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NASA NTRS1975

Twenty and thirty GHz millimeter wave experiments with the ATS-6 satellite

The ATS-6 millimeter wave experiment, provided the first direct measurements of 20 and 30 GHz earth-space links from an orbiting satellite. Studies at eleven locations in the continental United States were directed at an evaluation of rain attenuation effects, scintillations, depolarization, site diversity, coherence bandwidth, and analog and digital communications techniques. In addition to direct measurements on the 20 and 30 GHz links, methods of attenuation prediction with radars, rain gages, and radiometers were developed and compared with the directly measured attenuation. Initial data results of the ATS-6 millimeter wave experiment from the major participating organizations are presented.

Ippolito, L. J.↗

NASA NTRS1975

ATS-6 - Millimeter Wave Propagation and Communications Experiments at 20 and 30 GHz

The Applications Technology Satellite (ATS-6) Millimeter Wave Experiment, developed and implemented by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, has provided the first direct measurements of 20- and 30-GHz earth-space links from an orbiting satellite. Studies at eleven locations in the continental United States were directed at an evaluation of rain attenuation effects, scintillations, depolarization, site diversity, coherence bandwidth, and analog and digital communications techniques. In addition to direct measurements on the 20- and 30-GHz links, methods of attenuation prediction with radars, rain gauges, and radiometers were developed and compared with the directly measured attenuation. This paper presents a review of the major results of the first year of measurements with ATS-6, with emphasis on the impact of the measurements on millimeter wave space systems design.

Ippolito, L. J.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Millimeter emission lines in Orion A

During the course of a search of Orion A for signals from three large organic molecules, several millimeter-wave lines from known interstellar molecules were observed. Results are reported for observations of methanol (CH3OH), methyl cyanide (CH3CN), methyl acetylene (CH3CCH), acetaldehyde (CH3CHO) and (Si-29)O. Emission signals from two hydrogen recombination lines (H41-alpha and H42-alpha) detected from the H II region of Orion A are also reported. Negative results were obtained for several millimeter-wave transitions of ethylene oxide, acetone, and cyclopropenone.

Lovas, F. J.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Pre-flare association of magnetic fields and millimeter-wave radio emission

Observations of radio emission at 3.3 mm wavelength associated with magnetic fields in active regions are reported. Results of more than 200 regions during the years 1967-1968 show a strong correlation between peak enhanced millimeter emission, total flux of the longitudinal component of photospheric magnetic fields and the number of flares produced during transit of active regions. For magnetic flux greater than (10 to the 21st power) maxwells flares will occur and for flux of (10 to the 23rd power) maxwells the sum of the H-alpha flare importance numbers is about 40. The peak millimeter enhancement increases with magnetic flux for regions which subsequently flared. Estimates of the magnetic energy available and the correlation with flare production indicate that the photospheric fields and probably chromospheric currents are responsible for the observed pre-flare heating and provide the energy of flares.

Mayfield, E. B.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Extragalactic sources with strong millimeter-wave emission

Observations at 90 GHz of a sample of 38 sources chosen to have flat or rising spectra between 0.318 and 5 GHz are reported. Roughly 25% of the sources were found to have flat or rising spectra between 5 and 90 GHz. The optical magnitude of each of the sources from the E print of the Palomar Sky Survey has also been estimated. Evidence is found for a correlation between the 90-GHz flux density and the optical magnitude, suggesting a relationship between the emission processes at these frequencies. Little evidence is found for a correlation between the low- and high-frequency spectral indices of the sources. This suggests that the sources tend to be opaque at centimeter wavelengths and optically thin at millimeter wavelengths. The properties of two of the more interesting sources are also discussed. Evidence is presented that strong millimeter activity may be generally associated with the BL Lac phenomenon.

Owen, F. N.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Conversion loss and noise of microwave and millimeter-wave mixers. I - Theory. II - Experiment

The conversion loss and noise of microwave and millimeter-wave mixers are analyzed. Nonlinear capacitance, arbitrary embedding impedances, as well as shot, thermal and scattering noise arising in the diode, figure in the analysis. The anomalous mixer noise noted in millimeter-wave mixers by Kerr (1975) is shown to be explainable in terms of the correlation of down-converted components of the time-varying shot noise. A digital computer analysis of the conversion loss, noise, and output impedance of an 80-120-GHz mixer is also conducted.

