ALBERT

Notes: Abstract The relationship between measurement accuracy and signal-to-noise ratio for attenuation, joint loss, link loss and fault location measurements is established for both coherent and incoherent OTDRs. For each parameter, range is defined as the maximum distance over which a minimum acceptable measurement accuracy, or corresponding minimum acceptable signal-to-noise ratio, is attained. Range, defined in this way, serves as a basis for the comparison of different OTDRs. Results are presented which verify the theory.

Notes: Abstract Noise measurements on high-transimpedance amplifiers suitable for long-wavelength OTDRs give results higher than is predicted by normal noise models. Consequently, we have developed two useful techniques to measure independently the noise contribution of the JFET and the feedback resistor to the overall amplifier noise. p ]Our results show that the noise of the JFET is in accordance with an accurate theoretical model for such a device. In contrast, the noise from the feedback resistor is much higher than is predicted from the normal resistance-capacitance model for such a component. This increase results from the distributed nature of high-ohmic resistors. Our results indicate that both choice of resistor manufacturer and individual selection of a resistor from a specific manufacturer are warranted. By selecting a low-noise resistor we demonstrate a 500-MΩ transimpedance amplifier with an input equivalent noise current of 13.8 pA. In comparison, the same amplifier with a noisy resistor had an input equivalent noise current of 23 pA. p ]We use our results to show that a reasonable value of the input equivalent noise current of a low-noise photodiode-amplifier combination is 20 pA.

Notes: Abstract We derive the statistics of a coherently detected backscatter waveform taking into account the effects of polarization. For the first time these statistics are related to measurable parameters. We show that for long-range OTDRs the effects of polarization are statistically small. In relation to the demodulation process we used our statistical model to show that for long-range operation and with heterodyne detection all types of demodulation provide similar performance. With homodyne detection half-wave demodulation results in a 7 dB lower signal-to-noise ratio than the other types of demodulation which have similar performance. There is the usual 3 dB advantage of homodyne over heterodyne detection. Our results indicate that with the same launched powers, the signal obtained from a coherent OTDR can have up to a 37 dB better signal-to-noise ratio than one obtained from an incoherent pulse OTDR. This results in a 9 dB range advantage. We verify previously tabulated results which we found apply only for short-range operation. We use our model to predict the limits of long-range performance and to predict the effect of speckle on averaging. Finally, we explain the breakpoint behaviour that can be seen in results already reported and which is characteristic of linear full- or half-wave envelope demodulation.

Notes: Abstract We present meterwave maps of the solar corona made with the Clark Lake Radioheliograph at 30.9, 50, and 73.8 MHz for one solar rotation. We compare and contrast them with optical data: 10830 Å maps, white-light coronagraph images (SOLWIND and Mauna Loa K coronameter) and forbidden line scans. Most of the sources in the radio maps persist for two days or more, and appear to rotate approximately with the solar rate. A coronal hole seen against the disk at all three frequencies shows interesting similarities and significant differences with the optical signatures of the hole. Elongated features of the 50 MHz corona correspond rather well to the azimuthal position of white light streamers seen in SOLWIND images. Synoptic charts made from the radio maps show overall similarities to synoptic charts constructed from (limb) coronagraph data. Some of the differences may result from the different weightings given by the radio and optical data to density and temperature, or by the different sensitivities to non-radial geometries. We show that the combined use of meter wave and optical images provide considerable new insights into the three-dimensional structure of the low to middle corona.

Notes: Abstract An investigation is made to determine the relationship between a coronal mass ejection (CME) and the characteristics of associated metre-wave activity. It is found that (1) the CME width and leading edge velocity can be highly influential in determining the intensity, spectral complexity and frequency coverage of both type II and continuum bursts; (2) the presence of a CME is possibly a necessary condition for the production of a metric continuum event and (3) metric continuum bursts as well as intense, complex type II events are preferentially associated with strong, long lasting soft X-ray events.

Notes: Abstract Two coronal mass ejections have been well observed by the LASCO coronagraphs to move out into the interplanetary medium as disconnected plasmoids. The first, on July 28, 1996, left the Sun above the west limb around 18:00 UT. As it moved out, a bright V-shaped structure was visible in the C2 coronagraph which moved into the field-of-view of C3 and could be observed out to beyond 28 solar radii. The derived average velocity in the plane of the sky was 110 ± 5 km s-1 out to 5 solar radii, and above 15 solar radii the velocity was 269 ± 10 km s-1. Thus there is evidence of some acceleration around 6 solar radii. The second event occurred on November 5, 1996 and left the west limb around 04:00 UT. The event had an average velocity in the plane of the sky of ∼54 km s-1 below 4 R⊙, and it accelerated rapidly around 5 R⊙ up to 310 ± 10 km s-1. In both events the rising plasmoid is connected back to the Sun by a straight, bright ray, which is probably a signature of a neutral sheet. In the November event there is evidence for multiple plasmoid ejections. The acceleration of the plasmoids around a projected altitude of 5 solar radii is probably a manifestation of the source surface of the solar wind.

