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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.

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At least 1,045 records · Page 58

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NASA NTRS1973

Multibeam antenna study, Phase 2

An antenna system concept for point to point communication between any two points in the Continental United States was developed using a synchronous orbit satellite. The design and fabrication of a two dimensional artificial dielectric lens contained in a parallel plate waveguide system is presented. The experimental pattern and voltage standing wave ratio results are listed from tests with four different lenses: a plano-convex natural dielectric (Teflon) lens, a plano-convex artificial dielectric lens, a two-point corrected Teflon lens, and a two-point corrected artificial dielectric lens. A computer simulated design of an operational two lens, 24 beam configuration is also presented. The computer design presents overlays of each beam onto the Continental United States from a fixed synchronous orbit satellite with a definition of these areas where beam-to-beam isolation is not sufficient to permit the reuse of frequency.

Byrnes, P. J.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Frequency selective coupler for integrated optics systems.

A frequency selective coupler which consists of two thin film waveguides imbedded in a periodic medium is studied using the Brillouin diagram. Detailed results for the relative bandwidth and the coupling factor are plotted as a function of normalized frequency for a representative case.

Elachi, C.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Optimization in the design of a 12 gigahertz low cost ground receiving system for broadcast satellites. Volume 2: Antenna system and interference

The antenna characteristics are analyzed of a low cost mass-producible ground station to be used in broadcast satellite systems. It is found that a prime focus antenna is sufficient for a low-cost but not a low noise system. For the antenna feed waveguide systems are the best choice for the 12 GHz band, while printed-element systems are recommended for the 2.6 GHz band. Zoned reflectors are analyzed and appear to be attractive from the standpoint of cost. However, these reflectors suffer a gain reduction of about one db and a possible increase in sidelobe levels. The off-axis gain of a non-auto-tracking station can be optimized by establishing a special illumination function at the reflector aperture. A step-feed tracking system is proposed to provide automatic procedures for searching for peak signal from a geostationary satellite. This system uses integrated circuitry and therefore results in cost saving under mass production. It is estimated that a complete step-track system would cost only $512 for a production quantity of 1000 units per year.

Ohkubo, K.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Applications of tunable high energy/pressure pulsed lasers to atmospheric transmission and remote sensing

Atmospheric transmission of high energy C12 O2(16) lasers were improved by pulsed high pressure operation which, due to pressure broadening of laser lines, permits tuning the laser 'off' atmospheric C12 O2(16) absorption lines. Pronounced improvement is shown for horizontal transmission at altitudes above several kilometers, and for vertical transmission through the entire atmosphere. The atmospheric transmission of tuned C12 O2(16) lasers compares favorably with C12 O2(18) isotope lasers and CO lasers. The advantages of tunable, high energy, high pressure pulsed lasers over tunable diode lasers and waveguide lasers, in combining high energies with a large tuning range, are evaluated for certain applications to remote sensing of atmospheric constituents and pollutants. Pulsed operation considerably increases the signal to noise ratio without seriously affecting the high spectral resolution of signal detection obtained with laser heterodyning.

Hess, R. V.↗

NASA NTRS1974

MICTPT - A minicomputer general-purpose microwave two-port analysis program

The implementation of a microwave network-analysis program for computers with 4K words of memory is described. The program is capable of the frequency analysis of networks which include interconnections of lumped elements, transmission lines, waveguides, and any two-port which is described by the elements of a scattering matrix. The network can be described mnemonically rather than by numerical codes. For each frequency in the range, the entire network is collapsed into a single equivalent A matrix, and the input impedance and other characteristics are calculated.

Olson, D. H.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Mutual coupling in a finite planar array of circular apertures

Equations are presented for the calculation of the interelement mutual coupling in a finite-size planar array of waveguide-fed apertures in an infinite flat conductor. The general mutual admittance expression is evaluated for circular apertures, and the mutual coupling calculations are verified experimentally for two Te-(11) mode excited apertures. Qualitative agreement between calculations for a 183-element array and an infinite array establishes the validity of the finite-array theoretical model.

Bailey, M. C.↗

NASA NTRS1974

A tracking polarimeter for measuring solar and ionospheric Faraday rotation of signals from deep space probes

A tracking polarimeter implemented on the 64-m NASA/JPL paraboloid antenna at Goldstone, Calif., is described. Its performance is analyzed and compared with measurements. The system was developed to measure Faraday rotation in the solar corona of the telemetry carrier from the Pioneer VI spacecraft as it was occulted by the sun. It also measures rotation in the earth's ionosphere and is an accurate method of determining spacecraft orientation. The new feature of this system is its use of a pair of quarter-wave plates to allow the synthesis of a rotating feed system, while requiring the rotation of only a single section of waveguide. Since the polarization sensing is done at RF and the receiver operates essentially as a null detector, the system's accuracy is superior to other polarization tracking schemes. In addition, the antenna size and maser preamplifier provide unsurpassed sensitivity. The associated instrumentation used in the Pioneer VI experiment is also described.

