Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “ANTENNA FIELD”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 109 records · Page 6

Finite difference time domain calculation of transients in antennas with nonlinear loads

Determining transient electromagnetic fields in antennas with nonlinear loads is a challenging problem. Typical methods used involve calculating frequency domain parameters at a large number of different frequencies, then applying Fourier transform methods plus nonlinear equation solution techniques. If the antenna is simple enough so that the open circuit time domain voltage can be determined independently of the effects of the nonlinear load on the antennas current, time stepping methods can be applied in a straightforward way. Here, transient fields for antennas with more general geometries are calculated directly using Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) methods. In each FDTD cell which contains a nonlinear load, a nonlinear equation is solved at each time step. As a test case, the transient current in a long dipole antenna with a nonlinear load excited by a pulsed plane wave is computed using this approach. The results agree well with both calculated and measured results previously published. The approach given here extends the applicability of the FDTD method to problems involving scattering from targets, including nonlinear loads and materials, and to coupling between antennas containing nonlinear loads. It may also be extended to propagation through nonlinear materials.

Luebbers, Raymond J.↗

NASA-JSC antenna near-field measurement system

Work was completed on the near-field range control software. The capabilities of the data processing software were expanded with the addition of probe compensation. In addition, the user can process the measured data from the same computer terminal used for range control. The design of the laser metrology system was completed. It provides precise measruement of probe location during near-field measurements as well as position data for control of the translation beam and probe cart. A near-field range measurement system was designed, fabricated, and tested.

Cooke, W. P.↗

Faster Computation Of Far Fields Of Dish Antennas

Modified Zernike-polynomial approach reduces number of terms in numerical integration. Yields greater or equal accuracy with fewer terms in series expansion and fewer sampling points across aperture and, less computation. Method based on Jacobi-Bessel-expansion concept.

Jamnejad, Vahraz↗

Analysis of Near-field of Circular Aperture Antennas with Application to Study of High Intensity Radio Frequency (HIRF) Hazards to Aviation from JPL/NASA Deep Space Network Antennas

This work includes a simplified analysis of the radiated near to mid-field from JPL/NASA Deep Space Network (DSN) reflector antennas and uses an averaging technique over the main beam region and beyond for complying with FAA regulations in specific aviation environments. The work identifies areas that require special attention, including the implications of the very narrow beam of the DSN transmitters. The paper derives the maximum averaged power densities allowed and identifies zones where mitigation measures are required.

Antennas↗

Near-field testing of the 30 GHz TRW proof-of-concept multibeam antenna

Near-field testing was conducted on the 30 GHz TRW proof-of-concept (POC) Multibeam Antenna (MBA). The TRW POC MBA is a dual offset Cassegrain reflector system using a 2.7 m main reflector. This configuration was selected to assess the ability to create both multiple fixed and scanned spot beams. The POC configuration investigated frequency reuse via spatial separation of beams, polarization selectivity and time division multiple access scanning at 30 GHz. Measurements of directivity, sidelobe level, and pattern were made at NASA Lewis Research Center's Near-Field Antenna Test Facility. Presented in this paper are complete results of these measurements. Included is a detailed discussion of all testing procedures and parameters. Results of additional testing used to evaluate diffraction effects of the subreflector and distortions of the main reflector are also presented.

Kunath, R. R., Jr.↗

Antenna for Measuring Electric Fields Within the Inner Heliosphere

A document discusses concepts for the design of an antenna to be deployed from a spacecraft for measuring the ambient electric field associated with plasma waves at a location within 3 solar radii from the solar photosphere. The antenna must be long enough to extend beyond the photoelectron and plasma sheaths of the spacecraft (expected to be of the order of meters thick) and to enable measurements at frequencies from 20 Hz to 10 MHz without contamination by spacecraft electric-field noise. The antenna must, therefore, extend beyond the thermal protection system (TPS) of the main body of the spacecraft and must withstand solar heating to a temperature as high as 2,000 C while not conducting excessive heat to the interior of the spacecraft. The TPS would be conical and its axis would be pointed toward the Sun. The antenna would include monopole halves of dipoles that would be deployed from within the shadow of the TPS. The outer potion of each monopole would be composed of a carbon-carbon (C-C) composite surface exposed to direct sunlight (hot side) and a C-C side in shadow (cold side) with yttria-stabilized zirconia spacers in-between. The hot side cannot view the spacecraft bus, while the cold side can. The booms also can be tilted to minimize heat input to spacecraft bus. This design allows one to reduce heat input to the spacecraft bus to acceptable levels.

