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At least 253 records · Page 14

Realizing symmetry-guaranteed pairs of bound states in the continuum in metasurfaces

Abstract Bound states in the continuum (BICs) have received significant attention for their ability to enhance light-matter interactions across a wide range of systems, including lasers, sensors, and frequency mixers. However, many applications require degenerate or nearly degenerate high-quality factor ( Q ) modes, such as spontaneous parametric down conversion, non-linear four-wave mixing, and intra-cavity difference frequency mixing for terahertz generation. Previously, degenerate pairs of bound states in the continuum (BICs) have been created by fine-tuning the structure to engineer the degeneracy, yielding BICs that respond unpredictably to structure imperfections and material variations. Instead, using a group theoretic approach, we present a design paradigm based on six-fold rotational symmetry ( C 6 ) for creating degenerate pairs of symmetry-protected BICs, whose frequency splitting and Q -factors can be independently and predictably controlled, yielding a complete design phase space. Using a combination of resonator and lattice deformations in silicon metasurfaces, we experimentally demonstrate the ability to tune mode spacing from 2 nm to 110 nm while simultaneously controlling Q -factor.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Frequency selective reflection and transmission at a layer composed of a periodic dielectric

The feasibility of using a periodic dielectric layer, composed of alternating bars having dielectric constants epsilon sub 1 and epsilon sub 2, as a frequency selective subreflector in order to permit feed separation in large aperture reflecting antenna systems was examined. For oblique incidence, it is found that total transmission and total reflection can be obtained at different frequencies for proper choices of epsilon sub 1, epsilon 2, and the geometric parameters. The frequencies of total reflection and transmission can be estimated from wave phenomena occurring in a layer of uniform dielectric constant equal to the average for the periodic layers. About some of the frequencies of total transmission, the bandwidth for 90% transmission is found to be 40%. However, the bandwidth for 90% reflection is always found to be much narrower; the greatest value found being 2.5%.

Bertoni, Henry L.↗

Frequency-selective reflection and transmission by a periodic dielectric layer

The feasibility of using a periodic dielectric layer, composed of alternating bars having dielectric constants epsilon sub 1 and epsilon sub 2, as a frequency selective subreflector in order to permit feed separation in large aperture reflecting antenna systems was examined. For oblique incidence, it is found that total transmission and total reflection can be obtained at different frequencies for proper choices of epsilon sub 1, epsilon sub 2, and the geometric parameters. The frequencies of total reflection and transmission can be estimated from wave phenomena occurring in a layer of uniform dielectric constant equal to the average value for the periodic layers. About some of the frequencies of total transmission, the bandwidth for 90 percent transmission is found to be 40 percent. However, the bandwidth for 90 percent reflection is always found to be much narrower; the greatest value found being 2.5 percent.

Bertoni, Henry L.↗

A new approach to the photon localization problem

Since wavelets form a representation of the Poincare group, it is possible to construct a localized superposition of light waves with different frequencies in a Lorentz-covariant manner. This localized wavelet satisfies a Lorentz-invariant uncertainty relation, and also the Lorentz-invariant Parseval's relation. A quantitative analysis is given for the difference between photons and localized waves. It is then shown that this localized entity corresponds to a relativistic photon with a sharply defined momentum in the non-localization limit. Waves are not particles. It is confirmed that the wave-particle duality is subject to the uncertainty principle.

Han, D.↗

Measurements of high-frequency solar oscillation modes

The spatial-temporal spectrum of solar oscillations exhibits modelike structure at frequencies above the nominal photospheric acoustic cutoff of about 5.3 mHz. The linewidth and frequency of these features are measured as functions of degree from high-quality spectra obtained from observations made at the geographic South Pole. From 5.3 to 6.5 mHz the linewidths are relatively constant with a value of about 70 microHz, approximately one-half the frequency difference between modes of the same degree but successive values of radial order number. This width is larger than can be accounted for by simple considerations of the leakage of trapped acoustic waves. The frequencies of the high-frequency modes adhere to a simple dispersion law if one uses a substantially larger effective phase shift that applies at lower frequencies. The frequency variation of this phase shift changes markedly above the acoustic cutoff frequency.

