Engineering PapersSearch

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “BANDWIDTH”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 55 records · Page 3

A bandwidth efficient coding scheme for the Hubble Space Telescope

As a demonstration of the performance capabilities of trellis codes using multidimensional signal sets, a Viterbi decoder was designed. The choice of code was based on two factors. The first factor was its application as a possible replacement for the coding scheme currently used on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The HST at present uses the rate 1/3 nu = 6 (with 2 (exp nu) = 64 states) convolutional code with Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK) modulation. With the modulator restricted to a 3 Msym/s, this implies a data rate of only 1 Mbit/s, since the bandwidth efficiency K = 1/3 bit/sym. This is a very bandwidth inefficient scheme, although the system has the advantage of simplicity and large coding gain. The basic requirement from NASA was for a scheme that has as large a K as possible. Since a satellite channel was being used, 8PSK modulation was selected. This allows a K of between 2 and 3 bit/sym. The next influencing factor was INTELSAT's intention of transmitting the SONET 155.52 Mbit/s standard data rate over the 72 MHz transponders on its satellites. This requires a bandwidth efficiency of around 2.5 bit/sym. A Reed-Solomon block code is used as an outer code to give very low bit error rates (BER). A 16 state rate 5/6, 2.5 bit/sym, 4D-8PSK trellis code was selected. This code has reasonable complexity and has a coding gain of 4.8 dB compared to uncoded 8PSK (2). This trellis code also has the advantage that it is 45 deg rotationally invariant. This means that the decoder needs only to synchronize to one of the two naturally mapped 8PSK signals in the signal set.

Pietrobon, Steven S.

Bandwidth efficient coding for satellite communications

An error control coding scheme was devised to achieve large coding gain and high reliability by using coded modulation with reduced decoding complexity. To achieve a 3 to 5 dB coding gain and moderate reliability, the decoding complexity is quite modest. In fact, to achieve a 3 dB coding gain, the decoding complexity is quite simple, no matter whether trellis coded modulation or block coded modulation is used. However, to achieve coding gains exceeding 5 dB, the decoding complexity increases drastically, and the implementation of the decoder becomes very expensive and unpractical. The use is proposed of coded modulation in conjunction with concatenated (or cascaded) coding. A good short bandwidth efficient modulation code is used as the inner code and relatively powerful Reed-Solomon code is used as the outer code. With properly chosen inner and outer codes, a concatenated coded modulation scheme not only can achieve large coding gains and high reliability with good bandwidth efficiency but also can be practically implemented. This combination of coded modulation and concatenated coding really offers a way of achieving the best of three worlds, reliability and coding gain, bandwidth efficiency, and decoding complexity.

Lin, Shu

Phase locking and bandwidth in a gyrotron oscillator

For imaging radar and for satellite and space communication (e.g. NASA's deep space network), it is important that the bandwidth be as large as possible. Here we derive a formalism for computing the phase locking bandwidth that can be achieved in a gyrotron oscillator while varying the beam voltage. As an example, a second harmonic TE02/03 gyrotron is considered. For this device, the effective bandwidth can be increased by a factor of about 3 compared with the fixed voltage case by allowing the beam voltage to change together with the input locking signal.

Latham, P. E.

Investigation of the effects of bandwidth and time delay on helicopter roll-axis handling qualities

Several years of cooperative research conducted under the U.S./German Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in helicopter flight control has recently resulted in a successful handling qualities study. The focus of this cooperative research has been the effects on handling qualities due to time delays in combination with a high bandwidth vehicle. The jointly performed study included the use of U.S. ground-based simulation and German in-flight simulation facilities. The NASA-Ames Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS) was used to develop a high bandwidth slalom tracking task which took into consideration the constraints of the facilities. The VMS was also used to define a range of the test parameters and to perform initial handling qualities evaluations. The flight tests were conducted using DLR's variable-stability BO 105 S3 Advanced Technology Testing Helicopter System (ATTHeS). Configurations included a rate command and an attitude command response system with added time delays up to 160 milliseconds over the baseline and bandwidth values between 1.5 and 4.5 rad/sec. Sixty-six evaluations were performed in about 25 hours of flight time during ten days of testing. The results indicate a need to more tightly constrain the allowable roll axis phase delay for the Level 1 and Level 2 requirements in the U.S. Army's specification for helicopter handling qualities, ADS-33C.

