Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “patterned beam”

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 793 records · Page 44

The 20 GHz proof-of-concept test model results for a multiple scan beam dual reflector antenna

A full scale 20 GHz antenna model was designed, fabricated and tested. The model is intended to test the low sidelobe beam scanning capability of a new class of an offset dual reflector and feed array configuration. The offset main reflector and subreflector surfaces are custom shaped by a computer synthesis procedure. The derived optics result in beam scan loss under 1 db over the + or - 12.3 beamwidths by + or - 5.8 beamwidths scan volume while maintaining low sidelobes. It is found that the measured and computed patterns are in good agreement.

Roberts, T.↗

Seasonal variation in the structure of red reflectance of leaves from yellow poplar, red oak, and red maple

The light scattered from leaves was measured as a function of view angle in the principal plane for yellow poplar, red oak, and red maple. The source was a parallel-polarized helium-neon laser. Yellow poplar leaves had the highest reflectance of the three species, which may have been due to its shorter palisade cells and more extensive spongy mesophyll. Prior to senescence, there was a significant decrease, but not total extinction, in the reflectance of the beam incident at 60 deg from nadir on the adaxial side of the leaves of all three species. Low-temperature SEM observations showed differences in the surface wax patterns among the three species but did not indicate a cause of the reflectance changes other than possibly the accumulation and aging of the wax.

Brakke, Thomas W.↗

Thresholds for Shifting Visually Perceived Eye Level Due to Incremental Pitches

Visually perceived eye level (VPEL) was judged by subjects as they viewed a luminous grid pattern that was pitched by 2 or 5 deg increments between -20 deg and +20 deg. Subjects were dark adapted for 20 min and indicated--VPEL by directing the beam of a laser pointer to the rear wall of a 1.25 m cubic pitch box that rotated about a horizontal axis midpoint on the rear wall. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and the Tukey HSD procedure. Results showed a 10.0 deg threshold for pitches P(sub i) above the reference pitch P(sub 0), and a -10.3 deg threshold for pitches P(sub i) below-the reference-pitch P(sub 0). Threshold data for pitches P(sub i) < P(sub 0) suggest an asymmetric threshold for VPEL below and above physical eye level.

Scott, Donald M.↗

Self-amplified optical pattern recognition system

A self amplifying optical pattern recognizer includes a geometric system configuration similar to that of a Vander Lugt holographic matched filter configuration with a photorefractive crystal specifically oriented with respect to the input beams. An extraordinarily polarized, spherically converging object image beam is formed by laser illumination of an input object image and applied through a photorefractive crystal, such as a barium titanite (BaTiO.sub.3) crystal. A volume or thin-film dif ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION The invention described herein was made in the performance of work under a NASA contract, and is subject to the provisions of Public Law 96-517 (35 USC 202) in which the Contractor has elected to retain title.

Liu, Hua-Kuang↗

Wide-Angle-Scanning Reflectarray Antennas Actuated by MEMS

An effort to develop large-aperture, wide-angle-scanning reflectarray antennas for microwave radar and communication systems is underway. In an antenna of this type as envisioned, scanning of the radiated or incident microwave beam would be effected through mechanical rotation of the passive (reflective) patch antenna elements, using microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) stepping rotary actuators typified by piezoelectric micromotors. It is anticipated that the cost, mass, and complexity of such an antenna would be less than, and the reliability greater than, those of an electronically scanned phased-array antenna of comparable beam-scanning capability and angular resolution. In the design and operation of a reflectarray, one seeks to position and orient an array of passive patch elements in a geometric pattern such that, through constructive interference of the reflections from them, they collectively act as an efficient single reflector of radio waves within a desired frequency band. Typically, the patches lie in a common plane and radiation is incident upon them from a feed horn.

Fang, Houfei↗

Low-Cost Phased Array Antenna for Sounding Rockets, Missiles, and Expendable Launch Vehicles

