ITC/USA 2012 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Eighth Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 22-25, 2012 / Town and Country Resort & Convention Center, San Diego, California / The Serial Streaming Telemetry infrastructure is being augmented with the Telemetry Network System, which is a net-centric infrastructure requiring bi-directional communications between the test article segment and the ground station segment. As a result, future radio segments must implement transceiver architecture to support bi-directional communications. This paper presents a design methodology for a multi-band transceiver design. The design methodology is based upon the Weaver architecture to provide coarse selection between the telemetry bands. Utilization of the Weaver architecture allowed for the optimization of multiple transmitter and receiver channels into single channels to support the L/S/C-Band frequency allocations. System-level simulation is presented to evaluate the feasibility of the transceiver design for a multi-band, multi-mode software-defined radio (SDR) platform in support of Telemetry Network System.

An open systems architecture (OSA) is one in which all of the interfaces are fully defined, available to the public, and maintained according to a group consensus. One approach to achieve this is to use modular hardware and software and to buy commercial, off-the-shelf and commodity hardware. Benefits of an OSA include providing easy access to the latest technological advances in both hardware and software, enabling net-centric operations, and allowing a flexible design that can easily change as the needs of customers may change. This paper will provide details of an OSA system designed for a telemetry receiver and list the benefits of OSA for the telemetry community.

Zugl.: Dresden, Techn. Univ., Diss., 2009

ITC/USA 2011 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Seventh Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 24-27, 2011 / Bally's Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada

The presentation highlights research on theory, design, EM modeling, fabrication, packaging, and measurement of GaAs Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs). The goal of this work is to design MMIC LNAs with low noise figure, high gain, and wide bandwidth. The work aims to develop GaAs MMIC LNAs for the application of RF front-end receivers in radio telescopes. GaAs MMIC technology offers modern radio astronomy attractive solutions based on its advantage in terms of high operational frequency, low noise, excellent repeatability and high integration density. Theoretical investigations are performed, presenting the formulation and graphical methods, and focusing on a systematic method to design a low noise amplifier for the best noise, gain and input/output return loss. Additionally, an EM simulation method is utilized and successfully applied to MMIC designs. The effect of packaging including the wire bond and chassis is critical as the frequency increases. Therefore, it is modeled by full-wave analysis where the measured results verify the reliability of these models. The designed MMICs are validated by measurements of several prototypes, including three C/X band and one Q band MMIC LNAs. Moreover, comparison to similar industrial chips demonstrates the superiority of the proposed structures regarding bandwidth, noise and gain flatness, and making them suitable for use in radio astronomy receivers. / Graduate / 2020-05-01

In this thesis, a cavity-backed slot antenna array is designed for relatively wide instantaneous bandwidth, high gain and low sidelobes. The array consists of four, rectangular, slot elements, arranged side-by-side in a linear array and developed around 5GHz. Two feed points, at opposing sides of the printed array, each excite two of the slot elements through a series feed. This bidirectional feed presents symmetry to the design and prevents the tendency of beam-drift versus frequency as is common with many series-fed arrays. While being fed in-phase, the array will maintain boresight at broadside over the entire operating bandwidth. Also, the additional port allows for the potential introduction of a phase offset and, therefore, beam tilt. Finally, the printed array is designed to function within a quarter-wave, metallic cavity to achieve unidirectional radiation and improve gain.

The Imaging Wind and RAin Profiler (IWRAP) is an airborne scatterometer system built and operated by University of Massachusetts Amherst's Microwave Remote Sensing Laboratory (MIRSL). The radar is seasonally deployed aboard one of the two National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) WP-3D Orion ``Hurricane Hunter'' aircraft based out of MacDill AFB in Tampa, Florida. IWRAP is a dual-frequency, Ku- and C-band, scatterometer that uses two conically scanning antennas to estimate the ocean surface wind vectors as well as intervening rain profiles. Data that is gathered with IWRAP is used to improve current Geophysical Model Functions (GMF) or to help derive new GMFs for other undocumented incidence angles. This thesis outlines the improvements and changes made to the IWRAP system from 2009-2011. Chapter Two describes the IWRAP instrument including a description of the instrument status as of Fall 2009, and a summary of instrument operations in 2010 and 2011. Chapter Three describes hardware and software modifications to support dual-polarization. It also describes hardware-based and flight-based attempts to observe at large incidence angles. Chapter Four is an analysis of the stability of the internal calibration both during flights and over a season. System documentation is consolidated into a single technical manual in Appendix A.

