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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 217 records · Page 12
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1991

A resistive-gate Al(0.3)Ga(0.7)As/GaAs 2DEG CCD with high charge-transfer efficiency at 1 GHz

The fabrication and performance of an Al(0.3)Ga(0.7)As/GaAs modulation-doped resistive-gate CCD are reported. The two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) CCD, implemented as a 32-stage four-phase delay line, was tested at both low (1-13 MHz) and high (0.6-1.0 GHz) frequency. It exhibits a room-temperature charge-transfer efficiency (CTE) of better than 0.999 at clock frequencies from 10 MHz up to 1 GHz without a fat-zero signal and is limited by dark current below 10 MHz. The high-frequency test showed no CTE degradation up to 1-GHz operation. The CTE degraded at frequencies lower than approximately 5 MHz due to dark current. The charge-handling capability and minimum clock swing of the resistive-gate 2DEG CCD are calculated.

Song, J.-I.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Oscillations up to 712 GHz in InAs/AlSb resonant-tunneling diodes

Oscillations have been obtained at frequencies from 100 to 712 GHz in InAs/AlSb double-barrier resonant-tunneling diodes at room temperature. The measured power density at 360 GHz was 90 W/sq cm, which is 50 times that generated by GaAs/AlAs diodes at essentially the same frequency. The oscillation at 712 GHz represents the highest frequency reported to date from a solid-state electronic oscillator at room temperature.

Brown, E. R.↗
NASA NTRS1991

The effect of drop-size distribution variability on radiometric estimates of rainfall rates for frequencies from 3 to 10 GHz

An attempt is made to quantify and document the dependence of the strength and the linearity of the relation between the absorption coefficient of the rain k sub a and rainfall rates R for frequencies from 3 to 10 GHz. It is shown that the physical link between R and k sub a varies depending upon microwave frequency. The weaker the relation the more sensitive k sub a and R to variations in the drop-size distribution. The scatter in k sub a and R is found to be greatest at 8 GHz and smallest at 3 GHz in response to variations to drop-size distribution.

Jameson, A. R.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Performance of a 12-GHz fiber-optic system for beam-waveguide antenna stability testing

A 12-GHz fiber-optic system is a critical part of a test configuration that was proposed for measuring the fractional frequency stability of the Deep Space Station (DSS)-13 beam-waveguide (BWG) antenna. This fiber-optic system is used to carry Ku-band (12-GHz) signals from a reference antenna to the DSS-13 BWG pedestal room. Tests performed only on the fiber-optic system portion of the overall test configuration showed that the 12-GHz fiber-optic system (installed at DSS-13) has a frequency stability of about 1.1 x 10(exp -16) for sampling time tau = 1000 sec for a nighttime run. This preliminary result establishes the lowest noise floor that can probably be achieved for the test configuration that will be used to measure the frequency stability of the DSS-13 BWG antenna.

Otoshi, T. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Estimation of total precipitable water and snow cover in Alaska using radiometric measurements near 90 and 183 GHz

Radiometric measurements at 90 GHz and three sideband frequencies near the peak water-vapor absorption line of 183.3 GHz were made with the Advanced Microwave Moisture Sounder (AMMS) aboard the NASA DC-8 aircraft over Alaska on November 28, 1989. These measurements show that when the atmosphere is relatively dry the total precipitable water and snow cover could be estimated with high sensitivity. The estimated total precipitable water correlates positively with the aircraft radar altitude. This positive correlation is expected because aircraft radar altitude provides a measure of atmospheric burden above the surface. The surface reflectivities at both 90 and 183 GHz are also estimated which can be used to estimate snow water equivalent.

Wang, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Efficiency measurement techniques for calibration of a prototype 34-meter-diameter beam-waveguide antenna at 8.45 and 32 GHz

Efficiency measurements at 8.45 and 32 GHz (X and Ka bands, respectively) were carried out on the new 34 m diameter beam waveguide antenna now in use at the NASA Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex. The use of portable test packages enabled measurements at both the Cassegrain and beam waveguide focal points. Radio sources (quasars and Venus) were used as calibrators, and updated determinations of flux and source size correction were made during the period of the measurements. Gain and efficiency determinations as a function of elevation angle are presented, and the effects of the beam waveguide system and antenna structure are clearly seen. At the beam waveguide focus, an 8.45 GHz peak efficiency of 72.38 pct was measured; at 32 GHz, 44.89 pct was measured.

