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At least 127 records · Page 7

Four-year Cosmology Large Angular Scale Surveyor (CLASS) Observations: On-sky Receiver Performance at 40, 90, 150, and 220 GHz Frequency Bands

The Cosmology Large Angular Scale Surveyor (CLASS) observes the polarized cosmic microwave background (CMB) over the angular scales of 1° ≲ θ ≤ 90° with the aim of characterizing primordial gravitational waves and cosmic reionization. We report on the on-sky performance of the CLASS Q-band (40 GHz), W-band (90 GHz), and dichroic G-band (150/220 GHz) receivers that have been operational at the CLASS site in the Atacama desert since 2016 June, 2018 May, and 2019 September, respectively. We show that the noise-equivalent power measured by the detectors matches the expected noise model based on on-sky optical loading and lab-measured detector parameters. Using Moon, Venus, and Jupiter observations, we obtain power to antenna temperature calibrations and optical efficiencies for the telescopes. From the CMB survey data, we compute instantaneous array noise-equivalent-temperature sensitivities of 22, 19, 23, and 71 $\mu {{\rm{K}}}_{\mathrm{cmb}}\sqrt{{\rm{s}}}$ for the 40, 90, 150, and 220 GHz frequency bands, respectively. These noise temperatures refer to white noise amplitudes, which contribute to sky maps at all angular scales. Future papers will assess additional noise sources impacting larger angular scales.

Observational cosmology↗

The COMSAT 13 and 18 GHz Propagation Experiment

The ATS-6 COMSAT Propagation Experiment was designed to gather statistical data on attenuation caused by rain and snow at 13 and 18 GHz. These data will be used to determine system design parameters for future communications satellite systems operating at frequencies above 10 GHz. The experiment used 25, 18 GHz, and 15, 13 GHz unattended ground transmitters at 25 locations in the eastern U.S. to transmit to the ATS-6. The ATS-6 transponder converts these carriers to frequencies around 4150 MHz and transmits these signals to the COMSAT large horn antenna/data acquisition and receiving facility at Andover, Me. This facility calibrates and digitally records each carrier once per second. These data have been processed and analyzed for the period from July to Nov. 2, 1972. Plans are being made to conduct the experiment in Europe and India during the 35 deg E longitude site phase of ATS-6 operations.

King, J. L.↗

TWT design requirements for 30/20 GHz digital communications' satellite

The rapid growth of communication traffic (voice, data, and video) requires the development of additional frequency bands before the 1990's. The frequencies currently in use for satellite communications at 6/4 GHz are crowded and demands for 14/12 GHz systems are increasing. Projections are that these bands will be filled to capacity by the late 1980's. The next higher frequency band allocated for satellite communications is at 30/20 GHz. For interrelated reasons of efficiency, power level, and system reliability criteria, a candidate for the downlink amplifier in a 30/20 GHz communications' satellite is a dual mode traveling wave tube (TWT) equipped with a highly efficient depressed collector. A summary is given of the analyses which determine the TWT design requirements. The overall efficiency of such a tube is then inferred from a parametric study and from experimental data on multistaged depressed collectors. The expected TWT efficiency at 4 dB below output saturation is 24 percent in the high mode and 22 percent in the low mode.

Stankiewicz, N.↗

The 18 and 30 GHz fixed service communication satellite system study: Executive summary

The use of the 18 and 30 GHz bands for fixed service satellite communications is examined. Primary objectives were to determine if satellite communication systems using this allocation (27.5 to 30.0 GHz uplink; 17.7 to 20.2 GHz downlink) can be cost competitive with alternate means of communication, and to determine what technological developments would be required to make these systems competitive. To meet these objectives, the cost and performance to be expected of 18 and 30 GHz hardware in the 1985 to 1990 era was assessed, selected trunking and direct to user concepts were optimized, and the cost of these systems was estimated. Finally, the technology developments required to make the most promising of the concepts competitive were identified.

