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At least 523 records · Page 29

Hyper-Spectral Networking Concept of Operations and Future Air Traffic Management Simulations

The NASA sponsored Hyper-Spectral Communications and Networking for Air Traffic Management (ATM) (HSCNA) project is conducting research to improve the operational efficiency of the future National Airspace System (NAS) through diverse and secure multi-band, multi-mode, and millimeter-wave (mmWave) wireless links. Worldwide growth of air transportation and the coming of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) will increase air traffic density and complexity. Safe coordination of aircraft will require more capable technologies for communications, navigation, and surveillance (CNS). The HSCNA project will provide a foundation for technology and operational concepts to accommodate a significantly greater number of networked aircraft. This paper describes two of the HSCNA projects technical challenges. The first technical challenge is to develop a multi-band networking concept of operations (ConOps) for use in multiple phases of flight and all communication link types. This ConOps will integrate the advanced technologies explored by the HSCNA project and future operational concepts into a harmonized vision of future NAS communications and networking. The second technical challenge discussed is to conduct simulations of future ATM operations using multi-bandmulti-mode networking and technologies. Large-scale simulations will assess the impact, compared to todays system, of the new and integrated networks and technologies under future air traffic demand.

communication link modeling↗

Active and Passive Radiative Transfer Modeling with Preferentially-Aligned Particles

The fluid dynamics of falling hydrometeors often results in preferential orientations that can affect both the intensity and polarization of electromagnetic radiation. In order to properly interpret remote sensing observations of ice and snow, such alignments should be considered when constructing databases of scattering particles; however, the inclusion of aligned particles increases the complexity of the scattering data. To demonstrate the use of scattering properties of preferentially-aligned particles, millimeter-wave brightness temperatures and radar observables, including reflectivity and linear depolarization ratio, are modeled using the Atmospheric Radiative Transfer Simulator (ARTS). The necessary scattering parameters for vector radiative transfer, particularly with respect to ARTS, are reviewed, and the exploitation of particle symmetries, as well as scattering reciprocity relationships, are detailed.

radiative transfer↗

Observational Results of a Multi-Telescope Campaign in Search of Interstellar Urea [(NH2)2CO]

In this paper, we present the results of an observational search for gas phase urea [(NH2)2CO] observed toward the Sgr B2(N-LMH) region. We show data covering urea transitions from ∼100 GHz to 250 GHz from five different observational facilities: the Berkeley-Illinois-Maryland-Association (BIMA) Array, the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy (CARMA), the NRAO 12 m telescope, the IRAM 30 m telescope, and the Swedish-ESO Submillimeter Telescope (SEST). The results show that the features ascribed to urea can be reproduced across the entire observed bandwidth and all facilities by best-fit column density, temperature, and source size parameters which vary by less than a factor of two between observations merely by adjusting for telescope-specific parameters. Interferometric observations show that the emission arising from these transitions is cospatial and compact, consistent with the derived source sizes and emission from a single species. Despite this evidence, the spectral complexity of both (NH2)2CO and of Sgr B2(N) makes the definitive identification of this molecule challenging. We present observational spectra, laboratory data, and models, and discuss our results in the context of a possible molecular detection of urea.

clouds - ISM↗

Cryogenic Low Noise MMIC Amplifiers for U-Band (40-60 GHz)

In this work, we describe monolithic millimeter-wave integrated circuit (MMIC) Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) and mixer designs for U-Band, also known as the WR19 waveguide band (40-60 GHz). The LNAs were fabricated in NGC’s 35 nm InP HEMT MMIC process. The MMICs were packaged in WR19 waveguide housings and tested for noise, both at room temperature and cryogenically. We present the results, including a comparison to the state-of-the-art, and discuss applications for amplifiers in this frequency range. To date, these are the first cryogenic 35 nm InP MMIC results covering the 40-60 GHz range. We achieved a noise temperature less than 30 K over the 40-60 GHz range, when the amplifiers were cryogenically cooled. These results are comparable with other results in the literature, and we believe are the lowest reported for MMICs in the 50-60 GHz range.

MMIC↗

Comparison of satellite ozone observations in coincident air masses in early November 1994

Ozone observed by seven satellite instruments, the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy instrument (ATMOS), Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) II, Polar Ozone and Aerosol Measurement (POAM) II instrument, Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE), Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS), Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes for the Atmosphere (CRISTA), and Millimeter-wave Atmospheric Sounder (MAS), during early November 1994 is mapped in equivalent latitude/potential temperature (EqL/ theta )space to facilitate nearly global comparisons of measurements taken in similar air masses.

atmospheric↗

InP MMIC chip set for power sources covering 86-170 GHz

We will present a Monolithic Millimeter-wave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) chip set which provides high output-power sources for driving diode frequency multipliers into the terahertz range. The chip set was fabricated at HRL Laboratories using a 0.l-μm gatelength InAI/InGaAs/InP high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) process, and features transistors with an fmax above 600 GHz. The HRL InP HEMT process has already demonstrated amplifiers in the 60-200 GHz range. In this paper, these high frequency HEMTs form the basis for power sources up to 170 GHz.

