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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 199 records · Page 11
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1988

Advanced altimetry

The radar altimeter being developed for the Ocean Topography Experiment (TOPEX) will have an inherent instrument precision of 2 to 3 cm. While some minor refinements may be possible in the future, major geophysical advances could be made if altimetric measurements over a wide swath of the Earth's surface were possible. The NASA Headquarters Oceanic Processes Branch is supporting a 3-year investigation of the technological issues inherent in the precision measurement of topography from spaceborne platforms at angles off-nadir. To explore the off-nadir measurement of topography, a flexible, airborne radar instrument system is being developed. Its hardware design is now complete, and it is made up of several subsystems. The antenna selected is a dielectric lens of .894 m diameter. The RF subsystem uses phase-locked oscillators, FET solid-state amplifiers, and times four frequency multipliers to develop a transmit signal at a frequency of 36.0 GHz and a local oscillator signal at a frequency of 35.4 GHz. Lecroy 6880 digitizers under computer control digitize the five receiver outputs. The digital subsystem consists of six single-board Heurikon processors. At this time, the instrument construction continues with final system integration planned for November 1988.

Parsons, C. L.↗
NASA NTRS1990

High-Efficiency Klystron For Television Transmitters

Improved klystron designed for use as final amplifier in ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) television transmitter. New device incorporates multistage depressed collector (MSDC) of advanced design to increase efficiency by recovering, from spent electron beam, some of residual kinetic energy otherwise dissipated as heat. Concept applied to increase efficiencies of microwave communication, equipment, radar systems, and particle-beam accelerators.

Ramins, Peter↗
NASA NTRS1989

An airborne C-band scatterometer for remote sensing the air-sea interface

An airborne C-band scatterometer system (C-Scat) has been developed for remote sensing of the air-sea interface. The sensor has been designed to fly on a number of research aircraft, beginning with the NASA Ames Research Center's C-130B, on which test flights were conducted in August of 1988. The scatterometer utilizes a 10-W solid-state power amplifier and a frequency-steered microstrip array antenna which is installed beneath the fuselage of the airplane. The antenna is electrically scanned in elevation from 20 to 50 deg off nadir, and it is mechanically rotated 360 deg in azimuth. The system is fully computer controlled and is capable of accurately measuring ocean-surface normalized radar cross section (NRCS) from altitudes as high as 25,000 feet. It has been developed to study the relationship between NRCS and ocean-surface roughness influences such as wind speed and direction, wave height and slope, and air-sea temperature difference.

Mclaughlin, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Stability of low-speed reacting flows

Small perturbation, linear, inviscid stability theory is developed and applied to coflowing chemically reacting jets. A necessary condition for the existence of axisymmetric and azimuthal instabilities is derived. The eigenfunction structure provides considerable insight into the underlying physical mechanism. In nonpremixed cases, high temperature tends to occur in regions where the shear layer tries to roll up; this reduces the available momentum, suppressing the growth of instabilties. It is found that chemical reaction during the growth of instabilities is unimportant, suggesting that this effect could be ignored in a viscous theory. Both nonpremixed and premixed flames in axisymmetric shear layers are generally more stable to small perturbations than in the corresponding cold case. However, while for nonpremixed flames the frequency of the most amplified wave decreases with increasing heat release, the opposite occurs for premixed cases.

Mahalingham, S.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Stabilised electromagnetic levitation at 2-13 MHz

SEL, the Stabilised Electromagnetic Levitator, has been developed to exploit the unique design opportunities available in containerless microgravity experiments. Efficiency and versatility are obtained with multiple coils driven by individual broadband amplifiers whose phase and frequency are controlled. The heating and positioning fields are decoupled. Specimen translation, spin, and for liquids, shape may be adjusted. An open coil structure provides access for optical and diagnostic probes. Results of experiments with a prototype device are discussed. Levitating and heating materials on earth were demonstrated at frequencies up to 13 MHz.