Slobin, Stephen D.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Brightness temperature and attenuation diversity statistics at 20.6 and 31.65 GHz for the Colorado Research Network

A limited network of four dual-channel microwave radiometers, with frequencies of 20.6 and 31.65 GHz, was operated in the front range of eastern Colorado from 1985 to 1988. Data, from November 1987 through October 1988 are analyzed to determine both single-station and joint-station brightness temperature and attenuation statistics. Only zenith observations were made. The spatial separations of the stations varied from 50 km to 190 km. Before the statistics were developed, the data were screened by rigorous quality control methods. One such method, that of 20.6 vs. 31.65 GHz scatter plots, is analyzed in detail, and comparisons are made of measured vs calculated data. At 20.6 and 31.65 GHz, vertical attenuations of 5 and 8 dB are exceeded 0.01 percent of the time. For these four stations and at the same 0.01 percent level, diversity gains from 6 to 8 dB are possible with the 50 to 190 km separations.

Westwater, Ed R.↗
NASA NTRS1992

A 200 GHz tripler using single barrier varactor

The GaAs Schottky varactor diode is the nonlinear device most commonly used for submillimeter wave harmonic generation. Output power adequate to serve as a local oscillator source for SIS tunnel junctions has been demonstrated with whisker-contacted GaAs Schottky varactor multipliers in waveguide mounts up to about 800 GHz. In this paper, we present results for a tripler to 200 GHz using a new multiplier device, the single barrier varactor (SBV). This new varactor has a potential advantages such as stronger nonlinearities or special symmetry, which make it attractive for submillimeter wave frequency multiplication. The performance of a tripler using a SBV over a output frequency range from 186 to 207 GHz has been measured in a crossed waveguide mount. The theoretical performance of the device has been calculated using large signal analysis. A comparison of theoretical and measured results and a discussion of various losses in the mount and the varactor have also been presented.

Choudhury, Debabani↗
NASA NTRS1992

A quasioptical resonant-tunneling-diode oscillator operating above 200 GHz

We have fabricated and characterized a quasioptically stabilized resonant-tunneling-diode (RTD) oscillator having attractive performance characteristics for application as a radiometric local oscillator. The fundamental frequency of the oscillator is tunable from about 200 to 215 GHz, the instantaneous linewidth is between 10 and 20 kHz, and the output power across the tuning band is about 50 micro-W. The narrow linewidth and fine tuning of the frequency are made possible by a scanning semiconfocal open cavity which acts as the high-Q resonator for the oscillator. The cavity is compact, portable, and insensitive to vibration and temperature variation. The total dc power consumption (RTD plus bias supply) is only 10 mW. The present oscillator provides the highest power obtained to date from an RTD above 200 GHz. We attribute this partly to the use of the quasioptical resonator, but primarily to the quality of the RTD. It is fabricated from the In(0.53)Ga(0.47)As/AlAs materials system, which historically has yielded the best overall resonant-tunneling characteristics of any material system. The RTD active area is 4 sq microns, and the room-temperature peak current density and peak-to-valley current ratio are 2.5x10(exp 5) A cm(exp -2) and 9, respectively. The RTD is mounted in a WR-3 standard-height rectangular waveguide and is contacted across the waveguide by a fine wire that protrudes through a via hole in a Si3N4 'honeycomb' overlayer. We estimate that the theoretical maximum frequency of oscillation of this RTD is approximately 1.1 THz, and that scaled-down versions of the same quasioptical oscillator design should operate in a fundamental mode up to frequencies of at least 500 GHz.

Brown, E. R.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Rain rate statistics and fade distributions at 20 and 30 GHz derived from a network of rain gauges in the Mid-Atlantic coast over a five year period

A network of ten tipping bucket rain gauges located within a grid 70 km north-south and 47 km east-west in the Mid-Atlantic coast of the United States was used to analyze rain rate and modeled slant path attenuation distributions at 20 and 30 GHz. It was shown that, for realistic fade margins at 20 GHz and above, the variable integration times results are adequate to estimate slant path attenuations using models which require 1 min averages. Crane's Global Model was used to derive fade distributions at 20 and 30 GHz.

