Emission cross section and fluorescence efficiency of Nd-pentaphosphate

The room-temperature cross sections for the Nd³⁺⁴F_{3/2}levels to the⁴I_{11/2}and⁴I_{9/2}manifolds (lower laser state and ground state, respectively) in NdP5O14are measured by two spectroscopic methods. A value for the largest cross section ofsigma(R_{1} - Y_{2}) = 1.7 times 10^{-19}cm²is found. The highest effective cross section, resulting from superposition of two lines at 1.051 μm, gives a laser gain per Nd ion which is about 2/3 of the maximum gain in YAG:Nd. The relative branching ratio into the⁴I_{11/2}and⁴I_{9/2}manifolds is 0.65:0.35. Comparison of the integrated cross sections with the measured lifetime for 1-percent Nd in LaP5O14indicates a combined efficiency <0.1 for the remaining transitions, namely radiative decay into the⁴I_{13/2}and⁴I_{15/2}manifolds and multiphonon quenching. A measurement of temperature dependence of fluorescence lifetime supports this last result.     

Depolarization properties of offset reflector antennas

The cross polarized radiation for linearly polarized excitation and the beam displacement for circularly polarized excitation have been investigated for offset reflector antennas. Numerical calculations are given to illustrate the dependence upon the angletheta_{0}between the feed axis and the reflector axis as well as upon the half-angletheta_{c}subtended at the focus by the reflector. In the casetheta_{0} = theta_{c} = 45deg, measured results have been obtained for both linearly and circularly polarized excitations with a dual mode feed illuminating an offset paraboloid. The cross polarized radiation of horn reflector and open Cassegrainian antennas rises sharply to rather high values off the beam axis; however, in general, the maximum cross polarized radiation of offset reflector antennas can be made small by using a small angle between the feed and reflector axes. The cross polarization caused by offset is compared with that caused by an unbalanced feed pattern. The effect of the longitudinal current distribution and of departure of the surface from a paraboloid on cross polarization are also examined. The clarification of these cross polarization properties is found to be valuable in the design of reflector antennas.     

RCS of a coated circular waveguide terminated by a perfect conductor

The radar cross section (RCS) of a circular waveguide terminated by a perfect electric conductor is calculated by the geometrical theory of diffraction (GTD) for the rim diffraction and by a physical optics approximation for the interior irradiation. The interior irradiation is generally more than 10 dB higher than the rim diffraction fora/lambda geq 1(ais the waveguide radius,lambdais the free-space wavelength). At low frequencies (a/lambda sim 1), the interior irradiation can be significantly reduced over a broad range of incident angle if the interior waveguide wall is coated with a thin layer (1 percent of the radius) of lossy magnetic material. Our theoretical prediction is confirmed by measurements. At higher frequencies (a/lambda sim 3), a thin layer of coating is effective for the case of near axial incidence, provided that a good transition of theTE_{11}mode near the waveguide opening to theHE_{11}mode inside the waveguide is made. A thicker layer of coating is required for the RCS reduction over wider incident angle.     

Multiple detection of a slowly fluctuating target (Corresp.)

A "slowly" fluctuating target is assumed to keep its radar cross section constant for the duration of several(M)dwells on target. To resolve multiple range and/or Doppler ambiguities, the received signal, which is presumably coherently processed (i.e., predetection integrated or matched filtered) over each dwell, must often be tested against a threshold, {em independently} of those on other dwells. Such a procedure is referred to as {em multiple detection}. A technique for the evaluation of a tight lower bound on the multiple-detection probabilityP_{M}, under Swerling case I statistics for the cross section, is presented in term of an infinite series and worked out in detail forP_{2}andP_{3}. Estimates on the computation error due to the truncation of the series are derived. Numerical results indicate thatP_{3}comes much closer toP_{1}than top_{1}^{3}or even toP_{1}P_{2}; at an expected signal-to-noise ratio of13dB and atP_{1} = 0.51, it obtains thatP_{3} geq 0.40, whereasP_{1}P_{2} = 0.23andp_{1}^{3} = 0.17.     

On the polarization and the wavelength dependence of sea echo

Data on radar cross section per unit areasigmadegof the sea at 6.3 Gc/s and 35.0 Gc/s and for grazing angles between1.5degand4.0degare reviewed. The data were obtained by simultaneously receiving both horizontally and vertically polarized echo components for transmitted polarizations which were sequentially changed between horizontal and vertical. Results indicate that sea echo is primarily caused by two scattering mechanisms: 1) a wind-dependent fine structure of the sea (presumably ripples) that partly depolarizes and has a scattering cross section which depends on wavelength in accordance withlambda^{-1}, and 2) a gross structure of the sea (presumably smooth facets between the ripples) that does not depolarize and has a scattering cross section which is independent of wavelength. The cross sections for transmitting and receiving vertical polarization (sigmadeg VV) and for transmitting and receiving horizontal polarization (sigmadeg HH) are caused by the sum of the contributions from the two mechanisms. Therefore, although dependent on sea state and polarization, it seems thatsigmadeg VVandsigmadeg HHwill tend to be independent of wavelength at the lower frequency end of the microwave spectrum and will tend to depend on wavelength in accordance withlambda^{-1}at the higher end of the spectrum. A comparison of data at 6.3 Gc/s and 35.0 Gc/s and for grazing angles between1.5degand4.0degindicates that the wavelength dependences ofsigmadeg VVandsigmadeg HHare functions of sea state but are greater thanlambdadegand are considerably less thanlambda^{-1}.     

Combined-Phase-Shift Waveguide Polarizer

A waveguide polarizer exploiting two different phase shift phenomena is presented in this letter. Iris-type discontinuities are in fact introduced in a waveguide structure having different propagation constants for the two principal polarizations. In this way, the required 90 $^circ$ differential phase shift is obtained combining the iris phase shift with the waveguide one. Several operative conditions arise from the combination of the two contributions. This approach has been used to design a broadband waveguide polarizer for the $C$-band antenna feed system of the Sardinia Radio Telescope with ${-}$ 40 dB reflection coefficients and a ${-}$35 dB cross polarization level in a 30% bandwidth.      

Cross polarization from dual mode horn antennas

The cross polarization from dual mode horn antennas supporting the TE11and TM11-modes has been analyzed both theoretically and experimentally. The cross polarization has been shown to be strongly dependent on the length and flare angle of the horn. When the flare angle for a given horn length becomes larger than a certain threshold angle, the cross-polar sidelobes increase rapidly. Simple formulas for this threshold angle are presented. This cross-polar degradation will not occur if a plane phase front is provided over the horn aperture, either by profiling the horn or by applying a lens in the aperture.     

Sum and tracking radiation patterns of a conical horn

The gain and the radiation patterns of a conical horn excited by a circular waveguide operating in theTE_{mn}andTM_{mn}modes are predicted. The expressions are rigorously derived by using the accurate calculation of the associated Legendre function with the real order and the integer degree.     

Tunable alexandrite lasers

Wavelength tunable laser operation has been obtained from the solid-state crystal alexandrite (BeAl2O4:Cr³⁺) over the continuous range from 701 to 818 nm. The tunable emission was observed at room temperature and above in a homogeneously broadened, vibronic, four-level mode of laser action. In this mode the laser gain cross section increases from7 times 10^{-21}cm²at 300K to2 times 10^{-20}cm²at 475K, which results in improved laser performance at elevated temperatures. Efficient 2.5 percent, low-threshold (10 J) operation has been obtained with xenon-flashlamp excitation of the 6 mm diameter × 76 mm length laser rods. Output pulses of greater than 5 J and average power outputs of 35 W have been demonstrated, limited by the available power supply. The emission is strongly polarizedEparallelb, with a gain that is 10 times that in the alternate polarization. The 262 μs, room-temperature fluorescence lifetime permits effective energy storage andQ-switched operation. TunableQ-switched pulses as large as 500 mJ have been obtained with pulsewidths ranging between 33 and 200 ns depending on the laser gain. Laser action has also been demonstrated on the high-gain (3 times 10^{-19}cm²emission cross section)Rline at 680.4 nm and is also polarizedEparallelb. This three-level mode is analogous to the lasing in ruby except that the stimulated emission cross section in alexandrite is ten times larger than for ruby.     

Compact Variable ${rm TE}$-${rm TM}$ Polarization Splitter Based on Simplified Coherent Coupling in Lithium Niobate

A compact-sized electrically tunable ${rm TE}$- ${rm TM}$ mode splitter composed of a mode converter and an asymmetric Y-branch structure is presented. The asymmetric Y-branch consists of a straight and a bent waveguides to split two polarization modes based on the mode-sorting effect. To shorten the device length, a simplified coherently coupled-bending structure is utilized for the bent waveguide. Experimental results show that the device length is reduced about 52%, extinction ratios of both ${rm TE}$ and ${rm TM}$ modes are higher than 25 dB, yet the applied voltage is not significantly increased.      

Theoretical Investigation for Reducing Polarization Sensitivity in Si-Nanowire-Based Arrayed-Waveguide Grating (de)Multiplexer With Polarization-Beam-Splitters and Reflectors

A novel design for reducing polarization sensitivity in silicon-on-insulator-based arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) (de)multiplexer is presented. Each arrayed waveguide has two sections separated by a polarization beam splitter (PBS). These two sections have different core widths and length differences. With these PBSs, one polarization is reflected and the other one goes through. The through polarization enters the second section and is then reflected by a reflector at the end of the second section of the arrayed waveguide. The theoretical simulation shows that one can diminish greatly the polarization sensitivity of both the central channel wavelength and the channel spacing by optimizing the core width and length difference of the second section. The design procedure and formulas are given and an appropriate diffraction order is chosen to obtain a good fabrication tolerance. As an example, an ultrasmall $(82.2times 85.1 mu{hbox {m}}^{2})$ AWG (de)multiplexer with eight channels and a channel spacing of 4 nm is designed to have minimized polarization sensitivity and Bragg-grating PBSs and photonic crystal reflectors are used.      

On pressure broadening in a He-Ne laser

Evidence of the combined influence of disaligning and velocity-changing collisions on laser light-induced saturation peaks or holes in the velocity distribution of Ne2p_{4}atoms was obtained by transmitting 1.15-μ light of a short single-mode He-Ne laser through the discharge tube of a long single-mode Michelson interferometer-type He-Ne laser oscillating at 0.63 μ, and by measuring the frequency-dependent single pass gain of the IR light in the discharge of the latter laser. Atoms that have undergone a transition in the linearly polarized red-laser light field are partially aligned. The width of the detected signal depends on the He gas pressure and also on the mutual polarization of the two laser fields. This indicates a smaller velocity broadening for aligned atoms than for collisionally disaligned ones. An evaluation of the data provides information on the correlation of the above-mentioned collision processes and on phase-disturbing and phase-nondisturbing contributions to the line broadening. Estimate values of the integral elastic Ne2p_{4}-He scattering cross section and a cross section for phase shifting collisions are given.     

Nonlinear interaction of electromagnetic waves in bounded plasmas

A method is presented for the solution of second-order electromagnetic fields in a bounded plasma which is excited by two high-frequency electromagnetic waves. Due to nonlinearities inherent in any plasma, incoming waves are mixed, creating sum and difference frequencies. The signal from the difference frequencyomega_{1}-omega_{2}, whereomega_{1}andomega_{2}are source frequencies, can be of considerable consequence whenomega_{1}-omega_{2}is sufficiently low to cause a significant reaction in a plasma as resonant conditions develop. In particular, the problem considered in this paper is the optimization of second-order fields in a uniform plasma confined to a circular waveguide including reference to diagnostic applications.     