Ohlson, J. E.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Diffused guides for distributed-feedback lasers

Proposed waveguide is hollow cylindrical pipe. Inside channel surface is infused with gas or metal molecules, forming periodic cross sections along entire length. Light is scattered at periodic infusions, resulting in distributed feedback. Configuration is suited for capillary gas lasers.

Elachi, C.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Communications and navigation

The use of a computer simulation to quantitatively measure the distortion on a standard video test signal which experiences frequency modulation, filtering, and frequency demodulation is discussed. The process is applied to frequency modulated television systems for use with the ATS-F spacecraft. A block diagram of the system is presented. The characteristics of a millimeter wave space communication system are analyzed. The application of the Omega position location equipment (OPLE) for a global rescue net is reported. The development of a high speed photodetector for the neodynium yag laser system is discussed and the characteristics of the system are explained. The effects of gas pressure on waveguide laser tunability are examined.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1975

A Theoretical Investigation of the Input Characteristics of a Rectangular Cavity-Backed Slot Antenna

Equations which represent the magnetic and electric stored energies are derived for an infinite section of rectangular waveguide and a rectangular cavity. These representations which are referred to as being physically observable are obtained by considering the difference in the volume integrals appearing in the complex Poynting theorem. It is shown that the physically observable stored energies are determined by the field components that vanish in a reference plane outside the aperture. These physically observable representations are used to compute the input admittance of a rectangular cavity-backed slot antenna in which a single propagating wave is assumed to exist in the cavity. The slot is excited by a voltage source connected across its center; a sinusoidal distribution is assumed in the slot. Input-admittance calculations are compared with measured data. In addition, input-admittance curves as a function of electrical slot length are presented for several size cavities. For the rectangular cavity backed slot antenna, the quality factor and relative bandwidth were computed independently by using these energy relationships. It is shown that the asymptotic relationship which is usually assumed to exist between the quality bandwidth and the reciprocal of relative bandwidth is equally valid for the rectangular cavity backed slot antenna.

Cockrell, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1974

On observations of modal interference of the North Dakota Omega transmission

Phase perturbations due to apparent modal interference make a distinctive contribution to the navigation error according to an evaluation of Omega navigation accuracies. In general the North Dakota VLF Omega signal phase has been observed to lag consistently at virtually all of the receiver sites considered. Attention is given to modal excitation in a spherical waveguide and the sensitivity of receiver phase to parameter variations. It is found that the large phase fluctuations which have occurred at night at ranges from North Dakota could deteriorate navigation accuracies particularly in and near the coastal confluence regions.

Baxa, E. G., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Electromagnetic wave propagation in a magneto-plasma filled coaxial structure. I - Theoretical. II - Experimental

This study is concerned with the problem of electromagnetic wave propagation in a magneto-plasma filled coaxial structure. The problem is formulated using the classical boundary value problem approach. A numerical investigation shows the existence of propagating slow modes, backward modes, a quasi-TEM mode, and waveguide-type modes in a magneto-plasma filled coaxial structure. Dispersion curves for these different modes are presented. Measurements have been made of electromagnetic propagation in a coaxial electrode structure filled with longitudinally magnetized plasma. The annular plasma region had a 9.55 cm outer diameter, a 3.82 cm inner diameter and was approximately 60 cm long. A magnetic field of 300 gauss was employed. Electromagnetic wave frequencies were in the range .5 to 2.4 GHz. The plasma was generated by a continuous glow discharge. The resulting dispersion curves closely follow the predicted curves for the quasi-TEM mode.

Askins, H. W., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Infrared upconversion as a means of seeing in the dark

A new approach to seeing in the dark is described which is based on the principles of nonlinear optics employing a crystal such as lithium iodate. A nonlinear optical device capable of producing photons at higher frequencies from lower-frequency incident light is shown to upconvert infrared light directly into visible light. The major advantages of the infrared upconversion process is that it permits the infrared signal to be detected by photon-counting devices presently available for the visible spectral region, and that it can provide sensitivity to infrared radiation without the need for cryogenic cooling of the detector used. Early works on infrared upconversion are reviewed. The development of applications is discussed as to astronomical spectroscopy and infrared image upconversion involving either angular or positional resolution elements. The demonstration of infrared upconversion in rectangular waveguides of single-crystal GaAs by Anderson et al. (1971) indicates future possibilities in upconversion by the use of integrated optics devices.