Goldhirsh, Julius↗
NASA NTRS1993

Cross-correlation between the 170 GHz survey map and the COBE differential microwave radiometer first-year maps

This letter describes results of a cross-correlation between the 170 GHz partial-sky survey, made with a 3.8 deg beam balloon-borne instrument, and the COBE DMR 'Fit Technique' reduced galaxy all-sky map with a beam of 7 deg. The strong correlation between the data sets implies that the observed structure is consistent with thermal variations in a 2.7 K emitter. A chi-square analysis applied to the correlation function rules out the assumption that there is no structure in either of the two maps. A second test shows that if the DMR map has structure but the 170 GHz map does not, the probability of obtaining the observed correlation is small. Further analyses support the assumption that both maps have structure and that the 170 GHz-DMR cross-correlation is consistent with the analogous DMR correlation function. Maps containing various combinations of noise and Harrison-Zel'dovich power spectra are simulated and correlated to reinforce the result. The correlation provides compelling evidence that both instruments have observed fluctuations consistent with anisotropies in the cosmic microwave background.

Ganga, Ken↗
NASA NTRS1993

A 200 GHz tripler using a single barrier varactor

The GaAs Schottky varactor diode is the nonlinear device most commonly used for submillimeter wave harmonic generation. Output power adequate to serve as a local oscillator source for SIS tunnel junctions has been demonstrated with whisker-contacted GaAs Schottky varactor multipliers in waveguide mounts up to about 800 GHz. In this paper, we present results for a tripler to 200 GHz using a new multiplier device, the single barrier varactor (SBV). This new varactor has potential advantages such as stronger nonlinearities or special symmetry, which make it attractive for submillimeter wave frequency multiplication. The performance of a tripler using a SBV over a output frequency range from 186 to 207 GHz has been measured in a crossed waveguide mount. The theoretical performance of the device has been calculated using large signal analysis. A comparison of theoretical and measured results and a discussion of various losses in the mount and the varactor have also been presented.

Choudhury, Debabani↗
NASA NTRS1993

On the use of passive microwaves at 37 GHz in remote sensing of vegetation

Recently, a number of studies have investigated the use of the 37 GHz channels of the Nimbus-7 Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) for vegetation monitoring and for studying synergisms between the SMMR and the NOAA Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). The approaches are promising but raise a number of issues concerning interpretation of the results, specifically on the relative effects of vegetation and other surface and atmospheric characteristics on the observed signal. This article analyzes the 37 GHz Microwave Polarization Difference Temperature (MPDT) in terms of its sensitivity to surface and atmospheric parameters. For this, a radiative transfer model is used which indicates some limitations of the MPDT index and suggests the importance of accounting for atmospheric effects in the data analysis. An alternative approach to the MPDT, including lower SMMR frequencies than 37 GHz, is discussed.

Kerr, Y. H.↗
NASA NTRS1994

The 20 GHz circularly polarized, high temperature superconducting microstrip antenna array

The primary goal was to design and characterize a four-element, 20 GHz, circularly polarized microstrip patch antenna fabricated from YBa2Cu3O(x) superconductor. The purpose is to support a high temperature superconductivity flight communications experiment between the space shuttle orbiter and the ACTS satellite. This study is intended to provide information into the design, construction, and feasibility of a circularly polarized superconducting 20 GHz downlink or cross-link antenna. We have demonstrated that significant gain improvements can be realized by using superconducting materials for large corporate fed array antennas. In addition, we have shown that when constructed from superconducting materials, the efficiency, and therefore the gain, of microstrip patches increases if the substrate is not so thick that the dominant loss mechanism for the patch is radiation into the surface waves of the conductor-backed substrate. We have considered two design configurations for a superconducting 20 GHz four-element circularly polarized microstrip antenna array. The first is the Huang array that uses properly oriented and phased linearly polarized microstrip patch elements to realize a circularly polarized pattern. The second is a gap-coupled array of circularly polarized elements. In this study we determined that although the Huang array operates well on low dielectric constant substrates, its performance becomes extremely sensitive to mismatches, interelement coupling, and design imperfections for substrates with high dielectric constants. For the gap-coupled microstrip array, we were able to fabricate and test circularly polarized elements and four-element arrays on LaAlO3 using sputtered copper films. These antennas were found to perform well, with relatively good circular polarization. In addition, we realized a four-element YBa2Cu3O(x) array of the same design and measured its pattern and gain relative to a room temperature copper array. The patterns were essentially the same as that for the copper array. The measured gain of the YBCO antenna was greater than that for the room temperature copper design at temperatures below 82K, reaching a value of 3.4 dB at the lowest temperatures.

Morrow, Jarrett D.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Evaluation of Some Slow-wave Vane Structures for Aminiature Traveling-wave Tube at 30 Ghz

The dispersion characteristics of six vane type slow wave structures were experimentally measured near 1 GHz to determine applicability in an electrostatically focused 30 GHz miniature traveling wave tube (TWT). From the measured results, the trapezoidal vane structure appeared to be the most promising exhibiting an interaction impedance equal to 337.9 ohms at beta(L)/pi equal to 0.3. A 30 GHz trapezoidal vane structure with coupling irises was fabricated using electrical discharge machining (EDM). This structure, however, was too lossy for a short electrostatically focused tube, but several of the structures are amenable to a tube with permanent magnetic focusing.

Kavanagh, Frank↗
NASA NTRS1994

The 40 and 50 GHz propagation experiments at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK, using the ITALSAT beacons

This paper describes the current experimental program and future plans for the reception of transmissions from the 18.7, 39.6, and 49.5 GHz beacons from the ITALSAT satellite by the Radio Communications Research Unit at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK. The Radio Communications Research Unit, which has had considerable experience in developing experimental millimetric equipment for propagation studies, has initiated the development of a single-channel receiver and a triple-channel receiver to measure propagation effects at 49.5 GHz and 39.6 GHz respectively. The initial location of the receivers will be at Chilbolton, Hampshire, UK.

Woodroffe, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Airborne passive polarimetric measurements of sea surface anisotropy at 92 GHz

The potential for remote sensing of ocean wave direction using passive polarimetric microwave observations was investigated. A fixed-beam 91.65 GHz polarimetric radiometer was mounted on the NASA DC-8 aircraft during the Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere/Coupled Ocean Atmosphere Response Experiment (TOGA/COARE January - February 1993). Several experiments were performed during which the DC-8 was flown in constant bank-angle turns at approximately 1.5 km altitude to obtain azimuthal scans of the sea surface at fixed observation angles. Data at 65 deg from nadir are consistent with previous findings using 19 and 37 GHz Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/1) satellite observations and support the claim that a broadband emission mechanism is responsible for the azimuthal brightness signatures. Accordingly, a tilted-facet geometrical optics (GO) model of the surface was developed to investigate emission from deterministic and random striated surfaces. Laboratory measurements of polarimetric emission at 92 GHz from small-amplitude water-waves corroborate this model.

Kunkee, D. B.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Simulation of 100-300 GHz solid-state harmonic sources

Accurate and efficient simulations of the large-signal time-dependent characteristics of second-harmonic Transferred Electron Oscillators (TEO's) and Heterostructure Barrier Varactor (HBV) frequency triplers have been obtained. This is accomplished by using a novel and efficient harmonic-balance circuit analysis technique which facilitates the integration of physics-based hydrodynamic device simulators. The integrated hydrodynamic device/harmonic-balance circuit simulators allow TEO and HBV circuits to be co-designed from both a device and a circuit point of view. Comparisons have been made with published experimental data for both TEO's and HBV's. For TEO's, excellent correlation has been obtained at 140 GHz and 188 GHz in second-harmonic operation. Excellent correlation has also been obtained for HBV frequency triplers operating near 200 GHz. For HBV's, both a lumped quasi-static equivalent circuit model and the hydrodynamic device simulator have been linked to the harmonic-balance circuit simulator. This comparison illustrates the importance of representing active devices with physics-based numerical device models rather than analytical device models.

NONLINEAR CIRCUITS↗