A low-cost beamformer phased array antenna has been developed for expendable launch vehicles, rockets, and missiles. It utilizes a conformal array antenna of ring or individual radiators (design varies depending on application) that is designed to be fed by the recently developed hybrid electrical/mechanical (vendor-supplied) phased array beamformer. The combination of these new array antennas and the hybrid beamformer results in a conformal phased array antenna that has significantly higher gain than traditional omni antennas, and costs an order of magnitude or more less than traditional phased array designs. Existing omnidirectional antennas for sounding rockets, missiles, and expendable launch vehicles (ELVs) do not have sufficient gain to support the required communication data rates via the space network. Missiles and smaller ELVs are often stabilized in flight by a fast (i.e. 4 Hz) roll rate. This fast roll rate, combined with vehicle attitude changes, greatly increases the complexity of the high-gain antenna beam-tracking problem. Phased arrays for larger ELVs with roll control are prohibitively expensive. Prior techniques involved a traditional fully electronic phased array solution, combined with highly complex and very fast inertial measurement unit phased array beamformers. The functional operation of this phased array is substantially different from traditional phased arrays in that it uses a hybrid electrical/mechanical beamformer that creates the relative time delays for steering the antenna beam via a small physical movement of variable delay lines. This movement is controlled via an innovative antenna control unit that accesses an internal measurement unit for vehicle attitude information, computes a beam-pointing angle to the target, then points the beam via a stepper motor controller. The stepper motor on the beamformer controls the beamformer variable delay lines that apply the appropriate time delays to the individual array elements to properly steer the beam. The array of phased ring radiators is unique in that it provides improved gain for a small rocket or missile that uses spin stabilization for stability. The antenna pattern created is symmetric about the roll axis (like an omnidirectional wraparound), and is thus capable of providing continuous coverage that is compatible with very fast spinning rockets. For larger ELVs with roll control, a linear array of elements can be used for the 1D scanned beamformer and phased array, or a 2D scanned beamformer can be used with an NxN element array.

Mullinix, Daniel↗

Nanometer X-ray Lithography

New developments for X-ray nanomachinging include pattern transfer onto non-planar surfaces coated with eletrodeposited resists using synchrotron radion X-rays through extremely high-resolution masks made by chemically assisted focused ion beam lithography.

X-rays↗

System and method for high power diode based additive manufacturing

The present disclosure relates to a system for performing an Additive Manufacturing (AM) fabrication process on a powdered material, deposited as a powder bed and forming a substrate. The system makes use of a laser for generating a laser beam, and an optical subsystem. The optical subsystem is configured to receive the laser beam and to generate an optical signal comprised of electromagnetic radiation sufficient to melt or sinter the powdered material. The optical subsystem uses a digitally controlled mask configured to pattern the optical signal as needed to melt select portions of a layer of the powdered material to form a layer of a 3D part. A power supply and at least one processor are also included for generating a plurality of different power density levels selectable based on a specific material composition, absorptivity and diameter of the powder particles, and a known thickness of the powder bed. The powdered material is used to form the 3D part in a sequential layer-by-layer process.

El-Dasher, Bassem S.↗

Characterization of devices, circuits, and high-temperature superconductor transmission lines by electro-optic testing

The development of a capability for testing transmission lines, devices, and circuits using the optically-based technique of electro-optics sampling was the goal of this project. Electro-optic network analysis of a high-speed device was demonstrated. The project involved research on all of the facets necessary in order to realize this result, including the discovery of the optimum electronic pulse source, development of an adequate test fixture, improvement of the electro-optic probe tip, and identification of a device which responded at high frequency but did not oscillate in the test fixture. In addition, during the process of investigating patterned high-critical-temperature superconductors, several non-contacting techniques for the determination of the transport properties of high T(sub c) films were developed and implemented. These are a transient, optical pump-probe, time-resolved reflectivity experiment, an impulsive-stimulated Raman scattering experiment, and a terahertz-beam coherent-spectroscopy experiment. The latter technique has enabled us to measure both the complex refractive index of an MgO substrate used for high-T(sub c) films and the complex conductivity of a YBa2Cu3O(7-x) sample. This information was acquired across an extremely wide frequency range: from the microwave to the submillimeter-wave regime. The experiments on the YBCO were conducted without patterning of, or contact to, the thin film. Thus, the need for the more difficult transmission-line experiments was eliminated. Progress in all of these areas was made and is documented in a number of papers. These papers may be found in the section listing the abstracts of the publications that were issued during the course of the research.

Whitaker, John F.↗

Orbiting multi-beam microwave radiometer for soil moisture remote sensing

The effects of soil moisture and other factors on soil surface emissivity are reviewed and design concepts for a multibeam microwave radiometer with a 15 m antenna are described. Characteristic antenna gain and radiation patterns are shown and losses due to reflector roughness are estimated.

Shiue, J. C.↗

Proton beam position measurement in air using a BPM

A Beam Position Monitor (BPM) is potentially useful to measure the position and phase of the beam in air in a non-destructive way. An air-gap BPM in experiments, such as beam-induced radioactive waste management and dynamic radiography applications, where a so-called air gap is needed, can be utilized to measure the beam position and phase. In this study, a stripline BPM was used in the air-gap of an 800 MeV proton beam transport line. The downstream end of the primary beamline exit window was made of a thin aluminum plate and allowed the beam to travel 1.2 m in ambient air before re-entering into a vacuum drift section. Such a configuration was arranged to examine the BPM effectiveness in atmospheric temperature and pressure where ionization of air occurs. In this study, a high energy (800 MeV), high current (0.6 A beam peak current/pulse) proton beam of 5 mm radius was transported in the air. The beam position relative to the axis was measured by detecting the signature of the beam in a nanosecond scale. This nanosecond scale detection ability was useful to identify other signals such as plasma effects. The BPM signals were processed at a frequency of 201 MHz; thus, one gets a stronger response in a stripline pattern as it was used in this study instead of a dot-type BPM. Experimental data show that the BPM works well in air, but ionization of air or plasma formation could not be measured over the BPM signal. The design, construction, and performance of a BPM in air environment are presented.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Determination of hard X-ray polarization from two-dimensional images