Danley, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Boundary Layer Transition in the Leading Edge Region of a Swept Cylinder in High Speed Flow

Experiments were conducted on a 76 degree swept cylinder to establish the behavior of the attachment line transition process in a low-disturbance level, Mach number 1.6 flow. For a near adiabatic wall condition, the attachment-line boundary layer remained laminar up to the highest attainable Reynolds number. The attachment-line boundary layer transition under the influence of trip wires depended on wind tunnel disturbance level, and a transition onset condition for this flow is established. Internal heating raised the surface temperature of the attachment line to induce boundary layer instabilities. This was demonstrated experimentally for the first time and the frequencies of the most amplified disturbances were determined over a range of temperature settings. Results were in excellent agreement to those predicted by a linear stability code, and provide the first experimental verification of theory. Transition onset along the heated attachment line at an R-bar of 800 under quiet tunnel conditions was found to correlate with an N factor of 13.2. Increased tunnel disturbance levels caused the transition onset to occur at lower cylinder surface temperatures and was found to correlate with an approximate N factor of 1 1.9, so demonstrating that the attachment-line boundary layer is receptive to increases in the tunnel disturbance level.

Coleman, Colin P.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Study of High Lift Configurations

This project focus on the implementation of the Warren-Hassan transition / turbulence model (Journal of Aircraft, Vol. 35, No. 5) into the NASA code CFL3D and its testing for multi-element airfoils in landing configuration at different angles of attack. The Warren-Hassan transition model solves an evolution equation for a kinetic energy characteristic of non-turbulent fluctuations. This is combined with an empirical estimate of the frequency of the most amplified first-mode disturbance to yield an expression for an eddy viscosity characteristic of non-turbulent fluctuations. This is combined with the k - zeta model for fully turbulent flow to yield a unified approach capable of predicting both transition onset and extent. Blending of the non-turbulent and turbulent components of the model is accomplished by an intermittency function based on the work of Dhawan and Narasimha (Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Vol. 3, No. 4).

Edward, Jack R.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Precision Continuum Receivers for Astrophysical Applications

Cryogenically cooled HEMT (High Electron Mobility Transistor) amplifiers find widespread use in radioastronomy receivers. In recent years, these devices have also been commonly employed in broadband receivers for precision measurements of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation. In this setting, the combination of ultra-low-noise and low-spectral-resolution observations reinforce the importance achieving suitable control over the device environment to achieve fundamentally limited receiver performance. The influence of the intrinsic amplifier stability at low frequencies on data quality (e.g., achievable noise and residual temporal correlations), observational and calibration strategies, as well as architectural mitigation approaches in this setting will be discussed. The implications of device level 1/f fluctuations reported in the literature on system performance will be reviewed.

Wollack, Edward J.↗
NASA NTRS2012

High-Altitude MMIC Sounding Radiometer for the Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Microwave imaging radiometers operating in the 50-183 GHz range for retrieving atmospheric temperature and water vapor profiles from airborne platforms have been limited in the spatial scales of atmospheric structures that are resolved not because of antenna aperture size, but because of high receiver noise masking the small variations that occur on small spatial scales. Atmospheric variability on short spatial and temporal scales (second/ km scale) is completely unresolved by existing microwave profilers. The solution was to integrate JPL-designed, high-frequency, low-noise-amplifier (LNA) technology into the High-Altitude MMIC Sounding Radiometer (HAMSR), which is an airborne microwave sounding radiometer, to lower the system noise by an order of magnitude to enable the instrument to resolve atmospheric variability on small spatial and temporal scales. HAMSR has eight sounding channels near the 60-GHz oxygen line complex, ten channels near the 118.75-GHz oxygen line, and seven channels near the 183.31-GHz water vapor line. The HAMSR receiver system consists of three heterodyne spectrometers covering the three bands. The antenna system consists of two back-to-back reflectors that rotate together at a programmable scan rate via a stepper motor. A single full rotation includes the swath below the aircraft followed by observations of ambient (roughly 0 C in flight) and heated (70 C) blackbody calibration targets located at the top of the rotation. A field-programmable gate array (FPGA) is used to read the digitized radiometer counts and receive the reflector position from the scan motor encoder, which are then sent to a microprocessor and packed into data files. The microprocessor additionally reads telemetry data from 40 onboard housekeeping channels (containing instrument temperatures), and receives packets from an onboard navigation unit, which provides GPS time and position as well as independent attitude information (e.g., heading, roll, pitch, and yaw). The raw data files are accessed through an Ethernet port. The HAMSR data rate is relatively low at 75 kbps, allowing for real-time access over the Global Hawk high-data-rate downlink. Once on the ground, the raw data are unpacked and processed through two levels of processing. The Level 1 product contains geo-located, time-stamped, calibrated brightness temperatures for the Earth scan. These data are then input to a lD variational retrieval algorithm to produce temperature, water vapor, and cloud liquid water profiles, as well as several derived products such as potential temperature and relative humidity.

