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NASA NTRS2016

Mechanical Design and Development of TES Bolometer Detector Arrays for the Advanced ACTPol Experiment

The next generation Advanced ACTPol (AdvACT) experiment is currently underway and will consist of four Transition Edge Sensor (TES) bolometer arrays, with three operating together, totaling 5800 detectors on the sky. Building on experience gained with the ACTPol detector arrays, AdvACT will utilize various new technologies, including 150 mm detector wafers equipped with multichroic pixels, allowing for a more densely packed focal plane. Each set of detectors includes a feedhorn array of stacked silicon wafers which form a spline pro le leading to each pixel. This is then followed by a waveguide interface plate, detector wafer, back short cavity plate, and backshort cap. Each array is housed in a custom designed structure manufactured from high purity copper and then gold plated. In addition to the detector array assembly, the array package also encloses cryogenic readout electronics. We present the full mechanical design of the AdvACT high frequency (HF) detector array package along with a detailed look at the detector array stack assemblies. This experiment will also make use of extensive hardware and software previously developed for ACT, which will be modi ed to incorporate the new AdvACT instruments. Therefore, we discuss the integration of all AdvACT arrays with pre-existing ACTPol infrastructure.

Advanced ACTPol (AdvACT)↗

NASA NTRS1992

Ka-Band Dual Frequency Array Feed for a Low Cost ACTS Ground Terminal

Because of low cost and ease of fabrication, microstrip arrays are attractive as feeds for reflector antenna systems. This paper describes the development of a 4x4 microstrip array which will be used as a feed for a low cost ACTS ground terminal. The array feed consisting of four 2x2 subarrays is fed with coplanar waveguide power dividing networks. The patch radiator is designed to excite two orthogonal, linearly polarized waves at Ka-band frequencies (around 20 and 30 GHz). Test results for the developed array are presented.

Lee, Richard Q.↗

NASA NTRS1996

A 2 THz Heterodyne Array Receiver for SOFIA

We proposed to perform a comprehensive design study of a 16-element heterodyne array receiver for SOFIA. The array was designed to utilize hot-electron bolometers in an efficient, low-cost waveguide mount to achieve low noise performance between approx. 1500 and 2400 GHz. Due to the prevailing physical conditions in the interstellar medium, this frequency range is one of the richest in the FIR portion of the spectrum. An array designed for this wavelength range will make excellent use of the telescope and the available atmospheric transmission, and will provide a new perspective on stellar, chemical, and galaxy evolution in the present as well as past epochs. A few of the most important molecular and atomic species which the instrument will sample are CII, OI, CO, OH, NII, and CH. The system used the most sensitive detectors available in an efficient optical system. The local oscillator was a compact CO2 pumped far-infrared laser currently under development for SOFIA. The backend spectrometer was an array acousto-optic spectrometer (aAOS). The spectrometer utilizes proven hardware and technologies to provide broadband performance (greater than or equal to 1 GHz per AOS channel) and high spectral resolution (1 MHz) with the maximum sensitivity and minimum complexity and cost. The proposed instrument would be the fastest and most sensitive heterodyne receiver ever to operate in the 1.5 - 2.4 THz band. One of the key technologies developed for the proposed instrument is the laser micromachining of waveguide structures. These structures provide both the optical link between the instrument and the telescope (via an array of efficient feedhorns) and the impedance transformation between the detectors and free space. With the assistance of funds provided from this grant, we were able to fabricate and test the world's first laser micromachined feedhorns. The quality of the waveguide structure is far better than that obtainable using any other fabrication technique. The beam parameters are an excellent match to what is expected from theory. The success of this experiment demonstrates the viability of using laser micromachined components in the development of high performance, large format array receivers. Unfortunately, our instrument proposal was not selected as a first generation SOFIA instrument. However, we have continued our development efforts and will propose to build a 2nd generation instrument based on the same design concepts.