Bronstein, L. M.↗

The 18/30 GHz fixed communications system service demand assessment. Volume 2: Main text

The total demand for communications services, and satellite transmission services at the 4/6 GHz, 12/14 GHz, and 18/30 GHz frequencies is assessed. The services are voice, video, and data services. Traffic demand, by service, is distributed by geographical regions, population density, and distance between serving points. Further distribution of traffic is made among four major end user groups: business, government, institutions and private individuals. A traffic demand analysis is performed on a typical metropolitan city to examine service distribution trends. The projected cost of C and Ku band satellite systems are compared on an individual service basis to projected terrestrial rates. Separation of traffic between transmission systems, including 18/30 GHz systems, is based on cost, user, and technical considerations.

Gabriszeski, T.↗

Super-Schottky mixer performance at 92 GHz

As part of a program to investigate the behavior of superconducting Schottky mixers at high frequencies, the mixing and video performance of several super-Schottky diodes (a 3-micron active diameter, and a doping concentration of 2 x 10 to the 19th per cu cm) have been tested at 92 GHz. At 92 GHz, video responsivities were typically 80 A/W (corrected for RF mismatch). Conversion loss (corrected for both RF and IF mismatches) was typically not less than 18 dB. As expected, diode temperature was low (less than 5 K). Video responsivity and conversion loss were also measured at an RF frequency of 3.95 GHz. These data were used with the measured volt-ampere characteristics of the diodes to compare theoretical predictions of diode performance at 92 GHz, in both the video and mixing modes, with the high-frequency data

Dickman, R. L.↗

Experimental evaluation of a ruby maser at 43 GHz

Inversion ratio measurements were conducted at several frequencies between 27 and 43 GHz for a pink ruby material (0.05% Cr/3+/ in Al2O3) at the push-pull pump angle of 54.7 degrees in order to determine the upper frequency limit where pink ruby could be expected to operate as a practical maser amplifier. Based on these measurements, a single-stage maser was developed which yielded 8 + or - 1 dB net gain and a 3 dB bandwidth of 180 MHz at a center frequency of 42.5 GHz. It is concluded that a multistage reflected wave maser could achieve bandwidths exceeding 1 GHz with 30 dB net gain at center frequencies near 40 GHz.

Moore, C. R.↗

The effects of rain on system performance for the NASA 30/20 GHz Experimental Satellite

A 30/20 GHz Experimental Communications Satellite System is presently under study by NASA to evaluate system technology and high data rate multi-beam communications techniques. In this paper the expected system performance for the 30/20 GHz Satellite is presented, for both trunking and customer premise service (CPS) modes, with particular emphasis on the effects of severe rain events on link reliability. A rain attenuation prediction model technique is described and path and two-way link availabilities are developed for the various modes of operation. The results indicate that acceptable link availabilities can be expected on the 30/20 GHz system for both the trunking and CPS modes, and the experimental satellite system can form the basis for verification of system performance for operational 30/20 GHz systems.

Ippolito, L. J.↗

30/20 GHz spacecraft GaAs FET solid state transmitter for trunking and customer-premise-service application

Sixteen 30 dB 0.5 W amplifier modules were combined to satisfy the requirement for a graceful degradation. If one module fails, the output power drops by only 0.43 dB. Also, by incorporating all the gain stages within the combiner the overall combining efficiency is maximized. A 16 way waveguide divider combiner was developed to minimize the insertion loss associated with such a large corporate feed structure. Tests showed that the 16 way insertion loss was less than 0.5 dB. To minimize loss, a direct transition from waveguide to microstrip, using a finline on duroid substrate, was developed. The FETs fabricated on MBE grown material, demonstrated superior performances. For example, a 600 micrometer device was capable of 320 mW output power with 5 dB gain and 26.6% efficiency at 21 GHz. The 16 module amplifier gave 8.95 W saturated output power with 30 dB gain. The overall efficiency was 9%. The 3 dB bandwidth was 2.5 GHz. At 17.7 GHz the amplifier had 5 W output power and at 20.2 GHz it still had 4.4 W.

