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At least 163 records · Page 9

Magnetic self-mating fiber optic connector and fiber optic switch sensor

A system or method for a magnetic self-aligning coupling device for a fiber optic cable. The device includes a first end coupling comprising a first magnet and a second magnet. Both magnets include a mating surface and an annular ring defining an axial aperture. The aperture receives a distal end of a segment of fiber optic cable in a tight fit. The fiber optic cable has an exterior sleeve and a fiber core. The fiber core of the first segment and the second segment of the fiber optic cable are axially aligned by magnetic force in the first and second apertures to create a continuous fiber optic path. A method for detecting a security breach of a door using the self-aligning couplings is also described.

Neidigk, Stephen↗

Electromagnetic Scattering From a Rectangular Cavity Recessed in a 3-D Conducting Surface

The problem of electromagnetic (EM) scattering from an aperture backed by a rectangular cavity recessed in a three-dimensional conducting body is analyzed using the coupled field integral equation approach. Using the free-space Green's function, EM fields scattered outside the cavity are determined in terms of (1) an equivalent electric surface current density flowing on the three-dimensional conducting surface of the object including the cavity aperture and (2) an equivalent magnetic surface current density flowing over the aperture only. The EM fields inside the cavity are determined using the waveguide modal expansion functions. Making the total tangential electric and magnetic fields across the aperture continuous and subjecting the total tangential electric field on the outer conducting three-dimensional surface of the object to zero, a set of coupled integral equations is obtained. The equivalent electric and magnetic surface currents are then obtained by solving the coupled integral equation using the Method of Moments. The numerical results on scattering from rectangular cavities embedded in various three-dimensional objects are compared with the results obtained by other numerical techniques.

Deshpande, M. D.↗

Plastic Laminate Antireflective Coatings for Millimeter-Wave Optics in BICEP Array

The BICEP/Keck series of experiments target the cosmic microwave background at degree-scale resolution from the South Pole. Over the next few years, the “Stage-3” BICEP Array (BA) telescope will improve the program’s frequency coverage and sensitivity to primordial B-mode polarization by an order of magnitude. The first receiver in the array, BA1, began observing at 30/40 GHz in early 2020. The next two receivers, BA2 and BA3, are currently being assembled and will map the southern sky at frequencies ranging from 95 to 150 GHz. Common to all BA receivers is a refractive, on-axis, cryogenic optical design that focuses microwave radiation onto a focal plane populated with antenna-coupled bolometers. High-performance antireflective coatings up to 760 mm in aperture are needed for each element in the optical chain, and must withstand repeated thermal cycles down to 4 K. Here, in this work, we present the design and fabrication of the 30/40 GHz anti-reflection coatings for the recently deployed BA1 receiver, with indices matched to its various polyethylene, nylon and alumina optical components. We describe an epoxy coating technique designed for alumina optics, which achieves better than 80% transmission at room temperature. For polyethylene optical elements, we present a new heat-compression approach that allows low-density polytetrafluoroethylene AR layers to reach sub-percent reflected power. We describe the planned use of these methods for the next BA cryostats, which may inform technological choices for future small-aperture telescopes of the CMB-S4 experiment.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Linearized traveling wave amplifier with hard limiter characteristics

A dynamic velocity taper is provided for a traveling wave tube with increased linearity to avoid intermodulation of signals being amplified. In a traveling wave tube, the slow wave structure is a helix including a sever. A dynamic velocity taper is provided by gradually reducing the spacing between the repeating elements of the slow wave structure which are the windings of the helix. The reduction which takes place coincides with the ouput point of helix. The spacing between the repeating elements of the slow wave structure is ideally at an exponential rate because the curve increases the point of maximum efficiency and power, at an exponential rate. A coupled cavity traveling wave tube having cavities is shown. The space between apertured discs is gradually reduced from 0.1% to 5% at an exponential rate. Output power (or efficiency) versus input power for a commercial tube is shown.