Ngo, Catherine↗

Radar concepts for the next generation of spaceborne observations of cloud and precipitation processes

Two decades of spaceborne cloud and precipitation radar data provided by the TRMM’s Precipitation Radar (PR) [1], CloudSat’s Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR) [2,3] and GPM’s Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) [4] have enabled unprecedented advancements in the global mapping of occurrence and vertical structure of most types of meteorological events. After the immense success of these radars, two new spaceborne atmospheric radars, the EarthCARE Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR) [5], and the Radar in a CubeSat (RainCube) [6] have been developed and will be launched in the upcoming years, and several new radar concepts have been developed and are being considered for a variety of mission concepts. For example, spaceborne precipitation and cloud radars operating at multiple frequencies (e.g., Ku-, Ka- and W-band simultaneously) with a single antenna, and that provide scanning, polarimetric and Doppler capabilities at all frequencies; extremely compact radar architectures that enable accommodation of this category of radars in spacecrafts as small as a 6U CubeSats, as well as Doppler-capable millimeter-wave weather radars for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) or Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites, are being defined and developed. These new instrument concepts are intended to fill the current observational gaps in the advancement of weather and climate models, and leverage on the TRMM, GPM and CloudSat experiences.

Sanchez-Barbetty, Mauricio↗

A 90 GHz Amplifier Assembled Using Flip-Chip Technology

This letter reports the performance of a novel single-stage W-band amplifier fabricated utilizing flip-chip bump-bonding. We have bump-bonded a high-speed, low-noise InP high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) device onto a separately fabricated passive circuit having a GaAs substrate.

FET amplifiers Millimeter wave FETs bump-bonding m↗

Bolometric detectors for the Planck surveyor

The High Frequency Instrument on the NASA/ESA Planck Surveyor, scheduled for launch in 2007, will map the entire sky in 6 frequency bands ranging from 100 GHz to 857 GHz to probe Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) anisotropy and polarization with angular resolution ranging from 9' to 5'. The HFI focal plane will contain 48 silicon nitride micromesh bolometers operating from a 100 mK heat sink. Four detectors in each of the 6 bands will detect unpolarized radiation. An additional 4 pairs of detectors will provide sensitivity to linear polarization of emission at 143, 217 and 353 GHz. We report on the development and characterization of these detectors before delivery to the European HFI consortium.

bolometers millimeter-wave Planck↗

Common base amplifier with 7 - dB gain at 176 GHz in InP mesa DHBT technology

We report a single stage tunded amplifier that exhibits 7 dB small signal gain at 176 GHz. Common Base topology is chosen as it has the best maximum stable gain (MSG) in this frequency band when compared to common emitter and common collector topologies. The amplifiers are designed and fabricated in InP mesa double heterojunction bipolar transistor (DHBT) technology.

millimeter-wave amplifier↗

Beyond G-band : a 235 GHz InP MMIC amplifier

We present results on an InP monolithic millimeter- wave integrated circuit (MMIC) amplifier having 10-dB gain at 235 GHz. We designed this circuit and fabricated the chip in Northrop Grumman Space Technology's (NGST) 0.07- m InP high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) process. Using a WR3 (220-325 GHz) waveguide vector network analyzer system interfaced to waveguide wafer probes, we measured this chip on-wafer for -parameters. To our knowledge, this is the first time a WR3 waveguide on-wafer measurement system has been used to measure gain in a MMIC amplifier above 230 GHz.

high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs)↗

Getting the GeoSTAR Instrument Concept Ready for a Space Mission

The Geostationary Synthetic Thinned Array Radiometer - GeoSTAR - is a microwave sounder intended for geostationary satellites. First proposed for the EO-3 New Millennium mission in 1999, the technology has since been developed under the Instrument Incubator Program. Under IIP-03 a proof-of-concept demonstrator operating in the temperature sounding 50 GHz band was developed to show that the aperture synthesis concept results in a realizable, stable and accurate imaging-sounding radiometer. Some of the most challenging technology, such as miniature low-power 183- GHz receivers used for water vapor sounding, was developed under IIP-07. The first such receiver has recently been adapted for use in the High Altitude MMIC Sounding Radiometer (HAMSR), which was previously developed under IIP-98. This receiver represents a new state of the art and outperforms the previous benchmark by an order of magnitude in radiometric sensitivity. It was first used in the GRIP hurricane field campaign in 2010, where HAMSR became the first microwave sounder to fly on the Global Hawk UAV. Now, under IIP-10, we will develop flight-like subsystems and a brassboard testing system, which will facilitate rapid implementation of a space mission. GeoSTAR is the baseline payload for the Precipitation and All-weather Temperature and Humidity (PATH) mission - one of NASA's 15 "decadal-survey" missions. Although PATH is currently in the third tier of those missions, the IIP efforts have advanced the required technology to a point where a space mission can be initiated in a time frame commensurate with second-tier missions. An even earlier Venture mission is also being considered.

millimeter-wave↗

The Interstellar Bullet Engine IRAS 05506+2414

Throughout their life-cycles, high-mass stars inject large amounts of energy and momentum into theirenvironments through stellar winds. Results from a study of the Orion BN/KL region indicate that disruption of a massive young stellar system can lead to an explosive event producing a wide-angle outflow, different from the classical bipolar flows driven by young stellar object (YSO) accretion disks. The discovery of a massive YSO, IRAS 05506+2414, may prove to be the second instance of this uncommon outflow. Prior to this study, data was collected using the Arizona Radio Observatory's 10-meter and 12-meter telescopes. Spectra of 16 different molecular line transitions were organized, reduced, and prepared for further analysis. A variety of molecular transitions were observed, such as 12CO 2-1, HCO+ 3-2, CS 3-2, in order to probe physical conditions of the YSO. From line transitions like HCO+ 3-2, we will determine physical properties like density, temperature, and velocity of our source object. For each molecular transition, the spectra were averaged in subsets, which were then averaged to produce a final spectra with an optimal signal to noise ratio. Future radiative modeling will yield mass and energetics of IRAS05506+2414.

millimeter-wave↗