Pausder, Heinz-Juergen

Investigation of the effects of bandwidth and time delay on helicopter roll-axis handling qualities

Several years of cooperative research conducted under the U.S./German Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in helicopter flight control has recently resulted in a successful handling qualities study. The focus of this cooperative research has been the effects on handling qualities due to time delays in combination with a high bandwidth vehicle. The jointly performed study included the use of U.S. ground-based simulation and German in-flight simulation facilities. The NASA-Ames Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS) was used to develop a high bandwidth slalom tracking task which took into consideration the constraints of the facilities. The VMS was also used to define a range of the test parameters and to perform initial handling qualities evaluations. The flight tests were conducted using DLR's variable-stability BO 105 S3 Advanced Technology Testing Helicopter System (ATTHeS). Configurations included a rate command and an attitude command response system with added time delays up to 160 milliseconds over the baseline and bandwidth values between 1.5 and 4.5 rad/sec. Sixty-six evaluations were performed in about 25 hr of flight time during 10 days of testing. The results indicate a need to more tightly constrain the allowable roll axis phase delay for the Level 1 and Level 2 requirements in the U.S. Army's specification for helicopter handling qualities, ADS-33C.

Pausder, Heinz-Juergen

Effects of Restricted Launch Conditions for the Enhancement of Bandwidth-Distance Product of Multimode Fiber Links

Several techniques had been proposed to enhance multimode fiber bandwidth-distance product. Single mode-to-multimode offset launch condition technique had been experimented with at Kennedy Space Center. Significant enhancement in multimode fiber link bandwidth is achieved using this technique. It is found that close to three-fold bandwidth enhancement can be achieved compared to standard zero offset launch technique. Moreover, significant reduction in modal noise has been observed as a function of offset launch displacement. However, significant reduction in the overall signal-to-noise ratio is also observed due to signal attenuation due to mode radiation from fiber core to its cladding.

Andrawis, Alfred S.

Demonstration of an X-Band Multilayer Yagi-Like Microstrip Patch Antenna With High Directivity and Large Bandwidth

The feasibility of obtaining large bandwidth and high directivity from a multilayer Yagi-like microstrip patch antenna at 10 GHz is investigated. A measured 10-dB bandwidth of approximately 20 percent and directivity of approximately 11 dBi is demonstrated through the implementation of a vertically-stacked structure with three parasitic directors, above the driven patch, and a single reflector underneath the driven patch. Simulated and measured results are compared and show fairly close agreement. This antenna offers the advantages of large bandwidth, high directivity, and symmetrical broadside patterns, and could be applicable to satellite as well as terrestrial communications.

Nessel, James A.

Bandwidth controller for phase-locked-loop

A phase locked loop utilizing digital techniques to control the closed loop bandwidth of the RF carrier phase locked loop in a receiver provides high sensitivity and a wide dynamic range for signal reception. After analog to digital conversion, a digital phase locked loop bandwidth controller provides phase error detection with automatic RF carrier closed loop tracking bandwidth control to accommodate several modes of transmission.

Brockman, Milton H.

A Low Cross-Polarization Smooth-Walled Horn with Improved Bandwidth

Corrugated feed horns offer excellent beam symmetry, main beam efficiency, and cross-polar response over wide bandwidths, but can be challenging to fabricate. An easier-to-manufacture smooth-walled feed is explored that approximates these properties over a finite bandwidth. The design, optimization and measurement of a monotonically-profiled, smooth-walled scalar feedhorn with a diffraction-limited approximately 7 degrees full width at half maximum (FWHM) is presented. The feed was demonstrated to have low cross polarization (<-30 dB) across the frequency range 33-45 GHz (30% fractional bandwidth). A return loss better than -28 dB was measured across the band.

