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In this thesis, the concept of multi-phase centre virtual antenna is thoroughly investigated when a dual-mode primary feed is placed at the focal point of an offset reflector antenna. The virtual antenna requires that the antenna have multiple phase centre locations with identical radiation patterns. It is shown that different polarizations and mode content factors of a dual-mode circular waveguide can displace the phase centre location of an offset reflector antenna without changing its radiation patterns in any direction. This novel idea has promising applications in modern satellite, remote sensing, global positioning systems, and radars with moving platform. The concept is well matched for the modern Displaced Phase Centre Antenna technique, in which a simple signal processing technique is employed to electronically displace the phase centre locations. To avoid mechanically rotating the primary feed, a novel dual-mode feed is also proposed and implemented. It is capable of generating two perpendicular polarized TE11 modes with a fixed aligned TE21 mode. The antenna such developed has a potential application as a transceiver in ground moving target indicator radars. All numerical results are successfully validated by fabricating and testing a prototype antenna in practice. As known, an offset reflector fed by a conventional linear polarized feed suffers from high cross polarization level. This property is also investigated for single-phase centre antenna applications along with sidelobe level and aperture efficiencies. A simplified feed model is proposed utilizing the TE11 and TE21 type modes to reduce the cross polarization at both asymmetry and inter-cardinal planes. It is shown that an asymmetric dominant TE11 mode with the presence of the TE21 mode is sufficient in order to reduce the unwanted cross polarization. The results of this investigation are used to design practical dual-mode feeds using simple circular waveguide geometries. To complete the study, the effects of linear and quadratic phase errors associated with the optimized primary feed are also investigated on the cross polarization of the offset reflector antennas. In particular, the phase errors resulting in separate phase centre locations of each mode produce broadside-shape cross polarized patterns instead of boresight-null ones.

The partial constitutions of the Au-Ge-X and Au-Pb-X ternary alloys have been investigated, where X is a metallic element, selected from the sub-groups period 1m and rrm of the periodic table (In, Ga, Zn, or Cd), which forms one or more stable compounds with gold, but which forms no stable compound with Ge and Pb. The Smith Thermal Analysis Method, supplemented by metallographic and X-ray techniques, was used to determine the constitutions of the ternary systems. Eutectiferous, pseudobinary systems were found between Ge and the stable congruent intermediate compounds, AuIn, Auln2' AuGa, AuGa2' AuZn and AuCd. The solubility of Ge in the AuX compounds was not determined directly. However, it was 1.3 at.% Ge for Zn and Cd containing alloys and less than 1.0 at. % Ge for In and Ga containing alloys at the eutectic temperatures, which is in accordance with the Hume-Rothery rule. Ternary eutectic points were also determined in the Auln-AuIn2-Ge, Auln2-In-Ge and AuGa-AuGa2-Ge partial ternary systems. No evidence of liquid immiscibility was found in any of these ternary systems. The experimental results obtained were in good agreement with computed features of the diagrams. However, pseudobinary systems were not found between Pb and the stable congruent melting intermediate compounds, AuGa, AuGa2, AuZn and AuCd (the AuIn-Pb and AuIn2-Pb sections had already been investigated). The evidence of an extensive liquid immiscibility was found in each of these systems. The miscibility in the liquid state was found to decrease progressively down group IV when the elements of this group react with AuX compounds, which can be attributed to the progressive increase of the atomic size and decrease in electronegativities and solubility parameters of the elements, down this group. Two rules were derived to relate the liquid immiscibility/miscibility of ternary systems. One of the rules based upon the atomic sizes and melting points of the constituent elements showed a fair agreement with many systems. However, the other rule based upon the solubility parameter and electronegativities of the constituent elements showed good agreement with immiscible systems, but gave a poor predictability for miscible systems. The lower temperature equilibria of the Au-rich portion of the Au-Sn binary phase diagram are not well defined. So, long term heat treatment of samples at appropriate temperatures and compositions was carried out. Optical microscopy and SEMIEDAX techniques were employed and hence the low temperature equilibria of the Au-Sn binary system have been amended.

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Thesis (M.S.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 73). / xii, 73 leaves, bound ill. (some col.) 29 cm