Kosmahl, H. G.↗

Astronomy on a manned Mars mission

Three extra-solar-system astronomical experiments onboard a manned Mars mission are proposed. First, a modest, 50 cm aperture optical-ultraviolet-infrared telescope (or pair used as an interferometer) coupled with the Mars-Sun baseline would increase the number (by a factor of 3.4) and a volume of stars with accurately measured distances via stellar parallax and, therefore, greatly improve upon the cosmic distance scale; the darker sky at Mars would also provide nearly a full astronomical magnitude deeper images of distant and low brightness objects (limited by zodiacal light). Second, a gamma-ray burst detector coupled with similar detectors in other parts of the solar system will be used to reduce the position error boxes and to study the nature of these energetic sources. Third, the long baselines on a Mars mission radio interferometer will provide a view of the radio universe at unprescedented resolution, 4 x 10 to the minus 9th arcsec at 1 mm wavelength, which can potentially resolve the engine in nearby active galaxies. Each of these experiments is relatively inexpensive, taking advantage of the human presence for operation and maintenance, and the long Earth to Mars baseline.

Burns, Jack O.↗

Design and demonstration of a distributed-coupling linear accelerator structure

We present a topology for linear accelerators (linacs) in which the power is distributed to the cavities through a waveguide with periodic apertures that guarantees the correct phases and amplitudes along the structure length. Unlike conventional traveling and standing-wave linacs, the presented topology allows the cavity shapes to be designed without the constraints applied to the coupling between cells to transfer power from one cell to the next. Therefore, the topology permits more degrees of freedom for the optimization of individual cavity shapes in comparison with conventional linacs. The cavity shapes can be optimized for power consumption and efficiency, and/or the manipulation of the surface fields for high gradient operation. This topology also provides a possibility for low-temperature manufacturing techniques that prevent the annealing of the material during typical brazing processes; hence, the material could retain its original properties such as hardness. We present a design and an experimental demonstration of this linac.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Design of the EIC hadron storage ring stripline injection kicker with a novel impedance tuning capability

The Electron-Ion Collider (EIC), to be built at Brookhaven National Laboratory, will be a high luminosity (~10 34 cm –2 s –1 ) nuclear science facility. To facilitate EIC experiments, the existing yellow ring of the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) will be reconfigured to serve as the Hadron Storage Ring (HSR). Designing a stripline injection kicker for the HSR beams, with high magnetic rigidity (~ 82 Tm), poses some technical challenges due to the required large pulsed voltage with long flattop duration, very fast rise time, expected shorter bunch spacing, and potential heating due to higher peak current. In addition, minimizing impedance mismatch in the transition region between the feedthrough and the stripline electrode is challenging. This paper focuses on the mechanical design and optimization of the HSR injection kicker, highlighting a novel impedance tuning capability achieved through an innovative kicker aperture adjustment mechanism. We comprehensively cover the design, including impedance optimization (both beam coupling and characteristic), beam-induced heating, and thermal analysis, and investigation of the maximum electric field due to high voltage signal excitation to ensure safe and reliable operation.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Method of Modeling and Simulation of Shaped External Occulters

The present invention relates to modeling an external occulter including: providing at least one processor executing program code to implement a simulation system, the program code including: providing an external occulter having a plurality of petals, the occulter being coupled to a telescope; and propagating light from the occulter to a telescope aperture of the telescope by scalar Fresnel propagation, by: obtaining an incident field strength at a predetermined wavelength at an occulter surface; obtaining a field propagation from the occulter to the telescope aperture using a Fresnel integral; modeling a celestial object at differing field angles by shifting a location of a shadow cast by the occulter on the telescope aperture; calculating an intensity of the occulter shadow on the telescope aperture; and applying a telescope aperture mask to a field of the occulter shadow, and propagating the light to a focal plane of the telescope via FFT techniques.

Lyon, Richard G.↗

A Novel Workflow for Coupled Simulation of Hydraulic Stimulation with Simultaneous Injection of Proppant

Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) are located in impermeable host rock. Therefore, to achieve promising circulation, hydraulic stimulation is a key factor. Stimulation involves injecting a combination of fluids and proppant particles into existing fractures under high pressure. The effectiveness of stimulation depends on a variety of different factors, including the pressurization scheme and the optimal choice of carrying fluid and proppant particles to be used. For example, high-density particles can settle out of the injected slurry quickly, whereas lighter particles as well as a dense carrying fluid allow for a long transport into the reservoir. A numerical tool is therefore essential to take all these factors into account and to make robust predictions about the performance of the hydraulic stimulation. We present a novel computational application for coupled numerical simulation of hydraulic stimulation with concurrent injection of proppant in a fractured geothermal reservoir. This application is based on the open-source MOOSE framework that has been enriched with a set of equations to account for the circulation of proppant-laden slurries. It accounts for both the fluid and proppant components of the mixture, as well as particle-driven processes that include gravity settling, particle-particle interactions, and strong density and viscosity contrasts. A particular challenge is the mutual coupling with fracture mechanical processes in a propagating fracture using the FE code Defmod. Aperture and fluid pressure on one side and slurry density and viscosity changes on the other side interact and affect each other. Their basic understanding is therefore essential for the success of the stimulation. We compare our application to common numerical benchmark problems for both slurry flow and hydraulic stimulation.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