Flooding is one of the deadliest natural hazards in the world. Forecasting floods in advance can significantly reduce the socio-economic impacts. An accurate and reliable flood forecasting system is heavily dependent on the input precipitation data. Real-time, spatially, and temporally continuous Radar Quantitative Precipitation Estimates (QPEs) is useful precipitation information source. This research aims to investigate the efficacy of American and Canadian weather radar QPEs on hydrological model calibration and validation for flood forecasting in urban and semi-urban watersheds in Canada. A comprehensive review was conducted on the weather Radar network and its’ hydrological applications, challenges, and potential future research in Canada. First, radar QPEs were evaluated to verify the reliability and accuracy as precipitation input for hydrometeorological models. Then, the radar-gauge merging techniques were assessed to select the best method for urban flood forecasting applications. After that, merged Radar QPEs were used as precipitation input for the hydrological models to assess the impact of radar QPEs on hydrological model calibration and validation. Finally, a framework was developed by integrating hydrological and hydraulic models to produce flood forecasts and inundation maps in urbanized watersheds. Results indicated that dual-polarized radar QPEs could be effectively used as a source of precipitation input to hydrological models. The radar-gauge merging enhances both the accuracy and reliability of Radar QPEs, and therefore, the accuracy of streamflow simulation is also improved. Since flood forecasting agencies usually use hydrological models calibrated and validated using gauge data, it is recommended to use bias-corrected Radar QPEs to run existing hydrological models to simulate streamflow to produce flood extent maps. The hydrological and hydraulic models could be integrated into one framework using bias-corrected Radar QPEs to develop a successful flood forecasting system. / Thesis / Doctor of Science (PhD) / Floods are common and increasing deadly natural hazards in the world. Predicting floods in advance using Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) can facilitate flood mitigation. Radar Quantitative Precipitation Estimates (QPEs) can provide real-time, spatially, and temporally continuous precipitation data. This research focuses on bias-correcting and evaluating radar QPEs for hydrologic forecasting. The corrected QPE are applied into a framework connecting hydrological and hydraulic models for operational flood forecasting in urban watersheds in Canada. The key contributions include: (1) Dual-polarized radar QPEs is a useful precipitation input to calibrate, validate and run hydrological models; (2) Radar-gauge merging enhance accuracy and reliability of radar QPEs; (3) Floods could be more accurately predicted by integrating hydrological and hydraulic models in one framework using bias-corrected Radar QPEs; and (4) Gauge-calibrated hydrological models can be run effectively using the bias-corrected radar QPEs. This research will benefit future applications of real-time radar QPEs in operational FEWS.