Duvall, T. L., Jr.↗

Dynamic control of the spatial frequency content of an intense laser via intra-beam energy transfer

We present theory and simulations demonstrating that bandwidth-inducing optical smoothing techniques such as smoothing by spectral dispersion (SSD) can initiate intra-beam energy transfer (IBET) within a single beam. IBET consists of energy transfer between the different frequency components of the beam and results in a simultaneous and correlated redistribution of the temporal and spatial frequencies of the laser's electric field. We identify a threshold in bandwidth for IBET to occur and validate the theory with simulations. The bandwidth and the color cycling of SSD can result in IBET in conditions relevant for high-energy density experiments at the National Ignition Facility and Omega Laser. We show that IBET could be used to manipulate a laser's spatial frequency content within a plasma. In particular, this technique could be used to increase a laser's effective f-number, with potential applications for self-guiding in plasmas.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

The Primordial Inflation Polarization Explorer (PIPER)

The Primordial Inflation Polarization Explorer (PIPER) is it balloon-borne instrument designed to search for the faint signature of inflation in the polarized component of the cosmic microwave background (C-N-113). Each flight will be configured for a single frequency, but in order to aid in the removal of the polarized foreground signal due to Galactic dust, the filters will be changed between flights. In this way, the CMB polarization at a total of four different frequencies (200, 270, 350, and 600 GHz) will be, measured on large angular scales. PIPER consists of a pair of cryogenic telescopes, one for measuring each of Stokes Q and U in the instrument frame. Each telescope receives both linear orthogonal polarizations in two 32 x 40 element planar arrays that utilize Transition-Edge Sensors (TES). The first element in each telescope is a variable-delay polarization modulator (VPM) that fully modulates the linear Stokes parameter to which the telescope is sensitive. There are several advantages to this architecture. First, by modulating at the front of the optics, instrumental polarization is unmodulated and is therefore cleanly separated from source polarization. Second, by implementing this system with the appropriate symmetry, systematic effects can be further mitigated. In the PIPER design, many of the. systematics are manifest in the unmeasured linear Stokes parameter for each telescope and this can be separated from the desired signal. Finally, the modulation cycle never mixes the Q and U linear Stokes parameters, and thus residuals in the modulation do not twist the observed polarization vector. This is advantageous because measuring the angle of linear polarization is critical for separating the inflationary signal from other polarized components.

Chuss, David T.↗

Velocity selective flow visualization in a free supersonic nitrogen jet with the resonant Doppler velocimeter

The use of the resonant Doppler velocimeter for flow visualization in a free supersonic nitrogen jet is demonstrated experimentally. In the experiment reported here, room-temperature nitrogen at 12.7 psi expands through a Mach 3.4 converging diverging nozzle into a plenum chamber; small amount of sodium is injected through a heated needle centered 0.5-in. upstream of the nozzle throat. The beam of a single frequency dye laser is expanded into a sheet of light with a cylindrical beam expander and directed counter to the jet to spatially resolve any slice across the core of the flow. By tuning the laser to different frequencies, particular velocity and density fields can be highlighted.

Zimmermann, M.↗

Role of Detuning in the Final Stage of Subharmonic Mode Transition in Boundary Layers

This work involves mechanisms for transition to turbulence in a Blasius boundary layer through resonant interactions between a plane Tollmien-Schlichting Wave and pairs of oblique waves with equal-but-opposite wave angles. When the frequency of the TS wave is exactly twice that of the oblique waves, we have a "tuned" subharmonic resonance. This leads to the enhanced growth of the oblique modes. Following this, other nonlinear interactions lead to the growth of other 3-D modes which are harmonically based, along with a 3-D mean flow distortion. In the final stage of this process, a gradual spectral filling occurs which we have traced to the growth of fundamental and subharmonic side-band modes. To simulate this with controlled inputs, we introduced the oblique wave pairs at the same conditions, but shifted the frequency of the plane TS mode (by as much as 12 percent) so that it was not exactly twice that of the 3-D modes. These "detuned" conditions also lead to the enhanced growth of the oblique modes, as well as discrete side-band modes which come about through sum and difference interactions. Other interactions quickly lead to a broad band of discrete modes. Of particular importance is the lowest difference frequency which produces a low frequency modulation similar to what has been seen in past experiments with natural 3-D mode input. Cross-bispectral analysis of time series allows us to trace the origin and development of the different modes. Following these leads to a scenario which we believe is more relevant to conditions of "natural" transitions, where low amplitude background disturbances either lead to the gradual detuning of exact fundamental/subharmonic resonance, or in which 3-D mode resonance is detuned from the onset. The results contrast the two conditions, and document the propensity of the 2-D/3-D mode interactions to become detuned.