Notes: Abstract We present a qualitative and quantitative comparison of a single coronal mass ejection (CME) as observed by LASCO (July 28–29, 1996) with the results of a three-dimensional axisymmetric time-dependent magnetohydrodynamic model of a flux rope interacting with a helmet streamer. The particular CME considered was selected based on the appearance of a distinct ‘tear-drop’ shape visible in animations generated from both the data and the model. The CME event begins with the brightening of a pre-existing coronal streamer which evolves into a ‘tear-drop’ shaped loop followed by a Y-shaped structure. The brightening moves slowly outward with significant acceleration reaching velocities of ∼450 km s-1 at 30 R⊙. The observed CME characteristics are compared with the model results. On the basis of this comparison, we suggested that the observed features were caused by the evacuation of a flux rope in the closed field region of the helmet streamer (i.e., helmet dome). The flux rope manifests itself as the cavity of the quasi-static helmet streamer and the whole system becomes unstable when the flux rope reaches a threshold strength. The observed ‘tear-drop’ structure is due to the deformed flux rope. The leading edge of the flux rope interacts with the helmet dome to form the typical loop-like CME. The trailing edge of this flux rope interacts with the local bi-polar field to form the observed Y-shaped structure. The model results for the evolution of the magnetic-field configurations, velocity, and polarization brightness are directly compared with observations. Animations have been generated from both the actual data and the model to illustrate the good agreement between the observation and the model. These animations can be found on the CD-ROM which accompanies this volume.

Notes: Abstract The Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) on board the SOHO spacecraft has been operational since 2 January 1996. EIT observes the Sun over a 45 x 45 arc min field of view in four emission line groups: Feix, x, Fexii, Fexv, and Heii. A post-launch determination of the instrument flatfield, the instrument scattering function, and the instrument aging were necessary for the reduction and analysis of the data. The observed structures and their evolution in each of the four EUV bandpasses are characteristic of the peak emission temperature of the line(s) chosen for that bandpass. Reports on the initial results of a variety of analysis projects demonstrate the range of investigations now underway: EIT provides new observations of the corona in the temperature range of 1 to 2 MK. Temperature studies of the large-scale coronal features extend previous coronagraph work with low-noise temperature maps. Temperatures of radial, extended, plume-like structures in both the polar coronal hole and in a low latitude decaying active region were found to be cooler than the surrounding material. Active region loops were investigated in detail and found to be isothermal for the low loops but hottest at the loop tops for the large loops. Variability of solar EUV structures, as observed in the EIT time sequences, is pervasive and leads to a re-evaluation of the meaning of the term ‘quiet Sun’. Intensity fluctuations in a high cadence sequence of coronal and chromospheric images correspond to a Kolmogorov turbulence spectrum. This can be interpreted in terms of a mixed stochastic or periodic driving of the transition region and the base of the corona. No signature of the photospheric and chromospheric waves is found in spatially averaged power spectra, indicating that these waves do not propagate to the upper atmosphere or are channeled through narrow local magnetic structures covering a small fraction of the solar surface. Polar coronal hole observing campaigns have identified an outflow process with the discovery of transient Fexii jets. Coronal mass ejection observing campaigns have identified the beginning of a CME in an Fexii sequence with a near simultaneous filament eruption (seen in absorption), formation of a coronal void and the initiation of a bright outward-moving shell as well as the coronal manifestation of a ‘Moreton wave’.

Notes: Abstract We present the first observations of the initiation of a coronal mass ejection (CME) seen on the disk of the Sun. Observations with the EIT experiment on SOHO show that the CME began in a small volume and was initially associated with slow motions of prominence material and a small brightening at one end of the prominence. Shortly afterward, the prominence was accelerated to about 100 km s-1 and was preceded by a bright loop-like structure, which surrounded an emission void, that traveled out into the corona at a velocity of 200–400 km s-1. These three components, the prominence, the dark void, and the bright loops are typical of CMEs when seen at distance in the corona and here are shown to be present at the earliest stages of the CME. The event was later observed to traverse the LASCO coronagraphs fields of view from 1.1 to 30 R⊙. Of particular interest is the fact that this large-scale event, spanning as much as 70 deg in latitude, originated in a volume with dimensions of roughly 35" (2.5 x 104 km). Further, a disturbance that propagated across the disk and a chain of activity near the limb may also be associated with this event as well as a considerable degree of activity near the west limb.