Le résonateur matriochka est conçu à partir de résonateurs coaxiaux ré-entrants créant ainsi des sauts d’impédances (SIR). La thèse développe alors des innovations théoriques sur la technologie matriochka en proposant des modèles analytiques précis sur le comportement fréquentiel et du facteur de qualité du résonateur. Les modélisations mettent en relief l’existence de degrés de liberté au sein du résonateur matriochka induisant une flexibilité du rapport de forme du résonateur. Les degrés de liberté créent ainsi une multitude de configurations du résonateur matriochka pour une fréquence fondamentale et un facteur de qualité donnés. Par conséquent, une optimisation en volume est réalisée pour concevoir deux filtres en bande L et C afin de minimiser leur encombrement. Une étude de la tenue en puissance dans le vide est également effectuée pour le filtre en bande L. Une méthode conjointe d’optimisation de la tenue en puissance et de minimisation en volume est alors proposée pour ce filtre. Ainsi, les modélisations et les optimisations sont employées afin de concevoir et de fabriquer deux filtres hyperfréquences. Le premier est un filtre de transmission en bande L conçu pour l’application de navigation Galileo qui propose une alternative d’encombrement et une tenue en puissance dans le vide élevée. Enfin, le second est un filtre de réception en bande C conçu, fabriqué et mesuré pour l’application de télémesure qui propose de meilleures performances en réjection et un volume réduit par rapport à l’existant. Finalement, la technologie matriochka est une alternative de résonateur par rapport à l’état de l’art en proposant, selon les configurations, un rejet élevé des harmoniques et un volume réduit pour une fréquence fondamentale et un facteur de qualité donnés. / The matriochka resonator is based on reentrant coaxial Stepped Impedance Resonator (SIR). So, the thesis develops theoretical innovations on the matriochka technology offering accurate analytical models on the frequency and the quality factor behaviors of the resonator. The models prove the existence of degrees of freedom within the matriochka resonator which allows to get different form factors of the resonator. The degrees of freedom create many configurations of the matriochka resonator for a fundamental frequency and a quality factor. Consequently, a volume optimization is realized to design a L-band filter and a C-band filter. A multipactor study is also carried out for the L-band filter. So, a joint optimization method of the multipactor and the volume minimization is proposed for this filter. Thus, the models and optimisations are used in the order to to design and fabricate the microwave filters. The first one is a transmission L-band filter for the navigation application Galileo which offers a volume alternative and a high power in the vaccum. Then, the second one is a reception C-band filter for the telemetry application which offers wide spurious free-performance and a low volume compared to the state of the art. Finally, for a frequency and a quality factor and depending on the configurations, the matriochka technology offers an alternative of the resonator volume, and it offers a wide spurious free- performance and a low volume compared to the state of the art.

Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are well established as sub-Poissonian sources of entangled photon pairs. To improve the utility of a QD light source, it would be advantageous to extend their emission further into the near infrared, into the low absorption wavelength windows utilised in long-haul optical telecommunication. Initial experiments succeeded in interfering O-band (1260—1360 nm) photons from an InAs/GaAs QD with dissimilar photons from a laser, an important mechanism for quantum teleportation. Interference visibilities as high as 60 ± 6 % were recorded, surpassing the 50 % threshold imposed by classical electrodynamics. Later, polarisation-entanglement of a similar QD was observed, with pairs of telecom-wavelength photons from the radiative cascade of the biexciton state exhibiting fidelities of 92.0 ± 0.2 % to the Bell state. Subsequently, an O-band telecom-wavelength quantum relay was realised. Again using an InAs/GaAs QD device, this represents the first implementation of a sub-Poissonian telecom-wavelength quantum relay, to the best knowledge of the author. The relay proved capable of implementing the famous four-state BB84 protocol, with a mean teleportation fidelity as high as 94.5 ± 2.2 %, which would contribute 0.385 secure bits per teleported qubit. After characterisation by way of quantum process tomography, the performance of the relay was also evaluated to be capable of implementing a six-state QKD protocol. In an effort to further extend the emitted light from a QD into the telecom C-band (1530—1565 nm), alternative material systems were investigated. InAs QDs on a substrate of InP were shown to emit much more readily in the fibre-telecom O- and C-bands than their InAs/GaAs counterparts, largely due to the reduced lattice mismatch between the QD and substrate for InAs/InP (~3 %) compared to InAs/GaAs (~7 %). Additionally, to minimize the fine structure splitting (FSS) of the exciton level, which deteriorates the observed polarisation-entanglement, a new mode of dot growth was investigated. Known as droplet epitaxy (D-E), QDs grown in this mode showed a fourfold reduction in the FSS compared to dots grown in the Stranski-Krastanow mode. This improvement would allow observation of polarisation-entanglement in the telecom C-band. In subsequent work performed by colleagues at the Toshiba Cambridge Research Labs, these D-E QDs were embedded in a p-i-n doped optical cavity, processed with electrical contacts, and found to emit entangled pairs of photons under electrical excitation. The work of this thesis provides considerable technological advances to the field of entangled-light sources, that in the near future may allow for deterministic quantum repeaters operating at megahertz rates, and in the further future could facilitate the distribution of coherent multipartite states across a distributed quantum network.