Walker, Christopher K.↗

NASA NTRS1998

A 2 THz Heterodyne Array Receiver for SOFIA

We proposed to perform a comprehensive design study of a 16-element heterodyne array receiver for SOFIA. The array was designed to utilize hot-electron bolometers in an efficient, low-cost waveguide mount to achieve low noise performance between approx. 1500 and 2400 GHz. Due to the prevailing physical conditions in the interstellar medium, this frequency range is one of the richest in the FIR portion of the spectrum. An array designed for this wavelength range will make excellent use of the telescope and the available atmospheric transmission, and will provide a new perspective on stellar, chemical, and galaxy evolution in the present as well as past epochs. A few of the most important molecular and atomic species which the instrument will sample are CII, OI, CO, OH, NII, and CH. The system used the most sensitive detectors available in an efficient optical system. The local oscillator was a compact CO2 pumped far-infrared laser currently under development for SOFIA. The backend spectrometer was an array acousto-optic spectrometer (aAOS). The spectrometer utilizes proven hardware and technologies to provide broadband performance (greater than or equal to 1 GHz per AOS channel) and high spectral resolution (1 MHz) with the maximum sensitivity and minimum complexity and cost. The proposed instrument would be the fastest and most sensitive heterodyne receiver ever to operate in the 1.5 - 2.4 THz band. One of the key technologies developed for the proposed instrument is the laser micromachining of waveguide structures. These structures provide both the optical link between the instrument and the telescope (via an array of efficient feedhorns) and the impedance transformation between the detectors and free space. With the assistance of funds provided from this grant, we were able to fabricate and test the world's first laser micromachined feedhorns. Figure 1 is a photograph of the 2 THz double feedhorn structure designed and constructed under the auspices of this grant. The quality of the waveguide structure is far better than that obtainable using any other fabrication technique. Figure 2 is the beam pattern obtained from it. The beam parameters are an excellent match to what is expected from theory. The success of this experiment demonstrates the viability of using laser micromachined components in the development of high performance, large format array receivers. Figure 3 is an illustration of the focal plane array concept we developed lot- SOFIA base upon this work. Un- fortunately, our instrument proposal was not selected as a first generation SOFIA instrument. However, we have continued our development efforts and will propose to build a 2nd generation instrument based on the same design concepts. Our work under NAG 2-1057 was very rewarding and we appreciate the opportunity provided by NASA to pursue it. The research led directly to publishing 2 papers (listed below) and the award of an NSF grant to our group to construct a laser micromachining system on the University of Arizona campus.

Walker, Christopher K.↗

NASA NTRS1998

A 2 THz Heterodyne Array Receiver for SOFIA: Summary of Research

We proposed to perform a comprehensive design study of a 16-element heterodyne array receiver for SOFIA. The array was designed to utilize hot-electron bolometers in an efficient, low-cost waveguide mount to achieve low noise performance between approximately 1500 and 2400 GHz. Due to the prevailing physical conditions in the interstellar medium, this frequency range is one of the richest in the Far-Infra Red (FIR) portion of the spectrum. An array designed for this wavelength range will make excellent use of the telescope and the available atmospheric transmission, and will provide a new perspective on stellar, chemical, and galactic evolution in the present as well as past epochs. A few of the most important molecular and atomic species which the instrument will sample are CII, OI, CO, OH, NII, and CH. The system used the most sensitive detectors available in an efficient optical system. The local oscillator was a compact CO2 pumped far-infrared laser currently under development for SOFIA. The backend spectrometer was an array acousto-optic spectrometer (aAOS). The spectrometer utilizes proven hardware and technologies to provide broadband performance (> 1 GHz per AOS channel) and high spectral resolution (1 MHz) with the maximum sensitivity and minimum complexity and cost. The proposed instrument would be the fastest and most sensitive heterodyne receiver ever to operate in the 1.5 - 2.4 THz band. One of the key technologies developed for the proposed instrument is the laser micromachining of waveguide structures. These structures provide both the optical link between the instrument and the telescope (via an array of efficient feedhorns) and the impedance transformation between the detectors and free space. With the assistance of funds provided from this grant, we were able to fabricate and test the world's first laser micromachined feedhorns. The quality of the waveguide structure is far better than that obtainable using any other fabrication technique. The beam parameters are an excellent match to what is expected from theory. The success of this experiment demonstrates the viability of using laser micromachined components in the development of high performance, large format array receivers. We have continued our development efforts and will propose to build a 2nd generation instrument based on the same design concepts.