Zeng, Lingzhen

A Low Cross-Polarization Smooth-Walled Horn with Improved Bandwidth

Corrugated feed horns offer excellent beam symmetry, main beam efficiency, and cross-polar response over wide bandwidths, but can be challenging to fabricate. An easier-to-manufacture smooth-walled feed is explored that approximates these properties over a finite bandwidth. The design, optimization and measurement of a monotonically-profiled, smooth-walled scalar feedhorn with a diffraction-limited approx. 14deg FWHM beam is presented. The feed was demonstrated to have low cross polarization (<-30 dB) across the frequency range 33-45 GHz (30% fractional bandwidth). A power reflection below -28 dB was measured across the band.

Zeng, Lingzhen

Characterizing the In-Phase Reflection Bandwidth Theoretical Limit of Artificial Magnetic Conductors With a Transmission Line Model

We validate through simulation and experiment that artificial magnetic conductors (AMC s) can be well characterized by a transmission line model. The theoretical bandwidth limit of the in-phase reflection can be expressed in terms of the effective RLC parameters from the surface patch and the properties of the substrate. It is found that the existence of effective inductive components will reduce the in-phase reflection bandwidth of the AMC. Furthermore, we propose design strategies to optimize AMC structures with an in-phase reflection bandwidth closer to the theoretical limit.

Xie, Yunsong

Bandwidth-Efficient Communication through 225 MHz Ka-band Relay Satellite Channel

The communications and navigation space infrastructure of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) consists of a constellation of relay satellites (called Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS)) and a global set of ground stations to receive and deliver data to researchers around the world from mission spacecraft throughout the solar system. Planning is underway to enhance and transform the infrastructure over the coming decade. Key to the upgrade will be the simultaneous and efficient use of relay transponders to minimize cost and operations while supporting science and exploration spacecraft. Efficient use of transponders necessitates bandwidth efficient communications to best use and maximize data throughput within the allocated spectrum. Experiments conducted with NASA's Space Communication and Navigation (SCaN) Testbed on the International Space Station provides a unique opportunity to evaluate advanced communication techniques, such as bandwidth-efficient modulations, in an operational flight system. Demonstrations of these new techniques in realistic flight conditions provides critical experience and reduces the risk of using these techniques in future missions. Efficient use of spectrum is enabled by using high-order modulations coupled with efficient forward error correction codes. This paper presents a high-rate, bandwidth-efficient waveform operating over the 225 MHz Ka-band service of the TDRS System (TDRSS). The testing explores the application of Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK), 2/4/8-phase shift keying (PSK) and 16/32- amplitude PSK (APSK) providing over three bits-per-second-per-Hertz (3 b/s/Hz) modulation combined with various LDPC encoding rates to maximize through- put. With a symbol rate of 200 M-band, coded data rates of 1000 Mbps were tested in the laboratory and up to 800 Mbps over the TDRS 225 MHz channel. This paper will present on the high-rate waveform design, channel characteristics, performance results, compensation techniques for filtering and equalization, and architecture considerations going forward for efficient use of NASA's infrastructure.

transmitters receivers

Bandwidth-Efficient Communication through 225 MHz Ka-band Relay Satellite Channel