Sittler, Edward Charles↗

Aeronautical satellite antenna steering using magnetic field sensors

Designers of aeronautical satellite terminals are often faced with the problem of steering a directive antenna from an airplane or helicopter. This problem is usually solved by using aircraft orientation information derived from inertial sensors on-board the aircraft in combination with satellite ephemeris information calculated from geographic coordinates. This procedure works well but relies heavily on avionics that are external to the terminal. For the majority of small aircraft and helicopters which will form the bulk of future aeronautical satcom users, such avionics either do not exist or are difficult for the satellite terminal to interface with. At the Communications Research Center (CRC), work has been undertaken to develop techniques that use the geomagnetic field and satellite antenna pointing vectors (both of which are stationary in a local geographical area) to track the position of a satellite relative to a moving platform such as an aircraft. The performance of this technique is examined and a mathematical steering transformation is developed within this paper. Details are given regarding the experimental program that will be undertaken to test the concepts proposed herein.

Sydor, John↗

Field interface module for antenna control assembly

The hardware aspects and capabilities of the field interface module (FIM) developed for monitor and control functions in the antenna mechanical subsystems of the deep space network and in the technical facilities controllers for the various complexes are described. The FIM is capable of monitoring and responding to a range of anaog and digital inputs and controlling external elements. The flexibility of the design makes it applicable to other control needs, using software developed for those specific applications.

Baher, F.↗

Anomalous Results from PO Applied to Reflector Antennas: The importance of Near Field Computations

There is no doubt among the designers of reflector antennas that the physical optics (PO) analysis technique is the most popular numerical technique. Powerful computer codes are available for the analysis of single or multi reflector antenna systems. Additionally, ever increasingly demand on the antenna performance necessitates the computation of antenna far field patterns under various situations. For example, in using multi reflector antennas such as, Gregorian or Cassegrain, it may become necessary to determine the total fields including the feed radiation pattern, subreflector scattered pattern and the main reflector scattered pattern. In these situations, the common practice is to sum up various scattered fields and the incident field contributions to obtain the desired total field, it is the purpose of this paper to demonstrate that the typical approach based on the far field pattern of the feed would result into erroneous result and special care must be exercised to obtain the correct result. This will be demonstrated through a detailed investigation of a representative test case.

Rahmat-Samii, Yahya↗

EM Modeling of Far-Field Radiation Patterns for Antennas on the GMA-TT UAV

To optimize communication with the Generic Modular Aircraft T-Tail (GMA-TT) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), electromagnetic (EM) simulations have been performed to predict the performance of two antenna types on the aircraft. Simulated far-field radiation patterns tell the amount of power radiated by the antennas and the aircraft together, taking into account blockage by the aircraft as well as radiation by conducting and dielectric portions of the aircraft. With a knowledge of the polarization and distance of the two communicating antennas, e.g. one on the UAV and one on the ground, and the transmitted signal strength, a calculation may be performed to find the strength of the signal travelling from one antenna to the other and to check that the transmitted signal meets the receiver system requirements for the designated range. In order to do this, the antenna frequency and polarization must be known for each antenna, in addition to its design and location. The permittivity, permeability, and geometry of the UAV components must also be known. The full-wave method of moments solution produces the appropriate dBi radiation pattern in which the received signal strength is calculated relative to that of an isotropic radiator.

Mackenzie, Anne I.↗

Nonuniform Sampling Of Radiation From Antennas

Far-field patterns reconstructed. Nonuniform-sampling technique uses interpolation algorithm to obtain far-field radiation pattern of antenna at any point u, v based on measurements at few sampling points. Applicable to any components of electric field "E" at measurement locations in spherical coordinate system centered at antenna.

Rahmat-Samii, Y.↗

Numerical evaluation of electromagnetic fields due to dipole antennas in the presence of stratified media

Two numerical methods are used to evaluate the integrals that express the em fields due to dipole antennas radiating in the presence of a stratified medium. The first method is a direct integration by means of Simpson's rule. The second method is indirect and approximates the kernel of the integral by means of the fast Fourier transform. In contrast to previous analytical methods that applied only to two-layer cases the numerical methods can be used for any arbitrary number of layers with general properties.

Tsang, L.↗