Held, D. N.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Millimeter wave satellite concepts. Volume 1: Executive summary

The objectives of the program were: (1) development of methodology based on the technical requirements of potential services that might be assigned to millimeter wave bands for identifying the viable and appropriate technologies for future NASA millimeter research and development programs, and (2) testing of this methodology with user applications and services. The scope of the program included the entire communications network, both ground and space subsystems. The reports include: (1) cost, weight, and performance models for the subsystems, (2) conceptual design for point-to-point and broadcast communications satellites, (3) analytic relationships between subsystem parameters and an overall link performance, (4) baseline conceptual systems, (5) sensitivity studies, (6) model adjustment analyses, (7) identification of critical technologies and their risks, (8) brief R&D program scenarios for the technologies judged to be moderate or extensive risks.

Hilsen, N. B.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Application of millimeter-wave remote sensing to the investigation of comets

It is pointed out the despite years of investigation, the solid, quasi-permanent component of comets, the nucleus, remains largely a mystery. The composition and thermal properties of the nucleus determine the evolution of the more familiar and often spectacular cometary features, the coma and tail. Under certain circumstances, the nucleus may be obscured by a dust cloud of much higher temperature. The most appropriate technology for the investigation of the surface and subsurface layers of the nucleus is considered to be millimeter-wave sensing from an interplanetary spacecraft. Simple radiative transfer models, adapted from methods employed for the interpretation of remote-sensing data on terrestrial ice and snow fields, are used to predict the millimeter-wave spectra of representative model nuclei. The spectra determine the choice of the minimum set of observing frequencies that is required. An instrument configuration driven by these requirements and guided by available technology and the restraints of a proposed NASA spacecraft is then derived.

Hobbs, R. W.↗

NASA NTRS1981

One millimeter continuum observations of high redshift quasars

Upper limits to the one-millimeter continuum flux densities of the high redshift quasars B2 1225 + 31, Ton 490, and PHL 957 are presented. The upper limit to the power observed from these quasars at 1 mm is, on the average, one half of the observed power in the continuum at L-alpha. These observations are used to constrain the temperature of a hypothetical dust shell which reddens the quasar line and continuum emission by an extinction optical depth sufficient to account for the anomalously low L-alpha/H-alpha emission line ratio observed in each of these quasars. For the quasars studied, dust shell temperatures between 25 K and 50 to 95 K are prohibited by the present data. A dust shell at a temperature within this span reradiating all the power absorbed from the quasar ultraviolet continuum would produce a one-millimeter flux density greater than the measured upper limit. The average radius of the model dust shell cannot be between 70 kpc and 1 Mpc.

Ennis, D. J.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Millimeter-wave experiments for cometary space missions

Predicted brightness temperatures, computed by means of radiative transfer techniques adapted from the modeling of terrestrial ice and snow fields, are given for cometary nucleus models consisting of homogeneous layers of water ice and refractory grain mixtures presented as functions of wavelength. The computed millimeter-wave spectra are sensitive to the values of such physically significant nucleus parameters as (1) crust thickness, (2) subsurface temperature gradient, and (3) sublimating surface boundary temperature. Although antenna beam dilution is a major obstacle for ground-based molecular spectral line radio observations of comets, a millimeter-wave radiometer in the vicinity of the comet would be immune to this effect and able to make observations of several candidate parent molecules in the gas phase.

Hobbs, R. W.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Experimental validation of a millimeter wave radar technique to remotely sense atmospheric pressure at the Earth's surface

Experiments with a millimeter wave radar operating on the NASA CV-990 aircraft which validate the technique for remotely sensing atmospheric pressure at the Earth's surface are described. Measurements show that the precise millimeter wave observations needed to deduce pressure from space with an accuracy of 1 mb are possible, that sea surface reflection properties agree with theory and that the measured variation of differential absorption with altitude corresponds to that expected from spectroscopic models.

Flower, D. A.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Millimeter and submillimeter laboratory spectroscopy - Recent results of astrophysical interest

Recent laboratory spectroscopic results on the transient neutral species CCH, NH2, and NaH, the molecular ions HCO(+), N2H(+), and CO(+), and the light asymmetric internal rotor HOOH are reviewed. It is shown that the shorter millimeter and submillimeter spectral region offers a number of advantages, even in the laboratory. Attention is also given to the requirements for theoretical models capable of the accurate spectral predictions required for many astrophysical applications. The results presented here are seen as demonstrating that millimeter and submillimeter microwave spectroscopy provides a sensitive and flexible means of studying short-lived species in the laboratory. It is believed that, in combination with the appropriate theoretical approach, studies of this type are capable of providing accurate spectral maps over wide spectral regions for most species of astrophysical importance.

