A short-pulse electromagnetic transponder for hole-to-hole use
We have made hole-to-hole observations through nearly 20 m of granite using an electromagnetic transponder (an active reflector) in one borehole and a single-hole short-pulse radar in another. We found that the transponder is inexpensive, operationally simple, and effective in extending the capability of a short-pulse borehole radar system to allow hole-to-hole operation without requiring timing cables. A detector in the transponder senses the arrival of each pulse from the radar (which may be millivolts in amplitude); each pulse detection triggers a kilovolt-amplitude pulse for retransmission. The transponder “echo” may be stronger than that of a passive reflector by a factor of as much as 120 dB. The result is an increase in range capability by a factor which depends on attenuation in the medium and hole-to-hole wavepath geometry. Single-hole reflection-mode echoes are still available at times prior to the transponder pulse arrival. The transponder is helpful in yielding velocity information, because the radar-transponder distance is known and the echo time is observed. Field tests have demonstrated that the transponder is a useful alternative to employing timing cables in some short-pulse hole-to-hole measurement situations.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 1983 |
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Title | A short-pulse electromagnetic transponder for hole-to-hole use |
DOI | 10.1109/TGRS.1984.6499195 |
Authors | David L. Wright, Raymond D. Watts, Erik Bramsoe |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing |
Index ID | 70011318 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |