Development of Wirelessly Controlled and Powered Space-Fed Phased Array Antenna et al.

Abstract

The results of research done in three areas of electromagnetics are presented in a three part document. Part I discusses the development of a wirelessly controlled and wirelessly powered space-fed phased array antenna (WiPAA). The WiPAA is presented as a viable solution to the problem of deploying and operating large area phased array antennas in space. Chapters 1 through 7 describe the development, construction, and testing activities that were completed to this end over the course of several years. Part II is a report on the work done in developing a model for laser heating of solid objects through a turbulent medium. This work details a method for estimating the temperature rise in various types of materials due to a laser beam whose intensity has been reduced to some degree by atmospheric turbulence. Chapters 8 through 12 contain the details of this work which is particularly relevant to operators of high power laser systems operating near the ground or ocean surface. Part III is a report on the development of a steerable 60GHz phased array using a continuously variable dielectric phase shifting technique. Chapters 13 through 16 contain the results of this project including measured results from a prototype dielectric phase shifter and beam steering measurements from a 60GHz phased array.