The Dynamics of Coupled Oscillator Phase Control

Arrays of coupled oscillators have been proposed as means of realizing high power rf sources via coherent spatial power combining. In such applications, a uniform phase distribution over the aperture is usually desired. However, it has been shown that by detuning some of the oscillators away from the oscillation frequency of the ensemble of oscillators, one may achieve other useful aperture phase distributions. Of particular interest among those achievable are linear phase distributions because these result in steering of the output rf beam away from the broadside direction. The theory describing the behavior of such arrays of coupled oscillators is quite complicated since the phenomena involved are inherently nonlinear. However, a simplified theory has been developed which facilitates intuitive understanding. This simplified theory is based on a "continuum model" in which the aperture phase is represented by a continuous function of the aperture coordinates. A challenging aspect of the development of this theory is the derivation of appropriate boundary conditions at the edges or ends of the array.

Pogorzelski, R. J.↗

AVIRIS foreoptics, fiber optics and on-board calibrator

The foreoptics, fiber optic system and calibration source of the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) are described. The foreoptics, based on a modified Kennedy scanner, is coupled by optical fibers to the four spectrometers. The optical fibers allow convenient positioning of the spectrometers in the limited space and enable simple compensation of the scanner's thermal defocus (at the -23 C operating temp) by active control of the fiber focal plane position. A challenging requirement for the fiber optic system was the transmission to the spectral range 1.85 to 2.45 microns at .45 numerical aperture. This was solved with custom fluoride glass fibers from Verre Fluore. The onboard calibration source is also coupled to the spectrometers by the fibers and provides two radiometric levels and a reference spectrum to check the spectrometers' alignment. Results of the performance of the assembled subsystems are presented.

Chrisp, Michael P.↗

AVIRIS foreoptics, fiber optics and on-board calibrator

The foreoptics, fiber optic system and calibration source of the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) are described. The foreoptics, based on a modified Kennedy scanner, is coupled by optical fibers to the four spectrometers. The optical fibers allow convenient positioning of the spectrometers in the limited space and enable simple compensation of the scanner's thermal defocus (at the -23 C operating temp) by active control of the fiber focal plane position. A challenging requirement for the fiber optic system was the transmission to the spectral range 1.85 to 2.45 microns at .45 numerical aperture. This was solved with custom fluoride glass fibers from Verre Fluore. The onboard calibration source is also coupled to the spectrometers by the fibers and provides two radiometric levels and a reference spectrum to check the spectrometers' alignment. Results of the performance of the assembled subsystems are presented.

Chrisp, M. P.↗

Hybrid Synthetic/Real Aperture Antenna for High Resolution Microwave Imaging

Observations of key hydrological parameters at the spatial and temporal scales required in the post-2002 era face significant technological challenges. These measurements are based on relatively low frequency thermal microwave emission (at 1.4 GHz for soil moisture and salinity, 10 GHz and up for precipitation, and 19 and 37 GHz for snow). The long wavelengths at these frequencies coupled with the high spatial and radiometric resolutions required by the various global hydrology missions necessitate the use of very large apertures. Two-dimensional Synthetic Thinned Array Radiometry (2-D STAR), though promising in the long term, has many technical challenges in the areas of power, and sensitivity for very large apertures (i.e. greater than 300 wavelengths). This paper will discuss an alternative approach to the pure 2-D STAR, which uses an offset parabolic cylinder reflector fed by multiple elements to form a 1-D STAR. In essence a single STAR element is composed of a feedhorn and parabolic cylinder reflector. The elements are sparsely arrayed and thus can share a single reflector. This antenna would have no moving parts once deployed, have much higher sensitivity than a Y-shaped 2-D STAR of equivalent size, many fewer receivers than that 2-D STAR, and the reflector could be made of a thin film and lightweight deployment system for high packing density. The instrument using this approach would be a cross track push broom imager. An overview of the design parameters, potential deployment mechanisms and applications will be presented.

