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At least 37 records · Page 2

Ring-plane traveling-wave tube slow-wave circuit design simulations at V-Band frequencies

The V-Band frequency range of 59-64 GHz is a region of the millimeter-wave spectrum that has been designated for intersatellite communications. As a first effort to develop a high-efficiency V-band TWT, variations on a ring-plane slow-wave circuit were computationally investigated to develop an alternative to the more conventional ferruled coupled-cavity circuit. The ring-plane circuit was chosen because of its high interaction impedance, large beam aperture, and excellent thermal dissipation properties. Despite the high-power capabilities of the ring-plane TWT, disadvantages of low bandwidth and high voltage requirements have until now prevented its acceptance outside the laboratory. In this paper, we use the three-dimensional electromagnetic simulation code MAFIA to investigate methods of increasing the bandwidth and lowering the operating voltage. Dispersion, impedance, and attenuation calculations for various geometric variations and loading distributions were performed. Based on the results of the variations, a circuit termed the finned-ladder TWT slowwave circuit was designed and is compared here to the scaled ring-plane prototype and the conventional ferruled coupled-cavity TWT circuit over the V-band frequency range.

Kory, Carol L.↗

Novel high-gain, improved-bandwidth, finned-ladder V-band Traveling-Wave Tube slow-wave circuit design

The V-band frequency range of 59-64 GHz is a region of the millimeter-wave spectrum that has been designated for inter-satellite communications. As a first effort to develop a high-efficiency V-band Traveling-Wave Tube (TWT), variations on a ring-plane slow-wave circuit were computationally investigated to develop an alternative to the more conventional ferruled coupled-cavity circuit. The ring-plane circuit was chosen because of its high interaction impedance, large beam aperture, and excellent thermal dissipation properties. Despite these advantages, however, low bandwidth and high voltage requirements have, until now, prevented its acceptance outside the laboratory. In this paper, the three-dimensional electrodynamic simulation code MAFIA (solution of MAxwell's Equation by the Finite-Integration-Algorithm) is used to investigate methods of increasing the bandwidth and lowering the operating voltage of the ring-plane circuit. Calculations of frequency-phase dispersion, beam on-axis interaction impedance, attenuation and small-signal gain per wavelength were performed for various geometric variations and loading distributions of the ring-plane TWT slow-wave circuit. Based on the results of the variations, a circuit termed the finned-ladder TWT slow-wave circuit was designed and is compared here to the scaled prototype ring-plane and a conventional ferruled coupled-cavity TWT circuit over the V-band frequency range. The simulation results indicate that this circuit has a much higher gain, significantly wider bandwidth, and a much lower voltage requirement than the scaled ring-plane prototype circuit, while retaining its excellent thermal dissipation properties. The finned-ladder circuit has a much larger small-signal gain per wavelength than the ferruled coupled-cavity circuit, but with a moderate sacrifice in bandwidth.

Kory, Carol L.↗

A SETI Search of Nearby Solar-Type Stars at the 203-GHz Positronium Hyperfine Resonance

The development of advanced millimeter-wave technology has made it possible to construct low-noise receivers and high-power transmitters comparable to those available at much lower frequencies. This technology, plus certain physical characteristics of the millimeter-wave spectrum, suggests possible advantages for use of this wavelength range for interstellar communications. As a result, a Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence(SETI) type search has been conducted for narrow-bandwidth signals at frequencies near the positronium hyperfine spectral line (203.385 GHz), a potential natural reference frequency. A total of 40 solar-type stars within 23 parsecs were observed, in addition to three locations near the galactic center. No detections were made at the detection threshold of 2.3 x 10(exp -19) W/sq m in each of two orthogonal linear polarizations Future observations will be made with a higher resolution Fast Fourier Transform Spectrum Analyzer (FFTSA), which should improve sensitivity by an order of magnitude and reduce required observing time.

Steffes, Paul G.↗

The Development of Si and SiGe Technologies for Microwave and Millimeter-Wave Integrated Circuits

Historically, microwave technology was developed by military and space agencies from around the world to satisfy their unique radar, communication, and science applications. Throughout this development phase, the sole goal was to improve the performance of the microwave circuits and components comprising the systems. For example, power amplifiers with output powers of several watts over broad bandwidths, low noise amplifiers with noise figures as low as 3 dB at 94 GHz, stable oscillators with low noise characteristics and high output power, and electronically steerable antennas were required. In addition, the reliability of the systems had to be increased because of the high monetary and human cost if a failure occurred. To achieve these goals, industry, academia and the government agencies supporting them chose to develop technologies with the greatest possibility of surpassing the state of the art performance. Thus, Si, which was already widely used for digital circuits but had material characteristics that were perceived to limit its high frequency performance, was bypassed for a progression of devices starting with GaAs Metal Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors (MESFETs) and ending with InP Pseudomorphic High Electron Mobility Transistors (PHEMTs). For each new material or device structure, the electron mobility increased, and therefore, the high frequency characteristics of the device were improved. In addition, ultra small geometry lithographic processes were developed to reduce the gate length to 0.1 pm which further increases the cutoff frequency. The resulting devices had excellent performance through the millimeter-wave spectrum.

Ponchak, George E.↗

The development of inflatable array antennas

Inflatable array antennas are being developed to significantly reduce the mass, the launch vehicle's stowage volume, and the cost of future spacecraft systems. Three inflatable array antennas, recently developed for spacecraft applications, are a 3.3 m x 1.0 m L-band synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) array, a 1.0 m-diameter X-band telecom reflectarray, and a 3 m-diameter Ka-band telecom reflectarray. All three antennas are similar in construction, and each consists of an inflatable tubular frame that supports and tensions a multi-layer thin-membrane RF radiating surface with printed microstrip patches. The L-band SAR array achieved a bandwidth of 80 MHz, an aperture efficiency of 74%, and a total mass of 15 kg. The X-band reflectarray achieved an aperture efficiency of 37%, good radiation patterns, and a total mass of 1.2 kg (excluding the inflation system). The 3 m Ka-band reflectarray achieved a surface flatness of 0.1 mm RMS, good radiation patterns, and a total mass of 12.8 kg (excluding the inflation system). These antennas demonstrated that inflatable arrays are feasible across the microwave and millimeter-wave spectrums. Further developments of these antennas are deemed necessary, in particular, in the area of qualifying the inflatable structures for space-environment usage.

Inflatable array antennas↗

Precise Laboratory Measurement of LINR Frequencies Useful to Studies of Star and Planet Formation

In March 2002, we began a program in laboratory spectroscopy to provide accurate molecular line frequencies essential to studies of the motions and abundances in star-froming dense cores and planet-forming circumstellar disks. The CN radical is one of the most important tracers of dynamical motions in protoplanetary disks around low mass pre-main sequence stars. The millimeter-wave spectrum of CN consists of rotational transitions every 113 GHz which are split into many resolved hyperfine components. Very narrow and fairly bright lines of SiO in the ground vibrational state have been observed in regions where protostellar outflows interact with the cold ambient gas. In support of future astronomical observations in these regions, 10 successive rotational lines in the ground vibrational state of Si0 between 86 and 500 GHz, and two lines near 800 GHz were measured in the laboratory to an accuracy of a few kHz. A negative glow discharge spectrometer that will allow the determination of accurate line frequencies of molecular ions has been constructed. We are presently modifying the method for cooling the magnetic field enhanced (negative glow) discharge cell to 77 K.

Myers, Philip C.↗

Ultra-Wideband Phased Array for Millimeter-Wave 5G and ISM

Growing mobile data consumption has prompted the exploration of the millimeter-wave spectrum for large bandwidth, high speed communications. However, the allocated bands are spread across a wide swath of spectrum: fifth generation mobile architecture (5G): 28, 38, 39, 64-71 GHz, as well as Industrial, Scientific, and Medical bands (ISM): 24 and 60 GHz. Moreover, high gain phased arrays are required to overcome the significant path loss associated with these frequencies. Further, it is necessary to incorporate several of these applications in a single, small size and low cost platform. To this end, we have developed a scanning, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) array which covers all 5G, ISM, and other mm-W bands from 24-72 GHz. Critically, this is accomplished using mass-production Printed Circuit Board (PCB) fabrication.

Ultra-wide band phased array↗

Ultra-Wideband Array in PCB for Millimeter-Wave 5G and ISM

Growing mobile data consumption has prompted the exploration of the millimeter-wave spectrum for large bandwidth, high speed communications. However, the allocated bands are spread across a wide swath of spectrum: Fifth generation mobile architecture (5G): 28, 38, 39, 6471 GHz; Industrial, Scientific, and Medical bands (ISM): 24, 60 GHz. Moreover, high gain phased arrays are required to overcome the significant path loss associated with these frequencies. Further, it is necessary to incorporate several of these applications in a single, small size and low cost platform. To this end, we have developed a scanning, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) array which covers all 5G, ISM, and other mm-W bands from 2472 GHz. Critically, this is accomplished using mass-production Printed Circuit Board (PCB) fabrication. The results of this work are presented in this poster.

Milli-Meter Wave↗

24-71 GHz PCB Array for 5G-ISM

This presentation discusses the development of a low form factor Ultra-Wideband at Ka-Band and up to the Millimeter-Wave Spectrum.

phased array↗

Additional measurements and a refined analysis of the millimeter- and submillimeter-wave spectrum of methanol

A total of 414 previously unobserved millimeter- and submillimeter-wave transitions of (C-12)H3OH through J = 10 and v(t) = 2 are assigned. These data and previous measured spectral transitions are combined and fitted by a modified internal axis method (IAM) treatment in which the A and E substates are treated separately and a wide variety of new rotational-torsional interaction terms are employed. The modified IAM treatment reduces the overall rms deviation of the fits to the level of experimental accuracy. The resultant spectroscopic constants allow for the accurate prediction of 569 additional transitions through J = 12 or less.

Anderson, Todd↗

The millimeter- and submillimeter-wave spectrum of (C-13)H3OH revisited

A total of 245 previously unobserved millimeter- and submillimeter-wave transitions of (C-13)H3OH for J not above 10 were assigned on the basis of measurements with a spectrometer which uses 40-60 GHz klystrons as fundamental radiation sources. These transitions were combined with the previously assigned 596 transitions and were analyzed using a modified internal-axis-method model which treats the symmetric (A) and degenerate (E) substates separately. As a result of the expansion of the (C-13)H3OH data set to cover the same range as the data set of a previous (C-12)H3OH analysis by Anderson et al. (1990), rigid criteria of self-consistency could be applied for the selection and the value of the constants between the isotopic species. The spectral constants obtained were used to make accurate predictions of 562 additional transitions of (C-13)H3OH for v(t) = 0, 1, 2 and rotational quantum number J equal to or less than 12.

Anderson, Todd↗

An extension of the high-resolution millimeter- and submillimeter-wave spectrum of methanol to high angular momentum quantum numbers

The high-resolution laboratory millimeter- and submillimeter-wave spectra of C-12H(3)OH and C-13H(3)OH have been extended to include transitions involving significantly higher angular momentum quantum numbers than studied previously. For C-12H(3)OH, the data set now includes 549 A torsional substate transitions and 524 E torsional substate transitions through J is not greater than 24, exclusive of blends. For C-13H(3)OH the data set now includes 453 A torsional substate transitions and 440 E torsional substate transitions through J is not greater than 24, exclusive of blends. The extended internal axis method Hamiltonian has been used to analyze the transitions to experimental accuracy. The molecular constants determined by this approach have been used to predict accurately the frequencies of many transitions through J = 25 not measured in the laboratory.

Anderson, Todd↗

AWC for Nuclear Material Transportation

Presentation to the Forefront22 Workshop in DC to NNSA DNN. Generalized presentation on Advanced Wireless Communications and areas where Nuclear Material Transportation may find interesting to investigate further for security and cybersecurity interests. Summary of the Forefront22 workshop Traditional wireless communication technologies, such as Wi-Fi and Cellular, have modernized industries worldwide. The Nuclear industry has also started to modernize its operations by utilizing wireless connectivity and is well poised to expand the use of wireless to an increasing number of use cases. The most recent cellular technology, called 5G for Fifth Generation, brings a transformation not only to wireless; but to industries worldwide by fueling the growth of Internet of Things (IoT) and Industrial IoT (IIoT). Availability of additional spectrum e.g., use of millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum bands, is a critical boost to wireless growth. These advanced wireless technologies bring multiplicative gains in data rates, latency reduction, capacity growth, and localization accuracy, that can be harnessed for Nuclear Nonproliferation activities along with other mission critical applications. However, using these functional advances securely is of utmost important specially for these critical applications. The functional capabilities of these advanced technologies including 5G & Wi-Fi 6, and the associated security issues and mitigations will be discussed in this session. The future technologies including 6G which will follow 5G and newer versions of Wi-Fi will be also introduced.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

Millimeter- and submillimeter-wave spectrum of highly excited states of water

To facilitate studies of water in the interstellar medium and late-type stars, the frequencies of 30 new millimeter- and submillimeter-wave transitions of H2O-16 have been measured, which lie between 100 GHz and 600 GHz. This represents almost a doubling of the number of water lines that have been observed in the laboratory in this spectral region at high resolution. All of the newly observed lines are highly excited, lying between 2400 and 4200/cm above the ground level. Some of these have large excitation energies because of their high rotational states and others because they lie in excited vibrational states. These lines are potentially of substantial astrophysical significance because they are related to the study of interstellar masers and because their high excitation eliminates the atmospheric self-absorption associated with the more well-known water lines.

Pearson, J. C.↗

The laboratory millimeter- and submillimeter-wave spectrum of the first two excited torsional states of (C-13)H3OH

The rotational-torsional spectrum of (C-13)H3OH is presented in both the symmetric and degenerate substates of the first two excited torsional states. Of the new transitions reported, 122 lines are from the v(t) = 1 torsional state and 110 lines are from the v(t) = 2 torsional state, and all are confined to the rotational quantum number J = 8 or less. The data are combined with previously reported millimeter and submillimeter data for the v(t) = 0 torsional state and 44 previously measured excited torsional state lines to form a global data set of 596 transitions, which is analyzed and fitted using an extended internal axis method. The fit results in an overall rms deviation of 1.98 MHz. The spectral constants generated by the fit are used to predict an additional 123 lines of (C-13)H3OH in the v(t) = 1,2 excited torsional states with frequencies up to 612 GHz and rotational quantum number J = 11 or less.

Anderson, Todd↗

The Millimeter- and Submillimeter-Wave Spectrum of Gauche-Ethyl Alcohol

We report an investigation of the rotational-torsional spectrum of the gauche rotational isomers of ethyl alcohol in the 51-505 GHz frequency region. Over a thousand transitions between rotational levels in the gauche substates of the ground OH torsional state have been measured and assigned. These transitions involve rotational quantum numbers J and K(sub a) up to 30 and 15, respectively, and are of two types: alpha-type transitions between levels in either the gauche+ or the gauche-substate, and c-type transitions between rotational levels in the different substates. The majority of these transitions have been fit satisfactorily using a two-state Hamiltonian based on the Fixed Framework Axis Method (FFAM). The rotation, distortion, and interaction constants have been determined along with the energy difference between the two gauche substates. The derived constants can be used to predict many more transitions accurately for astronomical purposes. The J and K(sub a) region where the two-state analysis can be used has been determined. The basis for a three-state analysis including the trans substate is presented and the applicability of the FFAM approach is discussed.

Pearson, J. C.↗

The Millimeter- and Submillimeter-Wave Spectrum of Gauche-Ethyl Alcohol

We report an investigation of the rotational-torsional spectrum of the gauche rotational isomers of ethyl alcohol in the 51е05 GHz frequency region. Over a thousand transitions between rotational levels in the gauche substates of the ground OH torsional state have been measured and assigned. These transitions involve rotational quantum numbers J and Ka up to 30 and 15, respectively, and are of two types: a-type transitions between levels in either the gauche+ or the gaucheРsubstate, and c-type transitions between rotational levels in the different substates. The majority of these transitions have been fit satisfactorily using a two-state Hamiltonian based on the fixed framework axis method (FFAM). The rotation, distortion, and interaction constants have been determined along with the energy difference between the two gauche substates. The derived constants can be used to predict many more transitions accurately for astronomical purposes. The J and Ka region where the two-state analysis can be used has been determined. The basis for a three-state analysis including the trans substate is presented and the applicability of the FFAM approach is discussed.!

rotational-torsional↗

The submillimeter-wave spectrum of propionitrile (C2H5CN)

The laboratory millimeter-wave and submillimeter-wave rotational spectrum of propionitrile (ethyl cyanide, C2H5CN) in its ground vibrational state has been extended through J = 70 and K(sub a) = 36. Transitions measured in this study are in the frequency range 250-610 GHz. A fit of 952 transitions including 732 new measurements to a Watson A-reduced Hamiltonian has yielded a complete set of quartic and sextic distortion constants, in addition to six octic distortion constants. Internal rotation and hyperfine splittings have not been resolved, so they are not included in the analysis. Predicted transition frequencies for a large number of additional transitions of interest to radioastronomers are provided.

Pearson, J. C.↗