Ground Penetrating Abilities of a New Coherent Radio Wave And
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TECHNICAL pApEr Ground penetrating abilities of a new coherent radio wave and microwave imaging spectrometer G C Stove, M J Robinson, G D C Stove, and A Odell, Adrock; J McManus, Department of Earth Sciences, University of St Andrews he early use of synthetic aperture each subsurface rock layer. The aim transmitted ADR beams typically pulsed electromagnetic radio radar (SAR) and light detection of this article is to report on tests operate within the frequency range waves, microwaves, millimetric, or Tand ranging (Lidar) systems from of the subsurface Earth penetration of 1-100MHz (Stove 2005). sub-millimetric radio waves from aircraft and space shuttles revealed capabilities of a new spectrometer In recent years, the technology materials which permit the applied the ability of the signals to penetrate as well as its ability to recognize for the production of laser light energy to pass through the material. the ground surface. Atomic dielectric many sedimentary, igneous and has become widely available, and The resonant energy response resonance (ADR) technology was metamorphic rock types in real- applications of this medium to can be measured in terms of energy, developed as an improvement over world conditions. the examination of materials are frequency, and phase relationships. SAR and ground penetrating radar Although GPRs are now constantly expanding. Although the The precision with which the (GPR) to achieve deeper penetration popular as non-destructive testing earlier applications concentrated process can be measured helps of the Earth’s subsurface through the tools, their analytical capabilities on the use of visible laser light, define the unique interactive atomic creation and use of a novel type of are rather restricted and imaging the development of systems using or molecular response behaviour of coherent beam. is often crude. The relatively invisible laser light are now being any specific material, according to When pulsed electromagnetic high transmitter power used in further explored. the energy bandwidth used. ADR radio waves pass through a material, conventional GPRs gives only Maser beams are well known. is measurable on a very wide range they generate measurable responses very shallow penetration in many They are coherent beams of of hierarchical scales both in time in terms of energy, frequency, and soils and rocks. Conventional electromagnetic waves at microwave and space. Time scales may range phase relationships. A deployment SAR systems, which also use and radio wave frequencies. They from seconds to femtoseconds, of the ADR equipment in a field electromagnetic waves at high power are a longer wavelength equivalent and spatial scales from metres to study of a measured section of to investigate the internal structure of lasers. In this article, we report nanometres. Dinantian sediments in a disused of non-conducting substances on a series of experiments in which Some aspects of the field and quarry at Cults, Fife in Scotland, within the ground, like-wise provide rocks of different compositions laboratory ADR equipment involve has confirmed the ability of the relatively low resolution and ground and textures have been exposed certain conditions being satisfied method to distinguish the lithologic penetration. to pulsed beams of wide-band, during the set-up of the apparatus type and their respective thickness The ADR methodology does maser light conditioned dielectric so as to obtain standing wave ranging from limestones through not involve such high-power resonance, to produce a range of oscillations in ADR test sample sandstones, siltstones, seatearths, transmission and achieves much differing atomic dielectric energy chambers and/or in ADR remote- and coals. Borehole data were used deeper penetration than conventional and frequency responses detectable sensing antenna system assemblies. to corroborate the ADR imaging GPRs (Stove 2005). In contrast to by suitable receivers. In this respect, it is important spectrometer. conventional GPRs, which transmit Conditioning the beam by to selectively control the group The signal penetrated more omni-directional electromagnetic dielectric optics creates a synthetic velocity (typically at the speed of deeply into the ground than the 20m signals, ADR technology uses lens effect so that the sensors appear light, 299,792,458m/s) of the radio height of the exposed rock section, directional electromagnetic radiation to have much longer chambers wave and microwave radiation and it showed good correlation with as resonating transmitting and with wider apertures than their as it is emitted or launched by the records from two nearby boreholes receiving beams of energy. Although actual physical size. This