Gurski, T. R.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Low-noise room-temperature and cryogenic mixers for 80-120 GHz

A description is given of two new mixers designed to operate in the 80-120-GHz range on 36-ft radio telescope. It is shown that for a hard-driven diode the parasitic resistance and capacitance are the primary factors influencing the design of the diode mount. A room-temperature mixer is described which achieves a single-sideband (SSB) conversion loss (L) of 5.5 dB, and a SSB noise temperature (Tm) of 500 K (excluding the IF contribution) with a 1.4-GHz IF. A cryogenically cooled version, using a quartz structure to support the diode chip and contact whisker, achieves values of L = 5.8 dB and Tm = 300 K with a 4.75-GHz IF. The mixers use high-quality Schottky-barrier diodes in a one-quarter-height waveguide mount.

Kerr, A. R.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Effects of mismatch on group delay of microwave transmission

Calculation method can be applied to transmission lines operating in TEM mode or to single-mode propagation in waveguides. Derived data are useful for estimating limits on variation of group delay with frequency or in determining how much discontinuity reduction is necessary to achieve given accuracy in predicting group delay.

Beatty, R. W.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Electromagnetic wave energy conversion research

Known electromagnetic wave absorbing structures found in nature were first studied for clues of how one might later design large area man-made radiant-electric converters. This led to the study of the electro-optics of insect dielectric antennae. Insights were achieved into how these antennae probably operate in the infrared 7-14um range. EWEC theoretical models and relevant cases were concisely formulated and justified for metal and dielectric absorber materials. Finding the electromagnetic field solutions to these models is a problem not yet solved. A rough estimate of losses in metal, solid dielectric, and hollow dielectric waveguides indicates future radiant-electric EWEC research should aim toward dielectric materials for maximum conversion efficiency. It was also found that the absorber bandwidth is a theoretical limitation on radiant-electric conversion efficiency. Ideally, the absorbers' wavelength would be centered on the irradiating spectrum and have the same bandwith as the irradiating wave. The EWEC concept appears to have a valid scientific basis, but considerable more research is needed before it is thoroughly understood, especially for the complex randomly polarized, wide band, phase incoherent spectrum of the sun. Specific recommended research areas are identified.

Bailey, R. L.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Microwave power transmission system studies. Volume 2: Introduction, organization, environmental and spaceborne systems analyses

Introduction, organization, analyses, conclusions, and recommendations for each of the spaceborne subsystems are presented. Environmental effects - propagation analyses are presented with appendices covering radio wave diffraction by random ionospheric irregularities, self-focusing plasma instabilities and ohmic heating of the D-region. Analyses of dc to rf conversion subsystems and system considerations for both the amplitron and the klystron are included with appendices for the klystron covering cavity circuit calculations, output power of the solenoid-focused klystron, thermal control system, and confined flow focusing of a relativistic beam. The photovoltaic power source characteristics are discussed as they apply to interfacing with the power distribution flow paths, magnetic field interaction, dc to rf converter protection, power distribution including estimates for the power budget, weights, and costs. Analyses for the transmitting antenna consider the aperture illumination and size, with associated efficiencies and ground power distributions. Analyses of subarray types and dimensions, attitude error, flatness, phase error, subarray layout, frequency tolerance, attenuation, waveguide dimensional tolerances, mechanical including thermal considerations are included. Implications associated with transportation, assembly and packaging, attitude control and alignment are discussed. The phase front control subsystem, including both ground based pilot signal driven adaptive and ground command approaches with their associated phase errors, are analyzed.

Maynard, O. E.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Analysis of the radiation patterns of reflector antennas

The development and application of a numerical technique for rapid calculation of the far-field radiation patterns of a reflector antenna from either a measured or computed feed pattern are reported. The reflector is defined by the intersection of a cone with any surface of revolution or an offset sector of any surface of revolution. The feed is assumed to be linearly polarized and can have an arbitrary location. Both the copolarized and the cross-polarized reflector radiation patterns are computed. Calculations using the technique compare closely with measured radiation patterns of a waveguide-fed offset parabolic reflector. Unique features of this technique are freedom from restrictive feed assumptions and the numerical methods used in preparing the aperture-plane electric-field data for integration.

Kauffman, J. F.↗