Walker, Christopher K.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Gain saturation effects in supermodes of phase-locked semiconductor laser arrays

A basic modal analysis that includes gain saturation effects in phase-locked semiconductor laser arrays is presented. For a particular supermode operation, different lasers in the array emit different amounts of light, and hence their (waveguide) propagation constants are modified differently. Solving the lasers' rate equations self-consistently with the coupled-mode wave equations seems to provide an answer that is in much better agreement with experimental results than the result using only the coupled-mode analysis.

Katz, J.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Ka-band dual frequency array feed for a low cost ACTS ground terminal

Because of low cost and ease of fabrication, microstrip arrays are attractive as feeds for reflector antenna systems. The development of a 4 x 4 microstrip array which will be used as a feed for a low cost Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) ground terminal is described. The array feed consisting of four 2 x 2 subarrays is fed with coplanar waveguide power dividing networks. The patch radiator is designed to excite two orthogonal, linearly polarized waves at Ka-band frequencies (around 20 and 30 GHz). Test results for the developed array are presented.

Lee, Richard Q.↗

NASA NTRS2010

Novel Micro Strip-to-Waveguide Feed Employing a Double-Y Junction

Previous micro strip -to -waveguide transitions either required a hermetically sealed waveguide configuration, or a balun that needed to be tuned according to the frequency band of interest. In this design, the balun is realized using a double -Y junction to transition from microstrip to coplanar strip feeding a quasi-Yagi dipole array (see figure). The length of the feed (Lf) extending into the waveguide is 15.54 mm. The length of the ground plane below the ULTRALAM substrate is 7.75 mm. The lengths L1 , L2, and L3 are 8.50 mm, 4.38 mm, and 2.14 mm, respectively. These lengths were computed via a preliminary optimization aimed at improving the return loss at the band edges. The waveguide feed was designed to excite the TE10 mode in a WR-90 waveguide, and to operate over the recommended frequencies of 8.2 to 12.4 GHz. The feed employs a Rogers 6010 substrate (dielectric constant Er approx. equals 10.2) bonded with a Rogers ULTRALAM substrate (Er approx. equals 2.5). The ULTRALAM substrate serves to provide mechanical strength for 6010 substrate, and to mitigate loses due to parasitic modes (the ground plane is etched on the bottom of this layer due to the topology of the double -Y balun). The double-Y balun transitioning from an unbalanced microstrip line to a balanced coplanar strip (CPS) line does not provide inherent impedance transformation; hence, Klopfenstein impedance tapers were synthesized to transition from 50 to 77 Ohms in the microstrip section and from 77 to 110 Ohms in the CPS section. At the balun junction, the CPS stub lengths were chosen such that the X/ 8 resonance is pushed outside the bandwidth of operation. Also, the smallest allowable conductor width and gap spacing were chosen to meet acceptable manufacturing tolerances.

Venkatesan, Jaikrishina↗

NASA NTRS1995

A method using focal plane analysis to determine the performance of reflector antennas

Reflector antenna optimization schemes using array feeds have been used to recover antenna losses resulting from antenna distortions and aberrations and to generate contour coverage patterns. Historically, these optimizations have been carried out using the antenna far-field scattered patterns. The far-field patterns must be calculated separately for each of the array feed elements. For large or complex antennas (which include beam-waveguide antennas), the far-field calculation times can be prohibitive. This article presents a method with which the optimization can be carried out in the antenna focal region, where the scattering calculation needs only to be done once independently of the number of the elements in the array. This article also includes the results of a study, utilizing this unique technique, to determine the capabilities and limitations of using array feeds to compensate for gravitational induced losses in large reflector antennas.

