beautypg.com

2 poles and zeroes – Guralp Systems CMG-6T User Manual

Page 21

background image

Operator's Guide

3.2 Poles and zeroes

Most users of seismometers find it convenient to consider the sensor
as a “black box”, which produces an output signal V from a measured

input x. So long as the relationship between V and x is known, the
details of the internal mechanics and electronics can be disregarded.

This relationship, given in terms of the Laplace variable s, takes the
form

[V / x](s) = G A H(s)

In this equation

G is the output sensitivity (gain constant) of the instrument.

This relates the actual output to the desired input over the flat
portion of the frequency response.

A is a constant which is evaluated so that A H(s) is

dimensionless and has a value of 1 over the flat portion of the
frequency response. In practice, it is possible to design a system

transfer function with a very wide-range flat frequency
response.

The normalising constant A is calculated at a normalising

frequency value fm = 1 Hz, with s = j fm, where j = √–1.

H(s) is the transfer function of the sensor, which can be
expressed in factored form:

In this equation z

n

are the roots of the numerator polynomial,

giving the zeros of the transfer function, and p

m

are the roots of

the denominator polynomial giving the poles of the transfer
function.

In the calibration pack, G is the sensitivity given for each component

on the first page, whilst the roots z

n

and p

m

, together with the

normalising factor A, are given in the Poles and Zeros table. The poles

and zeros given are measured directly at Güralp Systems' factory using
a spectrum analyser. Transfer functions for the vertical and horizontal

sensors may be provided separately.

July 2011

21