effect transmitting antennas into the that extend to lower levels. Reliable some GPRs may have shielded produces narrow coherent beams ground. lithological recognition at ground antennae, they still leak radio of pulsed and mased radio waves In particular, for deep scanning penetration of more than 90m had waves above ground in the opposite and microwaves, which are good for it is important for the launch speed been achieved. direction to the main pathway of illuminating target interfaces and of the wave to be sufficiently slow transmission into the ground. materials. Signals transmitted by to ensure that the wave can be 1. Introduction An ADR beam transmitted ADR are within the high-frequency accurately registered at a precise ADR was developed as an through the ground is a pulsed, radar to millimetre radar frequency zero time location by the receiver improvement over SAR and GPR confocal beam (like a long, range and have wavelengths of less antennas, after the pulse has been to achieve deeper penetration of narrow inverted cone in shape) of than 100m. transmitted. The zero time position the Earth’s subsurface through the coherent (in-phase) radio waves and t(z) in remote sensing or t(0) in creation and use of a novel type of microwaves, producing minimal 2. Methodology geophysics is the start position for coherent beam. dispersion through its confocal 2.1. Description of the ADR ADR range measurements and ADR is used as a geophysical and resonant mased nature. The system must be identified on the received technique to provide a precision transmitted ADR beams have two ADR is a patented investigative ADR signal to determine the true instrument for the accurate components: a long wavefront technique (Stove 2005) that time range (in two-way travel time, geological recognition of rock layers standing wave to achieve deep involves the measurement and usually TWT (ns)) represented by and identification of rock types penetration, and shorter resonance interpretation of resonant energy the received signal, returning from by transmission through the rock waves within the standing wave to responses of natural or synthetic each resonant subsurface reflection medium as well as reflection from enhance vertical resolution. The materials to the interaction of layer. ground engineering december 2012 23 TECHNICAL pApEr Ground level Ground level Subsurface pathways Tx Rx Rx scan direction Rx Tx received Time Time transmit energy from Transmit pulse Transmit beam subsurface Receive signals earth Figure 1. The ADR scanner beam transmit and receive pathways Amplitude Amplitude through geological layers when one of the sensors is stationary and Figure 2. Examples of a typical ADR transmit pulse and receive the other is moved progressively away at a regular speed signal With reference to Figure 1, the displays photographs of the ADR (owing to the high power levels changes (if any) are determined wide-angle reflection and refraction equipment. of the transmit signal). This is by the minerals encountered. In a (WARR) tracking method is used The ADR spectrometer works by especially the case for ground rock mass, the component minerals to (1) identify the upper and lower sending a narrow beam of energy that is saturated in water – where may vary, but in general, sandy boundaries of each stratum, (2) into the ground using microwaves known radar-based interrogation of rocks comprise principally quartz determine the inter-layer beam and radio waves. As it travels the subsurface suffers from signal (SiO2), limestones mainly of calcite velocity and mean dielectric downward, the energy character of attenuation attributable to skin (CaCO3), coals largely of carbon constant (ε) of the material in the beam is altered by the various depth effects, and thus are limited to (C), and clays or shales mainly of each stratum, and (3) identify the rock layers it encounters. The beam, very shallow depths of penetration assemblages of iron- or magnesium- materials in the various strata from which can penetrate to depths up through the earth. alumino-silicates. both the εs, known as molecular to several kilometres, is continually ADR, on the other hand, has Cascading harmonic analysis or atomic spectral lines (after fast reflected back by these same rock been specifically designed to of the emerging electromagnetic Fourier transform (FFT) analysis layers and is recorded on surface. alleviate this problem. The ADR radiation enables the energies and of the received signals) and spectral The recorded data describe transmission, unlike GPR, is not frequencies of the signals released ADR statistical parameters data how rocks and minerals, including a wide-band, omni-directional by the materials to differ sufficiently based on known rock types. hydrocarbons, interact with the dispersive beam. ADR generates a for the