Cramer, P. W.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Development of Leaky Wave Antennas for Layered Ridge Dielectric Waveguide

The millimeter wave, especially above 100 GHz, and the submillimeter wave frequency spectrum offers the possibility for narrow-beam, high-resolution antennas which are critical for high definition radars required for space debris tracking, airport ground avoidance radars, and missile tracking. In addition, the frequency which most atmospheric constituents may be detected lie in this part of the frequency spectrum. Therefore, the development of electronic components for millimeter/submillimeter wave passive sensors is required for environmental monitoring of the Earth's atmosphere. Typical microwave transmission lines such as microstrip and coplanar waveguide rely on two or more electrical conductors to concentrate and guide the electromagnetic energy. Unfortunately, the surface resistance of the conductors increases as the square root of frequency. In addition, the circuit dimensions must be decreased with increasing frequency to maintain a single mode transmission line which further increases the conductor loss. An alternative family of transmission lines are formed from two or more insulating materials and rely on the differences in the permittivities between the two materials to guide the wave. No metal conductors are required although some dielectric waveguides do utilize a metallic ground plane to facilitate the interconnections of active electrical elements or to reduce the transmission line size. Examples of such transmission lines are image guides, insulated image guides, trapped image guides, ridge guide, and layered ridge dielectric waveguide (LRDW). Although most dielectric waveguides have dimensions on the order of lambda to provide sufficient field confinement, the LRDW has been shown to provide good field confinement for electrically small lines. This offers an advantage in circuit integration. It has been shown that a periodic array of metallic strips placed either along or on top of a dielectric waveguide forms an effective radiator. This antenna is easy to fabricate and there is good background of microstrip type antenna design information in the literature. This paper reports the development of the first frequency scanning antenna fed by a LRDW.

Ponchak, George E.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Laser Micromachining Fabrication of THz Components

Laser micromachining techniques can be used to fabricate high-quality waveguide structures and quasi-optical components to micrometer accuracies. Successful GHz designs can be directly scaled to THz frequencies. We expect this promising technology to allow the construction of the first fully integrated THz heterodyne imaging arrays. At the University of Arizona, construction of the first laser micromachining system designed for THz waveguide components fabrication has been completed. Once tested and characterized our system will be used to construct prototype THz lx4 focal plane mixer arrays, magic tees, AR coated silicon lenses, local oscillator source phase gratings, filters and more. Our system can micro-machine structures down to a few microns accuracy and up to 6 inches across in a short time. This paper discusses the design and performance of our micromachining system, and illustrates the type, range and performance of components this exciting new technology will make accessible to the THz community.

DrouetdAubigny, C.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Phased-array-fed antenna configuration study. Volume 1: Technology assessment

The status of the technologies for phased-array-fed dual reflector systems is reviewed. The different aspects of these technologies, including optical performances, phased array systems, problems encountered in phased array design, beamforming networks, MMIC design and its incorporation into waveguide systems, reflector antenna structures, and reflector deployment mechanisms are addressed.

Sorbello, R. M.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Kinetics of antigen binding to arrays of antibodies in different sized spots

A fluorescence-based array biosensor has been developed which can measure the binding kinetics of an antigen to an immobilized antibody in real time. A patterned array of antibodies immobilized on the surface of a planar waveguide was used to capture a Cy5-labeled antigen present in a solution that was continuously flowed over the surface. The CCD image of the waveguide was monitored continuously for 25 min. The resulting exponential rise in fluorescence signal was determined by image analysis software and fitted to a reaction-limited kinetics model, giving a kf of 3.6 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1). Different spot sizes were then patterned on the surface of the waveguide using either a PDMS flow cell or laser exposure, producing width sizes ranging from 80 to 1145 microm. It was demonstrated that under flow conditions, the reduction of spot size did not alter the association rate of the antigen with immobilized antibody; however, as the spot width decreased to < 200 nm, the signal intensity also decreased.