Doiron, Terence A.↗

Electromagnetic topology: Characterization of internal electromagnetic coupling

The main principles are presented of a method dealing with the resolution of electromagnetic internal problems: Electromagnetic Topology. A very interesting way is to generalize the multiconductor transmission line network theory to the basic equation of the Electromagnetic Topology: the BLT equation. This generalization is illustrated by the treatment of an aperture as a four port junction. Analytical and experimental derivations of the scattering parameters are presented. These concepts are used to study the electromagnetic coupling in a scale model of an aircraft, and can be seen as a convenient means to test internal electromagnetic interference.

Parmantier, J. P.↗

A Simplified Theory of Coupled Oscillator Array Phase Control

Linear and planar arrays of coupled oscillators have been proposed as means of achieving high power rf sources through coherent spatial power combining. In such - applications, a uniform phase distribution over the aperture is desired. However, it has been shown that by detuning some of the oscillators away from the oscillation frequency of the ensemble of oscillators, one may achieve other useful aperture phase distributions. Notable among these are linear phase distributions resulting in steering of the output rf beam away from the broadside direction. The theory describing the operation of such arrays of coupled oscillators is quite complicated since the phenomena involved are inherently nonlinear. This has made it difficult to develop an intuitive understanding of the impact of oscillator tuning on phase control and has thus impeded practical application. In this work a simpl!fied theory is developed which facilitates intuitive understanding by establishing an analog of the phase control problem in terms of electrostatics.

Pogorzelski, R. J.↗

A theoretical analysis of the electromagnetic environment of the AS330 super Puma helicopter external and internal coupling

Numerical techniques such as Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) computer programs, which were first developed to analyze the external electromagnetic environment of an aircraft during a wave illumination, a lightning event, or any kind of current injection, are now very powerful investigative tools. The program called GORFF-VE, was extended to compute the inner electromagnetic fields that are generated by the penetration of the outer fields through large apertures made in the all metallic body. Then, the internal fields can drive the electrical response of a cable network. The coupling between the inside and the outside of the helicopter is implemented using Huygen's principle. Moreover, the spectacular increase of computer resources, as calculations speed and memory capacity, allows the modellization structures as complex as these of helicopters with accuracy. This numerical model was exploited, first, to analyze the electromagnetic environment of an in-flight helicopter for several injection configurations, and second, to design a coaxial return path to simulate the lightning aircraft interaction with a strong current injection. The E field and current mappings are the result of these calculations.

Flourens, F.↗

A vertically-loaded diamond microdisk resonator spin-photon interface

We propose and optimize a vertically-loaded diamond microdisk resonator (VLDMoRt) coupled to a nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond for efficient collection of zero-phonon-line emission into low numerical aperture (NA) free-space modes. The VLDMoRt achieves a Purcell enhancement of 172 with 39% of the emitted light collected within a NA of 0.6, leading to a total external spin-photon collection efficiency of 0.33. As the design is compatible with established nanofabrication techniques and couples to low-NA modes accessible by cryogenic free-space optical systems, it is a promising platform for efficient spin-photon interfaces based on diamond quantum emitters.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Near-field spectroscopy of Dirac plasmons in Bi 2 Se 3 ribbon arrays

Plasmons supported in the massless electron surface states of topological insulators (TIs), known as Dirac plasmons, have great potential in next generation optoelectronics. However, their inherent confinement to the surface makes the investigation of Dirac plasmons challenging. Near-field techniques provide the ideal platform to directly probe Dirac plasmons due to the sensitivity to evanescent fields at the surface. Here, we demonstrate the use of aperture near-field spectroscopy for the investigation of localized terahertz (THz) Dirac plasmon resonances in Bi 2 Se 3 ribbon arrays with widths ranging from 10 to 40 µm. Unlike scattering THz near-field techniques, the aperture method is most sensitive to plasmons with the relevant lower-momenta corresponding to plasmon wavelengths on the scale of ~20 µm. The combination of THz time-domain spectroscopy and aperture near-field microscopy enables sampling of localized Dirac plasmons in the near-field zone in the 0.5–2.5 THz range. We map the plasmon dispersion, which reveals a coupled plasmon–phonon polariton interaction. The near-field spectra show a higher contrast of the upper polariton branch in comparison with far-field observations. The information revealed by aperture near-field spectroscopy could deepen our understanding of the behavior of Dirac plasmons, leading to the potential development of real-world TI devices.

42 ENGINEERING↗