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At least 37 records · Page 2

Coherently pulsed laser source

An electronically controllable apparatus is described which modulates a continuous wave laser beam so as to produce an output beam consisting of coherent pulses that are electronically controllable as to both pulse repetition rate and pulse width. The apparatus includes two acoustic devices positioned so that the laser beam passes through them in sequence, and apparatus for passing sound waves through the devices to frequency shift the laser radiation as well as to diffract it. Each acoustic device generates sound waves containing a group of frequencies which result in spaced pulses. The first acoustic device is countered by the second acoustic device to produce a collimated, coherently pulsed, laser beam.

Margolis, J. S.

Studies of turbulent shear flows and their control

The intent of the original proposal and the work carried out under the grant was to explore the instabilities of turbulent free shear flows of an incompressible fluid. The purpose for doing so was that coherent instabilities are susceptible to control via upstream forcing and because at sufficient finite amplitudes, the coherent modes enter into nonlinear interactions with the mean motion and thus, through such nonlinear interactions, the control of mixing and of mean flow spreading can be effected through the control of the coherent structures.

Liu, Joseph T. C.

Coherent multiple tone technique for ground based SPS control

The control system achieves beam forming by adjusting the phases of the individual transmitters onboard the solar power satellite. To specify the correct amount of adjustments, the phases of the power beams from each individual transmitter arriving at the rectanna center are measured, the appropriate corrections determined, and then relayed to the satellite. The functional operation of the ground based phase control concept is summarized. The key issues examined were: measurement waveform design and selection; phase measurement pilot reference design and selection; uplink phase corrections command link format and design; and system synchronization techniques.

Chie, C. M.

Coherent lightwave communications; Proceedings of the Meeting, Boston, MA, Sept. 7, 8, 1989

Various papers on coherent lightwave communications are presented. Individual topics addressed include: overview of coherent light wave communications, frequency stabilization techniques for coherent lightwave systems, characterization of laser diode intensity noise at microwave frequencies with high sensitivity, FP and DFB semiconductor lasers with arbitrary external optical feedback, birefringence-controlled phase-shifter, polarization diversity and scrambling techniques for coherent systems, polarization control scheme for coherent optical systems, simulation of IF filtering effects on the performance of coherent optical receivers. Also discussed are: performance of optical DPSK receivers in the presence of optical channel noise, optical heterodyne communications with polarization modulation, coherent fiber optical subcarrier multiplexed system, engineered rack-mounted coherent transmission system, technology aspects of a coherent optical MAN, broadband exchange by coherent multicarrier switching, generalized temporal CDMA for optical communications. Overviews are given of recent progress at individual companies.

Sunak, Harish R. D.

A single-board preprocessor and pulse generator

The Aeronomy Lab. of NOAA has designed and built a single board, programmable radar controller for use with VHF ST (stratosphere troposphere) radars. The controller consists of a coherent integrator preprocessor and a radar pulse generator, both of which are described, as well as interfaces to an antenna beam switch and a receiver bandwidth switch. The controller occupies a single slot in a Data General Nova of Eclipse computer. The integrator and pulse generator take advantage of high density, dual port FIFO chips such as the 512 x 9 Mostek MK 4501. These FIFOs have separate input and output ports and independent read and write cycles with cycle times of less than 200 ns, making them very fast and easy to interface. A simple block diagram of the coherent integrator is shown. The integrator is designed to handle inputs from one receiver (2 channels) with 1 sec sample spacing. The pulse generator is based on controllers designed by R. F. Woodman for the Arecibo and SOUSY radars us a recirculating memory scheme.

Carter, D. A.

Far-field noise of a subsonic jet under controlled excitation

The role of large-scale coherent structures in broadband jet noise suppression and amplification under controlled excitation are studied experimentally. It is found that suppression occurs only at low Reynolds and Mach numbers, when the boundary layer at the jet exit is laminar; the optimum St(Theta) (St, based on the initial shear-layer momentum thickness) value is 0.017, at which the excitation results in a quick roll-up and transition of the laminar shear-layer vortices, yielding coherent structures similar to those existing at high speeds. At the asymptotic level the broadband jet noise can only be amplified by the excitation. The amplification is inferred to be maximum for excitation in the St(D) (St based on the jet diameter) range of 0.65-0.85. Finally, it is noted that the pairing process induced by the excitation is at the origin of the broadband noise amplification.

Zaman, K. B. M. Q.

By-controlled convection and field-aligned currents near midnight auroral oval for northward interplanetary magnetic field

Using the Dynamics Explorer (DE) 2 magnetic and electric field and plasma data, B(sub y)- controlled convection and field-aligned currents in the midnight sector for northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) are examined. The results of an analysis of the electric field data show that when IMF is stable and when its magnitude is large, a coherent B(sub y)-controlled convection exists near the midnight auroral oval in the ionosphere having adequate conductivities. When B(sub y) is negative, the convection consists of a westward (eastward) plasma flow at the lower latitudes and an eastward (westward) plasma flow at the higher latitudes in the midnight sector in the northern (southern) ionosphere. When B(sub y) is positive, the flow directions are reversed. The distribution of the field-aligned currents associated with the B(sub y)-controlled convection, in most cases, shows a three-sheet structure. In accordance with the convection the directions of the three sheets are dependent on the sign of B(sub y). The location of disappearance of the precipitating intense electrons having energies of a few keV is close to the convection reversal surface. However, the more detailed relationship between the electron precipitation boundary and the convection reversal surface depends on the case. In some cases the precipitating electrons extend beyond the convection reversal surface, and in others the poleward boundary terminates at a latitude lower than the reversal surface. Previous studies suggest that the poleward boundary of the electrons having energies of a few keV is not necessarily coincident with an open/closed bounary. Thus the open/closed boundary may be at a latitude higher than the poleward boundary of the electron precipitation, or it may be at a latitude lower than the poleward boundary of the electron precipitation. We discuss relationships between the open/closed boundary and the convection reversal surface. When as a possible choice we adopt a view that the open/closed boundary agrees with the convection reversal surface, we can explain qualitatively the configuration of the B(sub y)-controlled convection on the open and close field line regions by proposing a mapping modified in accordance with IMF B(sub y).

Taguchi, S.

Single laser beam of spatial coherence from an array of GaAs lasers - Free-running mode

Spatially coherent radiation from a monolithic array of three GaAs lasers in a free-running mode is reported. The lasers, with their mirror faces antireflection coated, are operated in an external optical cavity built of spherical lenses and plane mirrors. The spatially coherent-beam formation makes use of the Fourier-transformation property of the internal lenses. Transverse mode control is accomplished by a spatial filter. The optical cavity is similar to that used for the phase-controlled mode of spatially coherent-beam formation; only the spatial filters are different. In the far field (when restored by an external lens), the intensities of the lasers in the array are concentrated in a single laser beam of spatial coherence, without any grating lobes. The far-field distribution of the laser array in the free-running mode differs significantly from the interference pattern of the phase-controlled mode. The modulation characteristics of the optical waveforms of the two modes are also quite different because modulation is related to the interaction of the spatial filter with the longitudinal modes of the laser array within the optical cavity. The modulation of the optical waveform of the free-running mode is nonperiodic, confirming that the fluctuations of the optical fields of the lasers are random.

Philipp-Rutz, E. M.

Recent developments in monolithic phase-locked semiconductor laser arrays

Coherent combination of the power of several semiconductor lasers fabricated on the same substrate has been the subject of an intense research effort in recent years, the main motivation being to obtain higher power levels than those available from a single laser in a stable radiation pattern. Best results reported so far include 2.6 Watts CW emitted power and less than 1 deg far-field angle (in the array plane) in arrays where all the lasers are electrically connected in parallel. A different type of coherent array, where each element has a separate contact, has been recently demonstrated. While requiring the more complex two-level metallization technology, applying a separate contact to each laser provides an additional degree of freedom in the design and the operation of monolithic arrays. The separate contacts can be employed to tailor the near-field and far-field distributions and to compensate for device-to-device nonuniformities. Furthermore, the control of the currents of the array elements allows the performance of a variety of other functions, such as beam scanning, spectral mode control, wavelength tuning and control of the mutual coherence between array elements.

Katz, J.

Recent developments in monolithic phase-locked semiconductor laser arrays

Coherent combination of the power of several semiconductor lasers fabricated on the same substrate has been the subject of an intense research effort in recent years, the main motivation being to obtain higher power levels than those available from a single laser in a stable radiation pattern. Best results reported so far include 2.6 watts CW emitted power and less than 1 deg far-field angle (in the array plane) in arrays where all the lasers are electrically connected in parallel. A different type of coherent array, where each element has a separate contact, has been recently demonstrated. While requiring the more complex two-level metallization technology, applying a separate contact to each laser provides an additional degree of freedom in the design and the operation of monolithic arrays. The separate contacts can be employed to tailor the near-field and far-field distributions and to compensate for device-to-device nonuniformities. Furthermore, the control of the currents of the array elements allows the performance of a variety of other functions, such as beam scanning, spectral mode control, wavelength tuning and control of the mutual coherence between array elements.