Non-NASA Center↗

NASA NTRS1986

Array feed synthesis for correction of reflector distortion and Vernier Beamsteering

An algorithmic procedure for the synthesis of planar array feeds for paraboloidal reflectors is described which simultaneously provides electronic correction of systematic reflector surface distortions as well as a Vernier electronic beamsteering capability. Simple rules of thumb for the optimum choice of planar array feed configuration (i.e., number and type of elements) are derived from a parametric study made using the synthesis procedure. A number of f/D ratios and distortion models were examined that are typical of large paraboloidal reflectors. Numerical results are presented showing that, for the range of distortion models considered, good on-axis gain restoration can be achieved with as few as seven elements. For beamsteering to +/- 1 beamwidth (BW), 19 elements are required. For arrays with either 7 or 19 elements, the results indicate that the use of high-aperture-efficiency elements (e.g., disk-on-rod and short backfire) in the array yields higher system gain than can be obtained with elements having lower aperture efficiency (e.g., open-ended waveguides). With 37 elements, excellent gain and beamsteering performance to +/- 1.5 BW are obtained independent of the assumed effective aperture of the array element. An approximate expression is derived for the focal-plane field distribution of the distorted reflector. Contour plots of the focal-plane fields are also presented for various distortion and beam scan angle cases. The results obtained show the effectiveness of the array feed approach.

Blank, S. J.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Array feed synthesis for correction of reflector distortion and Vernier beamsteering

An algorithmic procedure for the synthesis of planar array feeds for paraboloidal reflectors is described which simultaneously provides electronic correction of systematic reflector surface distortions as well as a Vernier electronic beamsteering capability. Simple rules of thumb for the optimum chioce of planar array feed configuration (i.e., the number and type of elements) are derived from a parametric study made using the synthesis procedure. A number of f/D ratios and distortion models were examined that are typical of large paraboloidal reflectors. Numerical results are presented showing that, for the range of distortion models considered, good on-axis gain restoration can be achieved with as few as seven elements. For beamsteering to +/- 1 beamwidth (BW), 19 elements are required. For arrays with either 7 or 19 elements, the results indicate that the use of high-aperture-efficiency elements (e.g., disk-on-rod and short backfire) in the array yields higher system gain than can be obtained with elements having lower aperture efficiency (e.g., open-ended waveguides). With 37 elements, excellent gain and beamsteering performance to +/- 1.5 BW are obtained independent of the assumed effective aperture of the array element. An approximate expression is derived for the focal-plane field distribution of the distorted reflector. Contour plots of the focal-plane fields are also presented for various distortion and beam scan angle cases. The results obtained show the effectiveness of the array feed approach.

Blank, Stephen J.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Optically controlled phased-array antenna technology for space communication systems

Using MMICs in phased-array applications above 20 GHz requires complex RF and control signal distribution systems. Conventional waveguide, coaxial cable, and microstrip methods are undesirable due to their high weight, high loss, limited mechanical flexibility and large volume. An attractive alternative to these transmission media, for RF and control signal distribution in MMIC phased-array antennas, is optical fiber. Presented are potential system architectures and their associated characteristics. The status of high frequency opto-electronic components needed to realize the potential system architectures is also discussed. It is concluded that an optical fiber network will reduce weight and complexity, and increase reliability and performance, but may require higher power.

Kunath, Richard R.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Optically controlled phased-array technology for space communication systems

Kunath, Richard R.↗

NASA NTRS2017

Electromagnetic Design of a Magnetically-Coupled Spatial Power Combiner

The design of a two-dimensional beam-combining network employing a parallel-plate superconducting waveguide with a mono-crystalline silicon dielectric is presented. This novel beam-combining network structure employs an array of magnetically coupled antenna elements to achieve high coupling efficiency and full sampling of the intensity distribution while avoiding diffractive losses in the multi-mode region defined by the parallel-plate waveguide. These attributes enable the structures use in realizing compact far-infrared spectrometers for astrophysical and instrumentation applications. When configured with a suitable corporate-feed power-combiner, this fully sampled array can be used to realize a low-sidelobe apodized response without incurring a reduction in coupling efficiency. To control undesired reflections over a wide range of angles in the finite-sized parallel-plate waveguide region, a wideband meta-material electromagnetic absorber structure is implemented. This adiabatic structure absorbs greater than 99 of the power over the 1.7:1 operational band at angles ranging from normal (0 degree) to near parallel (180 degree) incidence. Design, simulations, and application of the device will be presented.

Bulcha, B.↗