The communications and navigation space infrastructure of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) consists of a constellation of relay satellites (called Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS)) and a global set of ground stations to receive and deliver data to researchers around the world from mission spacecraft throughout the solar system. Planning is underway to enhance and transform the infrastructure over the coming decade. Key to the upgrade will be the simultaneous and efficient use of relay transponders to minimize cost and operations while supporting science and exploration spacecraft. Efficient use of transponders necessitates bandwidth efficient communications to best use and maximize data throughput within the allocated spectrum. Experiments conducted with NASA's Space Communication and Navigation (SCaN) Testbed on the International Space Station provides a unique opportunity to evaluate advanced communication techniques, such as bandwidth-efficient modulations, in an operational flight system. Demonstrations of these new techniques in realistic flight conditions provides critical experience and reduces the risk of using these techniques in future missions. Efficient use of spectrum is enabled by using high-order modulations coupled with efficient forward error correction codes. This paper presents a high-rate, bandwidth-efficient waveform operating over the 225 MHz Ka-band service of the TDRS System (TDRSS). The testing explores the application of Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK), 248-phase shift keying (PSK) and 1632- amplitude PSK (APSK) providing over three bits-per-second-per-Hertz (3 bsHz) modulation combined with various LDPC encoding rates to maximize throughput. With a symbol rate of 200 Mbaud, coded data rates of 1000 Mbps were tested in the laboratory and up to 800 Mbps over the TDRS 225 MHz channel. This paper will present on the high-rate waveform design, channel characteristics, performance results, compensation techniques for filtering and equalization, and architecture considerations going forward for efficient use of NASA's infrastructure.

space communications

Effects of Displacement Damage on the Time-Resolved Gain and Bandwidth of a Low Breakdown Voltage Si Avalanche Photodiode

Effects of displacement damage and ionization damage induced by gamma irradiation on the dark current and impulse response of a high-bandwidth low breakdown voltage Si Avalanche Photodiode has been investigated using picosecond laser microscopy. At doses as high as 10Mrad (Si) minimal alteration in the impulse response and bandwidth were observed. However, dark current measurements also performed with and without biased irradiation exhibit anomalously large damage factors for applied biases close to breakdown. The absence of any degradation in the impulse response is discussed as are possible mechanisms for higher dark current damage factors observed for biased irradiation.

bandwidth

Thermal stress-induced depolarization compensation in wide-bandwidth, high-energy, high-repetition-rate multi-slab laser amplifiers

We present an innovative design for a two-head, gas-cooled multi-slab high-energy, high-repetition-rate amplifier aimed at mitigating thermally induced depolarization in a wide-bandwidth neodymium-doped glass gain medium. This architecture employs two quartz rotators (QRs) with opposite-handedness, strategically positioned within each multi-slab amplifier head, to enhance depolarization compensation. Theoretical modeling of this amplifier configuration demonstrates a 20× reduction in depolarization losses for a 70 mm beam operating at the central wavelength, compared to conventional approaches that utilize a single QR positioned between the amplifier heads. In addition, for a wide bandwidth source, the integration of QRs with opposite-handedness yields a 9× improvement in depolarization losses at the spectral extremes compared to the use of two QRs exhibiting the same optical handedness in both amplifier heads.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION

High-bandwidth frequency domain multiplexed readout of transition-edge sensors for neutrinoless double beta decay searches

The next-generation of cryogenic neutrinoless double-beta decay experiments require increasingly fast readout in order to improve background discrimination. These experiments, operated as cryogenic calorimeters at ∼ 10 mK, are usually read out by high-impedance neutron transmutation doped (NTD) thermistors, which provide good energy resolution, but are limited by ∼ 1 ms response times. Superconducting detectors, such as transition-edge sensors (TESs) with a time resolution of ∼ 100 μs, offer superior timing performance over NTD semiconductor bolometers. To make this technology viable for an application to a thousand or more channels, multiplexed readout is necessary in order to minimize the thermal load and radioactive contamination induced by the readout. Frequency-domain multiplexing readout (fMUX) for TESs, previously developed at Berkeley Lab and McGill University, is currently in use for mm-wave telescopes with detector sampling rates in the order of 100 Hz. We demonstrate a new readout system, based on the McGill/Berkeley digital fMux readout, to satisfy the higher bandwidth and noise requirements of the next generation of TES-instrumented cryogenic calorimeters. Each multiplexing readout module comprises 10 superconducting resonators in the 1–5 MHz range and a DC superconducting quantum interference device (DC-SQUID), interfaced to high-speed field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based electronics for digital signal processing and low-latency SQUID feedback. The new readout samples detectors at 156 kHz, three orders of magnitude faster than its cosmology-oriented predecessor, and demonstrates a stable feedback bandwidth of 3 kHz in a real TES-based system.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION