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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 451 records · Page 25
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1998

Stability and Phase Noise Tests of Two Cryo-Cooled Sapphire Oscillators

A cryocooled Compensated Sapphire Oscillator (CSO), developed for the Cassini Ka-band Radio Science experiment, and operating in the 8K - 10K temperature range was previously demonstrated to show ultra-high stability of sigma(sub y) = 2.5 x 10 (exp -15) for measuring times 200 seconds less than or equal to tau less than or equal to 600 seconds using a hydrogen maser as reference. We present here test results for a second unit which allows CSO short-term stability and phase noise to be measured for the first time. Also included are design details of a new RF receiver and an intercomparison with the first CSO unit. Cryogenic oscillators operating below about 10K offer the highest possible short term stability of any frequency sources. However, their use has so far been restricted to research environments due to the limited operating periods associated with liquid helium consumption. The cryocooled CSO is being built in support of the Cassini Ka-band Radio Science experiment and is designed to operate continuously for periods of a year or more. Performance targets are a stability of 3-4 x 10 (exp -15) (1 second less than or equal to tau less than or equal to 100 seconds) and phase noise of -73dB/Hz @ 1Hz measured at 34 GHz. Installation in 5 stations of NASA's deep space network (DSN) is planned in the years 2000 - 2002. In the previous tests, actual stability of the CSO for measuring times tau less than or equal to 200 seconds could not be directly measured, being masked by short-term fluctuations of the H-maser reference. Excellent short-term performance, however, could be inferred by the success of an application of the CSO as local oscillator (L.O.) to the JPL LITS passive atomic standard, where medium-term stability showed no degradation due to L.O. instabilities at a level of (sigma)y = 3 x 10 (exp -14)/square root of tau. A second CSO has now been constructed, and all cryogenic aspects have been verified, including a resonator turn-over temperature of 7.907 K, and Q of 7.4 x 10 (exp 8). These values compare to a turn-over of 8.821 K and Q of 1.0 x 10 (exp 9) for the first resonator. Operation of this second unit provides a capability to directly verify for the first time the short-term (1 second less than or equal to tau less than or equal to 200 seconds) stability and the phase noise of the CSO units. The RF receiver used in earlier tests was sufficient to meet Cassini requirements for tau greater than or equal to 10 seconds but had short-term stability limited to 2-4 x 10 (exp -14) at tau = 1 second, a value 10 times too high to meet our requirements. A new low-noise receiver has been designed to provide approximately equal to 10-15 performance at 1 second, and one receiver is now operational, demonstrating again short-term CSO performance with H maser-limited stability. Short-term performance was degraded in the old receiver due to insufficient tuning bandwidth in a 100MHZ quartz VCO that was frequency-locked to the cryogenic sapphire resonator. The new receivers are designed for sufficient bandwidth, loop gain and low noise to achieve the required performance.

Dick, G. John↗
NASA NTRS1996

Relativistic Navigation: A Theoretical Foundation

We present a theoretical foundation for relativistic astronomical measurements in curved space-time. In particular, we discuss a new iterative approach for describing the dynamics of an isolated astronomical N-body system in metric theories of gravity. To do this, we generalize the Fock-Chandrasekhar method of the weak-field and slow-motion approximation (WFSMA) and develop a theory of relativistic reference frames (RF's) for a gravitationally bounded many-extended-body problem. In any proper RF constructed in the immediate vicinity of an arbitrary body, the N-body solutions of the gravitational field equations are formally presented as a sum of the Riemann-flat inertial space-time, the gravitational field generated by the body itself, the unperturbed solutions for each body in the system transformed to the coordinates of this proper RF, and the gravitational interaction term. We develop the basic concept of a general WFSMA theory of the celestial RF's applicable to a wide class of metric theories of gravity and an arbitrary model of matter distribution. We apply the proposed method to general relativity. Celestial bodies are described using a perfect fluid model; as such, they possess any number of internal mass and current multipole moments that explicitly characterize their internal structures. The obtained relativistic corrections to the geodetic equations of motion arise because of a coupling of the bodies' multiple moments to the surrounding gravitational field. The resulting relativistic transformations between the different RF's extend the Poincare group to the motion of deformable self-gravitating bodies. Within the present accuracy of astronomical measurements we discuss the properties of the Fermi-normal-like proper RF that is defined in the immediate vicinity of the extended compact bodies. We further generalize the proposed approximation method and include two Eddington parameters (gamma, Beta). This generalized approach was used to derive the relativistic equations of satellite motion in the vicinity of the extended bodies. Anticipating improvements in radio and laser tracking technologies over the next few decades, we apply this method to spacecraft orbit determination. We emphasize the number of feasible relativistic gravity tests that may be performed within the context of the parameterized WFSMA. Based on the planeto-centric equations of motion of a spacecraft around the planet, we suggested a new null test of the Strong Equivalence Principle (SEP). The experiment to measure the corresponding SEP violation effect could be performed with the future Mercury Orbiter mission. We discuss other relativistic effects, including the perihelion advance and the redshift and geodetic precession of the orbiter's orbital plane about Mercury, as well as the possible future implementation of the proposed formalism in software codes developed for solar-system orbit determination. All the important calculations are completely documented, and the references contain an extensive list of cited literature.

Turyshev, Slava G.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Measured spectral amplitude of lightning sferics in the HF, VHF, and UHF bands

An experimental study was carried out to measure the spectral amplitude of lightning sferics at 22.5 MHz, 225 MHz, and 2.25 GHz. This effort included the detection, storage, and analysis of RF emission data to accurately determine the relative electric field strength produced by the lightning associated with a typical local thunderstorm. These measured spectral amplitudes are normalized and plotted relative to similar data from other investigators. These data support a 1/F to the 2nd to 1/F to the 3rd slope for sferics at frequencies above the HF range.

Shumpert, T. H.↗
NASA NTRS1977

CW ultrasonic bolt tensioning monitor

A CW ultrasonic device is described for measuring frequency shifts of the peak of a mechanical resonance in a body. One application of the device is measuring the strain in a bolt, and other applications such as measuring the thickness of a body, measuring the depth of a flaw in a body, measuring the elongation of a body, and measuring changes in velocity of sound in a body. The body is connected, by means of a CW transducer, to electrical circuit means including a narrow band RF amplifier to form a closed loop feedback marginal oscillator that frequency locks the device to the peak of a mechanical resonance in the body. When the frequency of this peak changes, because of a physical change in the body, the frequency of the oscillator changes. The device includes an automatic frequency resonant peak tracker that produces a voltage that is related to a change in frequency of the oscillator. This voltage is applied to the RF amplifier to change the center of its frequency band to include the frequency of the peak and is a measure of the frequency shift.

Heyman, J. S.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Scoping study of detecting high harmonic fast waves in NSTX-U hot core plasma directly using beam emission spectroscopy

In this paper, we used radio frequency (RF) full wave simulation to explore the feasibility of generating a density beat oscillation formed by high harmonic fast waves (HHFWs) in the National Spherical Tokamak Experiment-Upgrade (NSTX-U) and of measuring it numerically with 2D beam emission spectroscopy (BES). This oscillation is of interest as it can be used to determine the injected RF fields. We began by computing HHFW fields in NSTX-U under a variety of experimental conditions and antenna configurations with Petra-M, a 3D RF wavefield solver. These fields were then used to evaluate the amplitude of δne,beat/ne0 in the volume of measurement, which we predict to be between 5 × 10−10 and 10−9, although it is highly dependent on plasma parameters. Trends in magnetic field, core temperature, core density, and antenna phasing are presented, and the parameters most suitable to this measurement are identified. Finally, we developed a synthetic BES diagnostic to compare the experimental BES signal against.

Rutherford, Grant (ORCID:0000000163620037)↗
NASA NTRS1987

Power density measurements in the near field of the DSS 13 26-meter antenna

Power density measurements were made at Deep Space Station (DSS) 13 in the near field of the 26-m antenna to determine if radio frequency (rf) fields generated by the 20-kW transmitters could be responsible for the failure of three solid state rf amplifiers. These amplifiers are used in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Radio Spectrum Surveillance System, which is currently located at the site. Measurements were made independently for one transmitter at 7150 MHz, and both transmitters together. Measurement results are tabulated and compared with predicted power densities under the measurement conditions. The results agree with the predictions within a factor of two. The predictions appear to give worst case values. Measurements indicated that amplifier failures are not attributable to the transmitter.

Jackson, E. B.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Two Years of Atmospheric Measurements in Edinburgh, Scotland

Since March of 2016, NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) and Heriot Watt University (HWU) have jointly operated an atmospheric propagation terminal to measure and characterize propagation phenomena near 40 GHz at the HWU campus in Edinburgh, Scotland within the framework of the Alphasat experiment. The system was also recently upgraded in June 2018 to take simultaneous measurements near 20 GHz. The Q-band system utilizes a novel design which combines a beacon receiver and digital radiometer into the same RF front-end and observes the 39.402 GHz beacon of the European Space Agency's Alphasat Aldo Paraboni TDP#5 experiment. Atmospheric measurements can thusly be assessed to characterize link performance. The objective in orchestrating these types of measurements is to improve statistical understanding of the atmosphere at these frequencies of interest, as well as to contribute to the development and improvement of International Telecommunications Union (ITU) models for prediction of communications systems performance within the Q-band. Herein, we provide an overview of the system design, as well as an analysis of the first two years of data collected in Edinburgh, including attenuation, fade duration, and fade slope.

Zemba, Michael↗
NASA NTRS2018

Two Years of Atmospheric Measurements in Edinburgh, Scotland

Since March of 2016, NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) and Heriot Watt University (HWU) have jointly operated an atmospheric propagation terminal to measure and characterize propagation phenomena near 40 GHz at the HWU campus in Edinburgh, Scotland within the framework of the Alphasat experiment. The system was also recently upgraded in June 2018 to take simultaneous measurements near 20 GHz. The Q-band system utilizes a novel design which combines a beacon receiver and digital radiometer into the same RF front-end and observes the 39.402 GHz beacon of the European Space Agency's Alphasat Aldo Paraboni TDP#5 experiment. Atmospheric measurements can thusly be assessed to characterize link performance. The objective in orchestrating these types of measurements is to improve statistical understanding of the atmosphere at these frequencies of interest, as well as to contribute to the development and improvement of International Telecommunications Union (ITU) models for prediction of communications systems performance within the Q-band. Herein, we provide an overview of the system design, as well as an analysis of the first two years of data collected in Edinburgh, including attenuation, fade duration, and fade slope.

Zemba, Michael J.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Analysis of the DFP/AFCS Systems for Compensating Gravity Distortions on the 70-Meter Antenna

This paper presents the theoretical computations showing the expected performances for both systems. The basic analysis tool is a Physical Optics reflector analysis code that was ported to a parallel computer for faster execution times. There are several steps involved in computing the RF performance of the various systems. 1 . A model of the RF distortions of the main reflector is required. This model is based upon measured holography maps of the 70-meter antenna obtained at 3 elevation angles. The holography maps are then processed (using an appropriate gravity mechanical model of the dish) to provide surface distortion maps at all elevation angles. 2. From the surface distortion maps, ray optics is used to determine the theoretical shape of the DFP that will exactly phase compensate the distortions. 3. From the theoretical shape and a NASTRAN mechanical model of the plate, the actuator positions that generate a surface that provides the best RMS fit to the theoretical model are selected. Using the actuator positions and the NASTRAN model provides an accurate description of the actual mirror shape. 4. Starting from the mechanical drawings of the feed, a computed RF feed pattern is generated. This pattern is expanded into a set of spherical wave modes so that a complete near field analysis of the reflector system can be obtained. 5. For the array feed, the excitation coefficients that provide the maximum gain are computed using a phase conjugate technique. The basic experimental geometry consisted of a dual shaped 70-meter antenna system; a refocusing ellipse, a DFP and an array feed system. To provide physical insight to the systems performance, focal plane field plots are presented at several elevations. Curves of predicted performance are shown for the DFP system, monopulse tracking system, AFCS and combined DFP/AFCS system. The calculated results show that the combined DFP/AFCS system is capable of recovering the majority of the gain lost due to gravity distortion.

Imbriale, William A.↗
DOE OSTI2021

A low-frequency buncher field-variation study on a 750 keV H – beam to increase Drift Tube Linac capture

We report low-frequency (such as 16.77 MHz) RF bunchers are widely used in RF accelerator systems for longitudinal compression of pulses into a single RF bucket, which increases instantaneous beam intensity for time-dependent studies. In this study, the dependency of capture into a 201.25 MHz Drift Tube Linac (DTL) was measured as a function of gap voltage for a 16.77 MHz buncher on chopped H - beam (approximately 25 ns at 750 keV, 10 mA peak current). The multiparticle code PARMILA was used to simulate the phase-space distribution of the 10 mA, 750 keV, H - beam at the entrance to DTL with a wide range of the Low-Frequency Buncher (LFB) field (10 kV to 35 kV). The measurement and simulation indicated that the DTL capture could be dilute (reduced) for a non-optimized buncher field to a pre-configured beamline geometry. The data shows that changing the bunch field while keeping the incoming beam current and energy constant does not significantly alter the beam’s emittance. However, downstream beam capture into the DTL is changed for a non-optimized phase-space bunching distance with the buncher field.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
NASA NTRS1978

Plume RF interference calculations for space shuttle

During a static ground test of a full-scale SRM, measurements of attenuation of the UHF 416.5 MHz Range Safety Signal, the VHF voice link (230 MHz), and of S-band (c. 2.2. GHz) communications links were undertaken. Analyses of these results indicate that measurable attenuation did occur at all test frequencies. The measured attenuation levels are compared with a simple model in which the received signal is identified as that diffracted about the edge of the highly absorbing plume and the signal level in the shadow zone is evaluated using the formula for diffraction at a straight edge. The comparison is satisfactory at VHF and UHF frequencies, and slightly less so at S-band. Reasons for the discrepancies found at higher frequencies are discussed. A revised procedure which appears to relieve the accuracy problem was developed. This procedure is discussed along with applications to high altitude SRM plume attenuation.

Boynton, F. P.↗
NASA NTRS2003

High-Temperature RF Probe Station For Device Characterization Through 500 deg C and 50 GHz

A high-temperature measurement system capable of performing on-wafer microwave testing of semiconductor devices has been developed. This high temperature probe station can characterize active and passive devices and circuits at temperatures ranging from room temperature to above 500 C. The heating system uses a ceramic heater mounted on an insulating block of NASA shuttle tile material. The temperature is adjusted by a graphical computer interface and is controlled by the software-based feedback loop. The system is used with a Hewlett-Packard 8510C Network Analyzer to measure scattering parameters over a frequency range of 1 to 50 GHz. The microwave probes, cables, and inspection microscope are all shielded to protect from heat damage. The high temperature probe station has been successfully used to characterize gold transmission lines on silicon carbide at temperatures up to 540 C.

Schwartz, Zachary D.↗
DOE OSTI2021

PISCES-RF: a liquid-cooled high-power steady-state helicon plasma device

Radio-frequency (RF) driven helicon plasma sources can produce relatively high-density plasmas (n > 1019 m -3 ) at relatively moderate powers (<2 kW) in argon. However, to produce similar high-density plasmas for fusion relevant gases such as hydrogen (H), deuterium (D) and helium (He), much higher RF powers are needed. For very high RF powers, thermal issues of the RF-transparent dielectric window, used in the RF source design, limit the plasma operation timescales. To mitigate this constraint, we have designed, built and tested a novel helicon plasma source assembly with a fully liquid-cooled RF-transparent window which allows steady state operations at high power (up to 20 kW) and successfully produces high-density plasma with both argon and H. Deionized (DI) water, flowing between two concentric dielectric RF windows, is used as the coolant. We show that a full azimuthal blanket of DI water does not prevent high-density plasma production. From calorimetry on the DI water, we measure the net heat removed by the coolant at steady state conditions. Using infra-red imaging, we calculate the constant plasma heat deposition and measure the final steady state temperature distribution patterns on the inner surface of the ceramic layer. The heat deposition pattern follows the helical shape of the antenna. We also show the consistency between the heat absorbed by the DI water, as measured by calorimetry, and the total heat due to the combined effect of the plasma heating and the absorbed RF. These results are being used to answer critical engineering questions for the 200 kW RF device materials plasma exposure experiment being designed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory as a next generation plasma material interaction device.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Modulation of intensity emerging from zero effort (MIEZE) with extended Fourier time at large scattering angle

Modulation of Intensity Emerging from Zero Effort (MIEZE) is a neutron resonant spin echo technique that allows one to measure time correlation scattering functions in materials by implementing radio-frequency (RF) intensity modulation at the sample and the detector. The technique avoids neutron spin manipulation between the sample and the detector and, thus, could find applications in cases where the sample depolarizes the neutron beam. However, the finite sample size creates a variance in the path length between the locations where scattering and detection happen, which limits the contrast in intensity modulation that one can detect, in particular, toward long correlation times or large scattering angles. We propose a modification to the MIEZE setup that will enable one to extend those detection limits to longer times and larger angles. Furthermore, we use Monte Carlo simulations of a neutron scattering beamline to show that by tilting the RF flippers in the primary spectrometer with respect to the beam direction, one can shape the wave front of the intensity modulation at the sample to compensate for the path variance from the sample and the detector. The simulation results indicate that this change enables one to operate a MIEZE instrument at much increased RF frequencies, thus improving the effective energy resolution of the technique. For the MIEZE instrument simulated, it shows that for an incident beam with the maximum divergence of 0.33°, the maximum Fourier time can be increased by a factor of 3.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2020

A 100 kW 1.3 GHz Magnetron System with Amplitude and Phase Control

Calabazas Creek Research, Inc., Fermilab, and Communications & Power Industries, LLC, developed a 100 kW peak, 10 kW average, 1.3 GHz, magnetron-based, RF system for driving accelerators. Efficiency varied between 81% and 87%. Phase locking uses a novel approach that provides fast amplitude and phase control when coupled into a superconducting accelerator cavity [1]. The system was successfully tested at Fermilab and produced 100 kW in 1.5 ms pulses at a repetition rate of 2 pps. A locking bandwidth of 0.9 MHz was achieved with a drive signal of 269 W injected through a 4 port circulator. The phase locking signal was 25 dB below the magnetron output power. The spectrum of the phase locked magnetron was suitable for driving accelerator cavities. Phase modulation was demonstrated to 50 kHz (the limit of the available driver source). The average power was limited by available conditioning time. Scaling indicates 42 kW of average power should be achievable. Estimated cost is less than $1/Watt of delivered RF power, exclusive of power supplies or modulators. System design and performance measurements will be presented.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
NASA NTRS1977

The temporal structure of HF and VHF radiations during Florida lightning return strokes

Measurements have been made of the HF and VHF radiation at 3, 30, 139, and 295 MHz produced during lightning return strokes, in correlation with wideband electric field measurements covering from about 300 Hz to 2 MHz. Intense pulses of RF are observed during the first return stroke in a discharge to ground, but with a 10-30 µsec time delay between the beginning of the stroke and the occurrence of significant RF radiation. The delay occurs at all frequencies and is short enough to suggest that the main channel and/or branches are the main initial sources of RF during the first stroke. During a subsequent return stroke, the RF starts an average of 265 µsec prior to the onset of the stroke. At 139 and 295 MHz, the subsequent stroke RF lasts only about 115 µsec; however, at 3 MHz, the radiation frequently persists up to and during the stroke.

David M Le Vine↗
NASA NTRS1977

Measured results of polarization crosstalk cancellation using LMS control

This paper discusses the use of wideband decoupling networks for the cancellation of polarization crosstalk in dual-polarized communication links. Measured cancellation performance for an all-electronic IF network and an RF electro-mechanical waveguide network are presented. Each of these networks utilizes LMS-type adaptive control techniques to adjust the cancellation network.

Baird, C. A.↗