Corke, Thomas C.↗

Emergence of postural patterns as a function of vision and translation frequency

Emergence of postural patterns as a function of vision and translation frequency. We examined the frequency characteristics of human postural coordination and the role of visual information in this coordination. Eight healthy adults maintained balance in stance during sinusoidal support surface translations (12 cm peak to peak) in the anterior-posterior direction at six different frequencies. Changes in kinematic and dynamic measures revealed that both sensory and biomechanical constraints limit postural coordination patterns as a function of translation frequency. At slow frequencies (0.1 and 0.25 Hz), subjects ride the platform (with the eyes open or closed). For fast frequencies (1.0 and 1.25 Hz) with the eyes open, subjects fix their head and upper trunk in space. With the eyes closed, large-amplitude, slow-sway motion of the head and trunk occurred for fast frequencies above 0.5 Hz. Visual information stabilized posture by reducing the variability of the head's position in space and the position of the center of mass (CoM) within the support surface defined by the feet for all but the slowest translation frequencies. When subjects rode the platform, there was little oscillatory joint motion, with muscle activity limited mostly to the ankles. To support the head fixed in space and slow-sway postural patterns, subjects produced stable interjoint hip and ankle joint coordination patterns. This increase in joint motion of the lower body dissipated the energy input by fast translation frequencies and facilitated the control of upper body motion. CoM amplitude decreased with increasing translation frequency, whereas the center of pressure amplitude increased with increasing translation frequency. Our results suggest that visual information was important to maintaining a fixed position of the head and trunk in space, whereas proprioceptive information was sufficient to produce stable coordinative patterns between the support surface and legs. The CNS organizes postural patterns in this balance task as a function of available sensory information, biomechanical constraints, and translation frequency.

NASA Discipline Neuroscience↗

Northern Hemisphere Surface Freeze-Thaw Product from Aquarius L-Band Radiometers

In the Northern Hemisphere, seasonal changes in surface freeze–thaw (FT) cycles are an important component of surface energy, hydrological and eco-biogeochemical processes that must be accurately monitored. This paper presents the weekly polar-gridded Aquarius passive L-band surface freeze–thaw product (FT-AP) distributed on the Equal-Area Scalable Earth Grid version 2.0, above the parallel 50 N, with a spatial resolution of 36 km36 km. The FT-AP classification algorithm is based on a seasonal threshold approach using the normalized polarization ratio, references for frozen and thawed conditions and optimized thresholds. To evaluate the uncertainties of the product, we compared it with another satellite FT product also derived from passive microwave observations but at higher frequency: the resampled 37 GHz FT Earth Science Data Record (FTESDR). The assessment was carried out during the overlapping period between 2011 and 2014. Results show that 77.1% of their common grid cells have an agreement better than 80 %. Their differences vary with land cover type (tundra, forest and open land) and freezing and thawing periods. The best agreement is obtained during the thawing transition and over forest areas, with differences between product mean freeze or thaw onsets of under 0.4 weeks. Over tundra, FT-AP tends to detect freeze onset 2–5 weeks earlier than FT-ESDR, likely due to FT sensitivity to the different frequencies used. Analysis with mean surface air temperature time series from six in situ meteorological stations shows that the main discrepancies between FT-AP and FT-ESDR are related to false frozen retrievals in summer for some regions with FT-AP. The Aquarius product is distributed by the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) at https://nsidc.org/data/aq3_ft/versions/5 with the DOI https://doi.org/10.5067/OV4R18NL3BQR.

Prince, Michael↗

Three-dimensional ion sound turbulence

A fast cold large diameter electron beam is injected into a uniform background plasma. The injected beam current is balanced by a field-aligned return current which gives rise to an ion acoustic instability. The plasma is essentially unbounded and collisionless on the time scale of the pulsed experiment. The fluctuations are analyzed by probe techniques in real time and space as well as in the frequency and wavenumber domains. Strong density fluctuations are observed in the entire ion acoustic spectrum reaching peak amplitudes at the low frequency end. The propagation of phase coherent test waves in the current carrying plasma is investigated. For the highly turbulent regime strong damping is observed while at lower drift velocities direction is observed. Oblique propagation of two strong test waves at different frequencies indicate the role of nonlinear ion Landau damping in absorption of wave energy.

