and the proposed national drinking water quality standards in Myanmar. Bulk chemical compositions of stream‐bed and tailings dam sediments show that As, Zn, and Cu concentrations are similar to those in uncontaminated sediments. Results of bulk mineralogical and chemical analyses of ore samples reveal that some limonite ore samples contain substantial amounts of As (up to 2 wt%). However, sequential extraction results indicate that most (>90%) of the As in these As‐rich ores is hosted in insoluble fractions (e.g., crystalline Fe hydroxides and clays). Therefore, arsenic is unlikely to be released into the aquatic environment by interacting with water during ore beneficiation processes should the mine resume operations.     

The origin of chaotic behaviour in the Miranda-Umbriel 3 : 1 resonances

We have investigated the pericentric resonances through which Miranda and Umbriel are believed to have passed when, due to tidal evolution, their orbital mean motions reached a 3 : 1 commensurability. Our investigation is based upon a perturbative treatment. The predictions of this theory are in good agreement with the results of numerical integrations concerning both the extend of the chaotic layers generated by the separatrices of the primary resonances and the location of the secondary resonances. The effect of tidal evolution is discussed on the bases of the adiatatic invariant theory and its extension to separatrix crossing. We recover qualitatively the mean features of the numerical experiments of Tittermore and Wisdom (1988–1989), Dermott et al (1988) and Malhotra and Dermott (1989).     

The quasi-stationary coronal magnetic field and electron density as determined from a Faraday rotation experiment

Pioneer VI was launched into a circumsolar orbit on December 16, 1965, and was occulted by the sun in the latter half of November, 1968. During the occultation period, the 2292-MHz S-band telemetry carrier underwent Faraday rotation due to the interaction of this signal with the plasma and magnetic field in the solar corona. The NASA/JPL 210-ft diameter antenna of the Deep Space Network near Barstow, California, was used for the measurement. The antenna feed was modified for automatic polarization tracking for this experiment. The measurement results are interpreted with a theoretical model of the solar corona. This model consists of a modified Allen-Baumbach electron density and a coronal magnetic field calculated both from Mount Wilson magnetograph observations using a source surface model and field extrapolations from the Explorer 33 satellite magnetometer. The observations and the calculated rotation show general agreement with respect to magnitude, sense, and timing, suggesting the source-surface model and field extrapolations from 1 AU are a valid technique to obtain the magnetic field in the corona from 4 to 12 solar radii. Variations present can easily be ascribed to density enhancements known to be present in the corona. Longitudinal variations of the density in the corona cannot be obtained from coronagraph observations, and thus a purely radial variation was assumed. An improved fit to the Faraday rotation data is obtained with an equatorial electron density $$N = 10^8 \left( {\frac{{6000}}{{R^{10} }} + \frac{{0.002}}{{R^2 }}} \right)...{\text{ cm}}^{{\text{ - 3}}} {\text{ (4 < }}R < 12){\text{ }}...$$ where R is in solar radii. The work of W. V. T. Rusch and J. E. Ohlson was supported in part by research sponsored by the Joint Services Electronics Program through the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under Grant AF-AFOSR 69-1622A at the University of Southern California. The work done by K. H. Schatten was in part supported by the National Academy of Science on a National Research Council postdoctoral fellowship. The work of J. M. Wilcox was supported in part by the Office of Naval Research under Contract Nonr 3656(26), by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under Grant NGR 05-003-230, and by the National Science Foundation under Grant GA-1319 at the University of California at Berkeley.     

Laboratory analogy of crystalline enstatite grain formation in plasma field

Crystalline enstatite (MgSiO₃) grains were produced by the simultaneous evaporation of SiO grains and Mg vapor in a plasma field. The MgSiO₃ grains were spherical or needlelike. The necessity of a plasma field in astromineralogy is suggested in the present study.     

The formation of todorokite and birnessite in sea water pumped from under ground

Manganese oxides precipitated from aerated well sea water at the Marine Science Museum, Tokai University, have been analyzed chemically and mineralogically. The $\text{O}\text{Mn}$ ratios are lower in todorokite than in birnessite but these minerals have similar contents of minor transition metals, which can be taken up additionally from sea water after the precipitation of Mn oxides. On the basis of these results, the genesis of Mn minerals is discussed in relation to marine Mn nodules.     

Dynamic behaviour and identification of non-uniform ground by the discrete wave number method

Powell's method for minimizing a function of several variables without calculating derivatives is applied to recorded earthquake motion on the ground surface to identify ground characteristics that have irregular profiles. The identifications are made by designating the shear wave velocity depth and width of the irregularity of surface ground as unknown parameters and are based on the least square fit between the amplitude of the transfer function determined from accelerograms recorded at two observation sites and the corresponding transfer function calculated from the response analysis of a ground model. The discrete wave number method is used to analyze the response of ground with a non-uniform profile for the incidence of SH waves. The effect of the initial assumed values on the convergence is studied by evaluating the square error between the theoretical transfer function and that calculated from the parameters identified. The dispersive trend found for the accelerograms is explained by the calculated response of a ground model with a non-uniform profile.