In this work, an estimate of synchrotron hard X-ray incident beam polarization is obtained by partial two-dimensional image masking followed by integration. With the correct polarization applied to each pixel in the image, the resulting one-dimensional pattern shows no discontinuities arising from the application of the mask. Minimization of the difference between the sums of the masked and unmasked powder patterns allows estimation of the polarization to ±0.001.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Radio frequency performance predictions for the hoop/column point design

Preliminary antenna pattern tests were conducted to determine if catastrophic effects were produced by cables (conducting) in the aperture. This test consisted of an apex feed illuminating a 3 meter solid reflector. A hoop/column configuration was used in positioning the various wires and cables. Radiation patterns were measured at 7 GHz and 10 GHz. No catastrophic effects were observed for this configuration, but additional tests are required to determine the effects for more precision multiple beam applications. In order to better understand the scattering and blockage effects on multiple beam performance, a 35 GHz model was used to model somewhat a single quad aperture configuration. Experimental results using this models are presented in graphs.

Campbell, T. G.↗

30/20 GHz demonstration system for improving orbit utilization

To guard against severe rain losses at 30 and 20 GHz, techniques are being developed which provide the high antenna gain needed to increase communications margins and frequency reuse capability through beam isolation, while providing complete coverage of the U.S. Effective bandwidths from a single satellite location may then reach tens of gigahertz, with capacity tailored to match nonuniform geographic demand patterns. Satellite onboard processing which includes forward-error-correction and the routing of channels to terminals will reduce scanning antenna requirements and increase rain margins, through the adaptive use of system margins to support those terminals experiencing rain. These antenna and onboard processing techniques are adaptable to C-band and Ku-band, in addition to Ka-band.

Holmes, W. M., Jr.↗

Optical fiber sensors and signal processing for intelligent structure monitoring

Few mode optical fibers have been shown to produce predictable interference patterns when placed under strain. The use is described of a modal domain sensor in a vibration control experiment. An optical fiber is bonded along the length of a flexible beam. Output from the modal domain sensor is used to suppress vibrations induced in the beam. A distributed effect model for the modal domain sensor is developed. This model is combined with the beam and actuator dynamics to produce a system suitable for control design. Computer simulations predict open and closed loop dynamic responses. An experimental apparatus is described and experimental results are presented.

Thomas, Daniel↗

High-efficiency, high-output-power antiguide laser diode arrays

Antiguide laser arrays have been fabricated and operated up to peak pulsed powers of 7.7 W in a beam with a full-width at half-maximum in the main lobe of 0.7 deg. Up to 0.7 W of continuous wave power is emitted into a radiation pattern 2.5 times the diffraction limit. By varying the temperature of the array to vary the operating wavelength of the device, the threshold gain condition of the array modes is altered, allowing thermal tuning of the far field of the device.

Mehuys, D.↗

Ionic Liquid Gating of SrTiO 3 Lamellas Fabricated with a Focused Ion Beam

Here, in this work, we combine two previously incompatible techniques for defining electronic devices: shaping three-dimensional crystals by focused ion beam (FIB), and two-dimensional electrostatic accumulation of charge carriers. The principal challenge for this integration is nanometer-scale surface damage inherent to any FIB-based fabrication. We address this by using a sacrificial protective layer to preserve a selected pristine surface. The test case presented here is accumulation of 2D carriers by ionic liquid gating at the surface of a micron-scale SrTiO 3 lamella. Preservation of surface quality is reflected in superconductivity of the accumulated carriers. This technique opens new avenues for realizing electrostatic charge tuning in materials that are not available as large or exfoliatable single crystals, and for patterning the geometry of the accumulated carriers.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Synthetic-Aperture Antenna Array With Beam-Waveguide Coupling

Proposed synthetic-aperture antenna array for radio astronomy at wavelengths between 60 and 300 micrometers includes twelve 3.5-m-diameter paraboloidal-dish antennas at various positions along three 0.5-km-long arms of Y-shaped pattern. Receivers located centrally, with consequent reductions in complexity and cost. Innovative features of design also stimulates solutions to engineering problems arising in terrestrial radio systems.

Mahoney, Michael J.↗