Stenzel, R. L.↗

Self-broadening and line mixing in HCN Q branches

A tunable difference-frequency laser has been used to record Q-branch spectra of the nu sub 1 + nu sub 2 (4004/cm) and nu sub 2 + nu sub 3 (2806/cm) combination bands, as well as the nu sub 1 - nu sub 2 (2599/cm) difference hot band of HCN, at 1-400 torr pressures. Line mixing is noted in the strongly overlapped, higher-pressure Q-branch profiles from the nonradiative Lorentzian superposition of the component transitions. An effective R to T transition energy-corrected-sudden scaling law is found to give a consistent and satisfactory fit to the Q-branch profiles of all three bands.

Pine, A. S.↗

A global ensemble of ocean wave climate projections from CMIP5-driven models

This dataset, produced through the Coordinated Ocean Wave Climate Project (COWCLIP) phase 2, represents the first coordinated multivariate ensemble of 21st Century global wind-wave climate projections available (henceforth COWCLIP2.0). COWCLIP2.0 comprises general and extreme statistics of significant wave height (H S ), mean wave period (T m ), and mean wave direction (θ m ) computed over time-slices 1979–2004 and 2081–2100, at different frequency resolutions (monthly, seasonally and annually). The full ensemble comprising 155 global wave climate simulations is obtained from ten CMIP5-based state-of-the-art wave climate studies and provides data derived from alternative wind-wave downscaling methods, and different climate-model forcing and future emissions scenarios. The data has been produced, and processed, under a specific framework for consistency and quality, and follows CMIP5 Data Reference Syntax, Directory structures, and Metadata requirements. Technical comparison of model skill against 26 years of global satellite measurements of significant wave height has been undertaken at global and regional scales. This new dataset provides support for future broad scale coastal hazard and vulnerability assessments and climate adaptation studies in many offshore and coastal engineering applications.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗

Comparison of Instantaneous Frequency Scaling from Rain Attenuation and Optical Disdrometer Measurements at K/Q bands

Rain attenuation is strongly dependent on the rain rate, but also on the rain drop size distribution (DSD). Typically, models utilize an average drop size distribution, such as those developed by Laws and Parsons, or Marshall and Palmer. However, individual rain events may possess drop size distributions which could be significantly different from the average and will impact, for example, fade mitigation techniques which utilize channel performance estimates from a signal at a different frequency. Therefore, a good understanding of the characteristics and variability of the raindrop size distribution is extremely important in predicting rain attenuation and instantaneous frequency scaling parameters on an event-toevent basis. Since June 2014, NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) and the Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI) have measured the attenuation due to rain in Milan, Italy, on the 20/40 GHz beacon signal broadcast from the Alphasat TDP#5 Aldo Paraboni Q/V-band Payload. Concomitant with these measurements are the measurements of drop size distribution and rain rate utilizing a Thies Clima laser precipitation monitor (disdrometer). In this paper, we discuss the comparison of the predicted rain attenuation at 20 and 40 GHz derived from the drop size distribution data with the measured rain attenuation. The results are compared on statistical and real-time bases. We will investigate the performance of the rain attenuation model, instantaneous frequency scaling, and the distribution of the scaling factor. Further, seasonal rain characteristics will be analysed.

millimeter wave↗

The role of coherent structures in the generation of noise for subsonic jets

The coherent structure in high Reynolds number (184,000 to 262,000), Mach number 0.6 to 0.8 axisymmetric cold air jets exhausting at atmospheric pressure was studied. The mean flow and the statistical time averaged turbulence properties were measured. Spectra showed a very broad frequency content which shifted towards the lower frequencies as the flow progressed downstream. Axial wave number measurements indicate that the axial wave number-frequency relationship was the same for a wide range of Mach (0.3 to 2.5) and Reynolds (3,700 to over 200,000) numbers. Measurements of the azimuthal mode numbers show that several modes from n = -3 to +3 exist simultaneously in various quantities that the different frequencies studied. Acoustic measurements were made in the near field of the Mach number 0.6 jet. Sound pressure level contours showed that noise appeared to be radiated from a location near the end of the potential core. Directivity plots revealed that the spectra of this noise shifted towards higher frequencies as the angle from the jet axis increased. It was also found that mid-band excitation frequencies produced an increase in full spectrum noise.