Saunier, P.↗

AM Herculis - An outburst at 4.9 GHz

The results of radio observations of AM Her with the Very Large Array (VLA) are reported. The quiescent emission first discovered by Chanmugam and Dulk (1982) at 4.9 GHz is confirmed, and upper limits to the flux density at 1.5 GHz and 15 GHz are obtained. The discovery of a remarkable outburst at 4.9 GHz which was essentially 100 percent circularly polarized is also reported. The outburst is probably due to an electron-cyclotron maser which operates near the red-dwarf companion in a region where the magnetic field is about 1000 gauss.

Bastian, T. S.↗

Testing of 30-GHz low noise receivers

NASA-sponsored studies of the growth in communications traffic have indicated that the frequency spectrum allocated to fix-service satellites at the C and Ku bands will reach saturation by the early 1990's. The next higher frequency bands allocated for communications satellties are 27.5 to 30 GHz for the uplink and 17.7 to 20.2 GHz for the downlink. Current plans for developing satellite systems that use these bands include a NASA demonstration satellite (ACTS). One of the components identified as critical to the success of that mission is a 27.5 to 30 GHz satellite receiver. In response to that identification, NASA has sponsored the development of such a receiver to the proof-of-concept (POC) level. Design and fabrication of such POC model receivers was carried out under parallel contracts awarded to LNR Communications, Inc. of Hauppauge, New York and to ITT Defense Communications Division of Nutley, New Jersey. The most significant of the performance goals were a 5 db maximum noise figure, a 2.5 GHz passband, and e0 dB Rf to If gain. Following delivery of hardware from each of the contractors, an in-house test program was undertaken at NASA's Lewis Research Center in order to verify the contractor-reported performance and to provide a comparison of the two receivers under identical test conditions. The present paper reports the results of those tests.

Conroy, M. J.↗

Single-dish high sensitivity determination of solar limb emission at 22 and 44 GHz

A large number of solar maps were obtained with the use of Itapetinga 45 ft antenna at 22 GHz and 44 GHz. A statistical study of these maps, reduced using original techniques, permitted the establishment of the solar radius with great accuracy at the two frequencies. It is found that 22 GHz and 44 BHz radiation originates at 16,00 km and 12,500 km above the photosphere, respectively. Excess emission due to active regions was clearly identified at lower solar latitudes above and below the equator, extending up to 26,000 km and 16,500 km above the photosphere, at 22 GHs and 44 GHz, respectively.

Costa, J. E. R.↗

Testing of 30-GHz low noise receivers

NASA-sponsored studies of the growth in communications traffic have indicated that the frequency spectrum allocated to fix-service satellites at the C and Ku bands will reach saturation by the early 1990's. The next higher frequency bands allocated for communications satellites are 27.5 to 30 GHz for the uplink and 17.7 to 20.2 GHz for the downlink. Current plans for developing satellite systems that use these bands include a NASA demonstration satellite (ACTS). One of the components identified as critical to the success of that mission is a 27.5 to 30 GHz satellite receiver. In response to that identification, NASA has sponsored the development of such a receiver to the proof-of-concept (POC) level. Design and fabrication of such POC model receivers was carried out under parallel contracts awarded to LNR Communications, Inc. of Hauppauge, New York and to ITT Defense Communications Division of Nutley, New Jersey. The most significant of the performance goals were a 5 dB maximum noise figure, a 2.5 GHz passband, and 20 dB RF to IF gain. Following delivery of hardware from each of the contractors, an in-house test program was undertaken at NASA's Lewis Research Center in order to verify the contractor-reported performance and to provide a comparison of the two receivers under identical test conditions. The present paper reports the results of those tests.

Conroy, M. J.↗

10-30 GHz monolithic GaAs travelling-wave divider/combiner

A four-way monolithic GaAs traveling-wave power divider/combiner has been designed, fabricated and evaluated. With a design center frequency of 20 GHz, a bandwidth of from 10 GHz to 30 GHz has been measured. The insertion loss per dividing or combining action is less than 0.5 dB, with isolation between ports no worse than 20 dB. The input/output VSWRs are better than 2:1 across the same band. This divider/combiner can readily be used with monolithic GaAs power FET amplifiers to produce a several-fold increase in output powers over the 10 to 30 GHz frequency range.