De Lucia, F. C.↗

NASA NTRS1986

A superconducting tunnel junction receiver for millimeter-wave astronomy

The development and construction of an ultralow noise heterodyne receiver for millimeter wave astronomy is described along with its use for 115.3 GHz Co line observations. The receiver uses a Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor (SIS) quasiparticle tunnel junction mixer to convert the millimeter wave signal to a microwave intermediate frequency. Experiments aimed at quantitative verification of J. R. Tucker's quantum mixer theory are studied, to see whether it could be used as the basis for the design of a practical receiver. The experimental results were in excellent agreement with the theory, assuming the three frequency approximation. Infinite available gain and negative output resistance were observed for the first time, nonclassical effects which are not seen in conventional diode mixers. Using Tucker's theory, an SIS receiver was then designed and constructed. At 115 GHz, the single sideband receiver noise temperature is 83K, the lowest ever reported in this frequency range. A CO survey toward Cygnus-X region, using this SIS receiver on the Columbia-GISS 4 ft. telescope, is also described.

Pan, S. K.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Maps of millimeter wave emission from three galactic star-forming regions

In order to investigate the gas dynamics around young stellar objects, three sources were mapped which exhibit supersonic velocities in the 115 GHZ, J = 1-0 transition of CO. The maps, made with the Owens Valley Radio Observatory Millimeter Interferometer, are the highest spatial resolution images currently available of millimeter-wave continuum and line emission from the sources S106, S87, and LkHalpha101. Observations were made in the CS (J = 2-1) and C-13O (J = 1-0) transitions. In all the sources, the observations indicate that the ionized stellar wind is sweeping up ambient molecular gas. The molecular gas is found adjacent to the outer edges of the ionized winds, which originate in embedded infrared sources. From the observations presented, it may be inferred that the outflowing ionized winds are channeled by the surrounding dense, neutral gas.

Barsony, Mary↗

NASA NTRS1986

Measurement techniques for millimeter wave substrate mounted MMW antennas

An overview of measurement techniques for millimeter wave substrate mounted antennas is presented. Scattering and pickup of the millimeter wave radiation on the low frequency leads is a significant problem in these measurements. Methods to reduce these effects are discussed, and preliminary work on dipole antennas at 230 GHz is presented.

Gouker, M. A.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Measurement techniques for millimeter wave substrate mounted MMW antennas

Gouker, M. A.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Millimeter-wave spectra and variability of bright, compact radio sources

Observations at 2.7 mm and at 1.5 cm were used to study the millimeter spectra and variability of 176 bright, compact radio sources. More than 20 percent of the flat-spectrum sources, but none of the steep-spectrum sources, were seen to vary at 1.5 cm by at least 30 percent over ten months. This is consistent with the hypothesis that flat-spectrum sources are compact and possibly beamed, while steep-spectrum sources are not. These data can also be used to choose sources for VLBI observations and for calibration of millimeter-wave observations.

Edelson, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1988

A ground-based technique for millimeter wave spectroscopic observations of stratospheric trace constituents

Recent concern over possible long term stratospheric changes caused by the introduction of man-made compounds has increased the need for instrumentation that can accurately measure stratospheric minor constituents. The technique of radio spectroscopy at millimeter wavelengths was first used to observe rotational transitions of stratospheric ozone nearly two decades ago, but has not been highly developed until recently. A ground-based observing technique is reported which employs a millimeter-wave superheterodyne receiver and multichannel filter spectrometer for measurements of stratospheric constituents that have peak volume mixing ratios that are less than 10 to the -9th, more than 3 orders of magnitude less than that for ozone. The technique is used for an extensive program of observations of stratospheric chlorine monoxide and also for observations of other stratospheric trace gases such as (O-16)3, vibrationally excited (O-16)3, (O-18)2(O-16), N2O, HO2, and HCN. In the present paper, analysis of the observing technique is given, including the method of calibration and analysis of sources of error. The technique is found to be a reliable means of observing and monitoring important stratospheric trace constituents.

Parrish, A.↗