Katz, J.

NASA Tech Briefs, July 2006

Topics covered include: Airport Remote Tower Sensor Systems; Implantable Wireless MEMS Sensors for Medical Uses; Embedded Sensors for Measuring Surface Regression; Coordinating an Autonomous Earth-Observing Sensorweb; Range-Measuring Video Sensors; Stability Enhancement of Polymeric Sensing Films Using Fillers; Sensors for Using Times of Flight to Measure Flow Velocities; Receiver Would Control Phasing of a Phased-Array Antenna; Modern Design of Resonant Edge-Slot Array Antennas; Carbon-Nanotube Schottky Diodes; Simplified Optics and Controls for Laser Communications; Coherent Detection of High-Rate Optical PPM Signals; Multichannel Phase and Power Detector; Using Satellite Data in Weather Forecasting: I; Using Dissimilarity Metrics to Identify Interesting Designs; X-Windows PVT Widget Class; Shuttle Data Center File-Processing Tool in Java; Statistical Evaluation of Utilization of the ISS; Nanotube Dispersions Made With Charged Surfactant; Aerogels for Thermal Insulation of Thermoelectric Devices; Low-Density, Creep-Resistant Single-Crystal Superalloys; Excitations for Rapidly Estimating Flight-Control Parameters; Estimation of Stability and Control Derivatives of an F-15; Tool for Coupling a Torque Wrench to a Round Cable Connector; Ultrasonically Actuated Tools for Abrading Rock Surfaces; Active Struts With Variable Spring Stiffness and Damping; Multiaxis, Lightweight, Computer-Controlled Exercise System; Dehydrating and Sterilizing Wastes Using Supercritical CO2; Alpha-Voltaic Sources Using Liquid Ga as Conversion Medium; Ice-Borehole Probe; Alpha-Voltaic Sources Using Diamond as Conversion Medium; White-Light Whispering-Gallery-Mode Optical Resonators; Controlling Attitude of a Solar-Sail Spacecraft Using Vanes; and Wire-Mesh-Based Sorber for Removing Contaminants from Air.

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Large Deployable Reflector (LDR) - A concept for an orbiting submillimeter-infrared telescope for the 1990s

The history and background of the Large Deployable Reflector (LDR) are reviewed. The results of the June 1982 Asilomar (CA) workshop are incorporated into the LDR science objectives and telescope concept. The areas where the LDR may have the greatest scientific impact are in the study of star formation and planetary systems in the own and nearby galaxies and in cosmological studies of the structure and evolution of the early universe. The observational requirements for these and other scientific studies give rise to a set of telescope functional requirements. These, in turn, are satisfied by an LDR configuration which is a Cassegrain design with a 20 m diameter, actively controlled, segmented, primary reflector, diffraction limited at a wavelength of 30 to 50 microns. Technical challenges in the LDR development include construction of high tolerance mirror segments, surface figure measurement, figure control, vibration control, pointing, cryogenics, and coherent detectors. Project status and future plans for the LDR are discussed.

Swanson, P. N.

Superradiance of J-Aggregated 2,2'-Cyanine Absorbed onto a Vesicle Surface

Phospholipid vesicles are used as substrates to form adsorbed aggregates of 2,2'-cyanine, also referred to as pseudoisocyanine (PIC). In this paper, we report photophysical parameters of two putative adsorbed aggregates species (cis- and trans-aggregates, relating to their makeup from mono-cis and all-transstereoisomers, respectively). Phase modulation picosecond fluorescence decay measurements reveal that superradiance and energy transfer are dominant features controlling photophysical processes. Superradiance, coherence size, energy transfer and exciton-phonon coupling are discussed for the two types of aggregates; as regards photophysical parameters, the fluorescence lifetimes, fluorescence quantum yields, and nonradiative rate constants are determined. It is suggested that structure plays the crucial role in excited state dynamics.

Akins, Daniel L.