Morrison, G. L.↗

NASA’s Progress Toward Commercial Space Communications—SATCOM Demonstrations and Wideband Multilingual Terminal Development

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Program is continuing to forge a path toward programmatic and operational transformation enabling commercialization of communications and navigation services to the greatest extent possible for near Earth users. National Space Policy is driving government agencies to incorporate commercial offerings and services to the maximum extent possible. As such, NASA has no plans to build or deploy Tracking and Data Relay Satellites, but will seek to fill NASA mission space-relay capability needs using commercial satellite communications (SATCOM) providers and services. The goal is to support an approach that is both flexible to commercial service constructs and provides continuity of support with current assets as long as required. Progress toward commercialization is advancing in two key areas: (1) awards have been made for demonstrations of SATCOM services, and (2) development of wideband and multilingual user terminals has advanced to the flight demonstration phase. The Communications Services Project (CSP) at Glenn Research Center (GRC), has awarded Funded Space Act Agreements (FSAA) to six industry vendors. Inmarsat Government Inc., Kuiper Government Solutions (KGS) LLC, SES Government Solutions, Space Exploration Technologies, Telesat U.S. Services LLC, and Viasat Incorporated received a combined $278.5 million to complete technology development and in-space demonstrations over the next several years. The end-to-end service capabilities being targeted are based on existing NASA mission operational needs. Accordingly, each company has proposed a technical approach to lower costs, increase flexibility, and improve performance for a broad range of missions. In the current market, industry vendors operate at a range of different frequencies and use variable, sometime proprietary, coding and modulations schemes. As NASA strives for a network comprised of services provided by multiple distinct suppliers, interoperability is a fitting solution to unify the network. Wideband and multi-lingual user terminals are being developed to bridge differences in industry services. Building on ground demonstrations completed in 2021, the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab (APL) will be flight testing a multi-lingual wideband terminal (payload) and demonstrating connectivity to both government and commercial relay services. This paper provides a discussion of the progress toward NASA’s commercial space communications goals and consideration of key challenges and next steps.

space communications↗

Extending the Licklider Transmission Protocol to Multi-Band Links

Most deep space missions return data to Earth using links operating at a single frequency band. Indeed, their data requirements are low enough that bandwidth regulations do not constrain the system. In contrast, spacecraft such as Kepler or Europa Clipper are transitioning to a new operational paradigm where engineering and science data are transmitted through simultaneous links operating at different frequency bands (henceforth termed multi-band links). This ensures, for instance, that critical data is correctly received using a well characterized X-band link, while science data at a much larger data rate can be returned efficiently (both in terms of bandwidth and energy) through a Ka-band link.Having a spacecraft establish two simultaneous links with a ground station opens a large span of potential improvements for space communications and mission operations. In this paper, we consider the problem of running a Licklider Transmission Protocol (LTP) session over a multi-band link. LTP is an implementation of a selective Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) protocol, i.e. it ensures correct delivery of data over an error prone link with potentially long propagation delays. To maximize its efficiency in deep space environments, LTP operates in deferred-ACK mode and is typically included as one of the core protocols in the Delay Tolerant Networking (DTN) suite.The contributions of this paper are as follows: First, we propose an extension to LTP for multi-band links (denoted MBLTP) and sketch how it can be implemented without modifying the current definition of LTP data units. Next, we develop bounds on the performance of MBLTP when transmitting a single data file over a multi-band link. Three metrics are considered, file expected delivery time, total energy spent and bundle jitter. The results of the analytic model are first benchmarked against simulations to ensure validity, and then compared against the performance of both traditional LTP and Parallel LTP (PLTP).We demonstrate that MBLTP can significantly reduce the latency and jitter with which data products are delivered to destination over a deep space link compared to LTP at moderate energy cost. Similarly, we also demonstrate that MBLTP outperforms PLTP in all considered metrics.

Sanchez Net, Marc↗