Brown, Shannon T.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Wireless Sensor Node for Autonomous Monitoring and Alerts in Remote Environments

A method, apparatus, system, and computer program products provides personal alert and tracking capabilities using one or more nodes. Each node includes radio transceiver chips operating at different frequency ranges, a power amplifier, sensors, a display, and embedded software. The chips enable the node to operate as either a mobile sensor node or a relay base station node while providing a long distance relay link between nodes. The power amplifier enables a line-of-sight communication between the one or more nodes. The sensors provide a GPS signal, temperature, and accelerometer information (used to trigger an alert condition). The embedded software captures and processes the sensor information, provides a multi-hop packet routing protocol to relay the sensor information to and receive alert information from a command center, and to display the alert information on the display.

Monacos, Steve P.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Modulation Classification of Satellite Communication Signals Using Cumulants and Neural Networks

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s future communication architecture is evaluating cognitive technologies and increased system intelligence. These technologies are expected to reduce the operational complexity of the network, increase science data return, and reduce interference to self and others. In order to increase situational awareness, signal classification algorithms could be applied to identify users and distinguish sources of interference. A significant amount of previous work has been done in the area of automatic signal classification for military and commercial applications. As a preliminary step, we seek to develop a system with the ability to discern signals typically encountered in satellite communication. Proposed is an automatic modulation classifier which utilizes higher order statistics (cumulants) and an estimate of the signal-to-noise ratio. These features are extracted from baseband symbols and then processed by a neural network for classification. The modulation types considered are phase-shift keying (PSK), amplitude and phase-shift keying (APSK),and quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). Physical layer properties specific to the Digital Video Broadcasting - Satellite- Second Generation (DVB-S2) standard, such as pilots and variable ring ratios, are also considered. This paper will provide simulation results of a candidate modulation classifier, and performance will be evaluated over a range of signal-to-noise ratios, frequency offsets, and nonlinear amplifier distortions.

Signal Recognition↗
NASA NTRS2017

Modulation Classification of Satellite Communication Signals Using Cumulants and Neural Networks

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s future communication architecture is evaluating cognitive technologies and increased system intelligence. These technologies are expected to reduce the operational complexity of the network, increase science data return, and reduce interference to self and others. In order to increase situational awareness, signal classification algorithms could be applied to identify users and distinguish sources of interference. A significant amount of previous work has been done in the area of automatic signal classification for military and commercial applications. As a preliminary step, we seek to develop a system with the ability to discern signals typically encountered in satellite communication. Proposed is an automatic modulation classifier which utilizes higher order statistics (cumulants) and an estimate of the signal-to-noise ratio. These features are extracted from baseband symbols and then processed by a neural network for classification. The modulation types considered are phase-shift keying (PSK), amplitude and phase-shift keying (APSK),and quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). Physical layer properties specific to the Digital Video Broadcasting - Satellite- Second Generation (DVB-S2) standard, such as pilots and variable ring ratios, are also considered. This paper will provide simulation results of a candidate modulation classifier, and performance will be evaluated over a range of signal-to-noise ratios, frequency offsets, and nonlinear amplifier distortions.