A Blueprint for Demonstrating Quantum Supremacy with Superconducting Qubits

Long coherence times and high fidelity control recently achieved in scalable superconducting circuits paved the way for the growing number of experimental studies of many-qubit quantum coherent phenomena in these devices. Albeit full implementation of quantum error correction and fault tolerant quantum computation remains a challenge the near term pre-error correction devices could allow new fundamental experiments despite inevitable accumulation of errors. One such open question foundational for quantum computing is achieving the so called quantum supremacy, an experimental demonstration of a computational task that takes polynomial time on the quantum computer whereas the best classical algorithm would require exponential time and/or resources. It is possible to formulate such a task for a quantum computer consisting of less than a 100 qubits. The computational task we consider is to provide approximate samples from a non-trivial quantum distribution. This is a generalization for the case of superconducting circuits of ideas behind boson sampling protocol for quantum optics introduced by Arkhipov and Aaronson. In this presentation we discuss a proof-of-principle demonstration of such a sampling task on a 9-qubit chain of superconducting gmon qubits developed by Google. We discuss theoretical analysis of the driven evolution of the device resulting in output approximating samples from a uniform distribution in the Hilbert space, a quantum chaotic state. We analyze quantum chaotic characteristics of the output of the circuit and the time required to generate a sufficiently complex quantum distribution. We demonstrate that the classical simulation of the sampling output requires exponential resources by connecting the task of calculating the output amplitudes to the sign problem of the Quantum Monte Carlo method. We also discuss the detailed theoretical modeling required to achieve high fidelity control and calibration of the multi-qubit unitary evolution in the device. We use a novel cross-entropy statistical metric as a figure of merit to verify the output and calibrate the device controls. Finally, we demonstrate the statistics of the wave function amplitudes generated on the 9-gmon chain and verify the quantum chaotic nature of the generated quantum distribution. This verifies the implementation of the quantum supremacy protocol.

Kechedzhi, Kostyantyn

Investigations of coherent structures in free turbulent shear flows

The dynamics of large-scale coherent structures in general, and studies based on flow-visualization and phase-locked hot-wire measurements of the structures in the near fields of circular jets are considered. A study involving the nature of coherent structures under conditions of stable vortex pairing induced by controlled axisymmetric acoustic excitation reveals that azimuthal coherence initially enhanced by the excitation is lost before the end of the potential core through evolution of azimuthal lobe structures and turbulent breakdown. The evolution of a spark-induced spot in an axisymmetric turbulent mixing layer is also investigated, and the coherent Reynolds stress associated with the spot is found to be much higher than the background turbulence Reynolds stress. In addition, the state of organization in a high Reynolds number unperturbed axisymmetric mixing layer is examined, and it is shown that the shear layer is infrequently organized and the motions are intensely three-dimensional, while tearing and fractional pairing occur as frequently as complete pairing.

Hussain, A. K. M. F.

Low dimensional models of the wall region of a turbulent boundary layer, and the possibility of control

A method of identification of coherent structures in a random turbulent flow is outlined with emphasis on the structure best correlated with a random energy-integrable field and application of the proper orthogonal decomposition to the shear flow of the wall region. The wall region of a pipe flow with almost pure glycerine is investigated experimentally, dynamic equations are obtained, and an energy-transfer model is employed. Numerical solutions are obtained, implications for the flow in the wall region are discussed with focus placed on the sets of solutions exhibiting intermittency. The most significant finding of the study is considered to be the suggestion of the etiology of the bursting phenomenon; presuming that abrupt transitions from one fixed point to the other can be identified with a burst, these bursts appear to be produced autonomously by the wall region, but be triggered by pressure signals from the outer layer.

Lumley, John L.

Adaptive data rate SSMA system for personal and mobile satellite communications

An adaptive data rate SSMA (spread spectrum multiple access) system is proposed for mobile and personal multimedia satellite communications without the aid of system control earth stations. This system has a constant occupied bandwidth and has variable data rates and processing gains to mitigate communication link impairments such as fading, rain attenuation and interference as well as to handle variable data rate on demand. Proof of concept hardware for 6MHz bandwidth transponder is developed, that uses offset-QPSK (quadrature phase shift keying) and MSK (minimum shift keying) for direct sequence spread spectrum modulation and handle data rates of 4k to 64kbps. The RS422 data interface, low rate voice and H.261 video codecs are installed. The receiver is designed with coherent matched filter technique to achieve fast code acquisition, AFC (automatic frequency control) and coherent detection with minimum hardware losses in a single matched filter circuit. This receiver structure facilitates variable data rate on demand during a call. This paper shows the outline of the proposed system and the performance of the prototype equipment.

Ikegami, Tetsushi