Tserng, H. Q.↗

Ka-band (32-GHz) downlink capability for deep space communications

The first quarter century of U.S. solar system exploration using unmanned spacecraft has involved progressively higher operating frequencies for deep space telemetry: L-band (960 MHz) in 1962 to S-band (2.3 GHz) in 1964 to X-band (8.4 GHZ) in 1977. The next logical frequency to develop for deep space is the Ka-band (32 GHz) for which a primary deep space allocation of 500 MHz between 31.8 to 32.3 GHz was established in 1979. The telecommunications capability was improved by a factor of 77 (18.9 dB) through the frequency changes from L-band to X-band. Another improvement factor of 14.5 (11.6 dB) can be achieved by going to Ka-band. Plans to develop and demonstrate Ka-band capability include the continued measurement of weather effects at Deep Space Network (DSN) sites, development of a prototype DSN ground antenna and supporting subsystems, augmentation of planned spacecraft with Ka-band beacons, and development of spacecraft prototype modules for future Ka-band transmitters. Plans for augmenting the DSN with Ka-band capability by 1995 were also developed. A companion set of articles describes the Ka-band performance and technology in greater detail.

Smith, J. G.↗

Ka-band (32 GHz) benefits to planned missions

The benefits of using 32 GHz downlinks for a set of deep space missions, as well as the implications to radio science and the Deep Space Network (DSN) are documented. The basic comparison is between the use of the current X-band (8.4 GHz) and a 32 GHZ (Ka-band) downlink. There was shown to be approximately an 8 dB (about 600%) link advantage for 32 GHz. This 8 dB advantage would be able to either reduce mission cost or improve mission science return. Included here are studies on how the 8 dB advantage would be used for the Cassini and Mars Sample Return missions. While the work is preliminary, it shows that the 8 dB advantage can be exploited to provide large benefits to future deep space missions. There can be significant mass and/or power savings to the spacecraft, which can translate into cost savings. Alternatively, the increased downlink telecommunications performance can provide a greater science return.

Hansen, D. M.↗

Monitoring global vegetation using Nimbus-7 37 GHz data - Some empirical relations

The difference of the vertically and horizontally polarized brightness temperatures observed by the 37 GHz channel of the SMMR on board the Nimbus-7 satellite are correlated temporally with three indicators of vegetation density, namely the temporal variation of the atmospheric CO2 concentration at Mauna Loa (Hawaii), rainfall over the Sahel and the normalized difference vegetation index derived from the AVHRR on board the NOAA-7 satellite. SMMR 37 GHz and AVHRR provide complementary data sets for monitoring global vegetation, the 37 GHz data being more suitable for arid and semiarid regions as these data are more sensitive to changes in sparse vegetation. The 37-GHz data might be useful for understanding desertification and indexing Co2 exchange between the biosphere and the atmosphere.

Choudhury, B. J.↗

Physical retrieval of precipitation cell parameters using passive 118-GHz observations

Physical retrieval of precipitation parameters from 118-GHz spectra is investigated using an iterative planar-stratified numerical radiative-transfer model. Liquid and frozen hydrometeors are modeled as spherical Marshall-Palmer and Sekhon-Srivastava (SS) distributed Mie-scattering polydispersions, respectively, with Henyey-Greenstein phase functions. A comparison of 118-GHz rain-cell spectral perturbations observed during Cohmex with model calculations based on coincident radar data yields + or - 10 percent agreement over the convective core region, although a mean ice size 50 percent larger than that given by the SS distribution is required for agreement over the anvil region. A rain-cell model parameterized by top-altitude and total water density suggests that the dominant 118-GHz spectral modes can be used to retrieve top-layer altitude with rms errors of about 1-1.5 km, consistent with statistical retrieval results. Model calculations also suggest that cell density is not observable using 118-GHz spectra alone.

Gasiewski, A. J.↗