Signal Classification↗
NASA NTRS1983

A tunable dual frequency dye laser - dual frequency oscillator design

The pulsed dye laser offers a tunable oscillator, followed by three amplifiers. It is pumped by a dual frequency Nd:YAG laser. Tuning and spectral width are controlled by a holographic network connected to a high power telescope. The modified two wavelength dye laser allows for absorption lidar techniques for remote sensing of the atmosphere. Line switching is achieved by electrooptical commutation. A feasibility experiment was performed with the original oscillator. A model was then built, and tested with different dyes. After a few modifications were made to improve the conversion efficiency, this oscillator was inserted in the laser to check whether the amplifier stages were correctly adjusted.

Abury, Y.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Multiple Differential-Amplifier MMICs Embedded in Waveguides

Compact amplifier assemblies of a type now being developed for operation at frequencies of hundreds of gigahertz comprise multiple amplifier units in parallel arrangements to increase power and/or cascade arrangements to increase gains. Each amplifier unit is a monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) implementation of a pair of amplifiers in differential (in contradistinction to single-ended) configuration. Heretofore, in cascading amplifiers to increase gain, it has been common practice to interconnect the amplifiers by use of wires and/or thin films on substrates. This practice has not yielded satisfactory results at frequencies greater than 200 Hz, in each case, for either or both of two reasons: Wire bonds introduce large discontinuities. Because the interconnections are typically tens of wavelengths long, any impedance mismatches give rise to ripples in the gain-vs.-frequency response, which degrade the performance of the cascade.

Kangaslahti, Pekka↗
NASA NTRS1986

Temperature sensitive oscillator

An oscillator circuit for sensing and indicating temperature by changing oscillator frequency with temperature comprises a programmable operational amplifier which is operated on the roll-off portion of its gain versus frequency curve and has its output directly connected to the inverting input to place the amplifier in a follower configuration. Its output is also connected to the non-inverting input by a capacitor with a crystal or other tuned circuit also being connected to the non-inverting input. A resistor is connected to the program input of the amplifier to produce a given set current at a given temperature, the set current varying with temperature. As the set current changes, the gain-bandwidth of the amplifier changes and, in turn, the reflected capacitance across the crystal changes, thereby providing the desired change in oscillator frequency by pulling the crystal. There is no requirement that a crystal employed with this circuit display either a linear frequency change with temperature or a substantial frequency change with temperature.

Kleinberg, L. L.↗
NASA NTRS1983

The 20 GHz spacecraft FET solid state transmitter

The engineering development of a solid state transmitter amplifier operating in the 20 GHz frequency band using GaAs field effect transistors (FETs) was detailed. The major efforts include GaAs FET device development, single-ended amplifier stage, balanced amplifier stage, cascaded stage and radial combiner designs, and amplifier integration and test. A multistage GaAs FET amplifier capable of 8.2 W CW output over the 17.9 to 19.1 GHz frequency band was developed. The GaAs FET devices developed represent state of the art FET power device technology. Further device improvements are necessary to increase the bandwidth to 2.5 GHz, improve dc-to-RF efficiency, and increase power capability at the device level. Higher power devices will simplify the amplifier combining scheme, reducing the size and weight of the overall amplifier.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1989

The effects of feedback amplifier characteristics on constant temperature hot-wire anemometer systems

The 3rd-order analysis of Perry and Morrison (1971) was extended to 7th-order by Watmuff (1987) by including both the bridge-capacitance and the frequency-response characteristics of the feedback amplifier. In this paper, the bridge capacitance has been excluded from the analysis. The influence of the gain K, roll-off frequency f(A), and offset voltage E(qi) of the feedback amplifier are examined in more detail together with their interactions with the bridge inductance.

Watmuff, J. H.↗