Backscattering from a Gaussian-distributed perfectly conducting rough surface

An analytical approach to the problem of scattering by composite random surfaces is presented. The surface is assumed to be Gaussian so that the surface height can be split (in the mean-square sense) into large (zeta_{l}) and small (zeta_{s}) scale components relative to the electromagnetic wavelength. A first-order perturbation approach developed by Burrows is used wherein the scattering solution for the large-scale structure is perturbed by the small-scale diffraction effects. The scattering from the large-scale structure (the zeroth-order perturbation solution) is treated via geometrical optics since4k_{0}^{2}bar{zeta_{l}^{2}} gg 1. The first-order perturbation result comprises a convolution in wavenumber space of the height spectrum, the shadowing function, a polarization dependent factor, the joint density function for the large-scale slopes, and a truncation function which restricts the convolution to the domain corresponding to the small-scale height spectrum. The only "free" parameter is the surface wavenumber separating the large and small height contributions. For a given surface height spectrum, this wavenumber can be determined by a combination of mathematical and physical arguments.     

Trough waveguide dual-frequency antenna

A new type of dual-frequency antenna using a hollow-fin trough waveguide is described. The hollow fin is used as aTE_{10}mode waveguide with sidewall radiating elements. These Sidewall radiating elements constitute the high-frequency section of the antenna. The low-frequency section consists of a thick hollow-fin trough waveguide antenna. The attenuation due to radiation and waveguide wavelength of the trough waveguide section are analyzed. This analysis shows good agreement with experimental measurements. Existing data may be used as a guide in the design of the high-frequency section of this antenna, and the data presented may be used as a guide in the design of the low-frequency section.     

Computerized ray optics method of calculating average value radar cross section

In attempting to estimate the radar cross section of airborne vehicles, it is often only necessary to consider average values of the radar returns. A method of providing a quick estimate of the average bistatic radar cross section of the vehicle components would be useful. Ray optics provides a method of predicting the radar cross section of electrically large, perfectly conducting, simply curved, convex bodies such as spheres, ogives, ellipsoids, etc. This paper extends the method of ray optics to the case of an arbitrary body, which may be concave and/or convex, on which doable reflection and depolarization can occur. The incident radiation on the scattering body is represented by a large number(10^{5}-10^{6})of rays. The rays reflected in a given direction with a given polarization are collected at infinity and combined by phasor addition. For the bodies investigated, this method yields results withinpm2dB of measured results except in small angular regions where trapped waves contribute significantly to the radar return.     

Saturation and excited-state absorption in neodymium laser glass

The existence of excited-state absorption of 1.06-μ radiation in transitions from the upper laser level upward (⁴F_{3/2}-⁴G_{9/2}) is suggested by the ground-state absorption spectrum of Nd³⁺in soda-lime glass. The strength of this absorption was measured as follows. In the unpumped material the upper laser level was populated at high temperatures (600 and 783°K) by saturating the laser transition with an intense 1.06-μ probe laser beam. The residual absorption was attributed to⁴F_{3/2}-⁴G_{9/2}transitions. The steady-state saturation behavior was calculated on the assumption of rapid spectral cross relaxation, using spectroscopic data appropriate to the elevated temperature. Comparison of theoretical and experimental saturation behavior yielded an effective excited-state absorption cross section equal to one-third the gain cross section of the laser transition. This sizable value may be expected to have a significant adverse effect on laser threshold and efficiency. Also, it provides a mechanism for internal fracture such that the fracture threshold decreases with increasing neodymium concentration and with increasing temperature.     

Field singularities at the tip of a metallic cone of arbitrary cross section

The "spherical-harmonics" problem is investigated for a cone of arbitrary cross section. The analysis shows that two basic singularities must be considered: 1) the electric singularity, in whichbar{e}becomes infinite likeR^{nu-1}near the tip of the cone, 2) the magnetic singularity, in whichbar{h}becomes infinite likeR^{tau-1}. Numerical results, in particular concerningnuandtau, are given for: 1) the elliptic cone and its limiting case the sector, 2) the pyramidal corner.     

On the scattering cross section of passive linear arrays

A general formula is derived for the scattering cross section of a passiven-element linear array consisting of isotropic radiators. When all the reactances are tuned out and scattering in the mirror direction is investigated, it is found thatA_{sr}, the relative scattering cross section is equal to the square of the maximum gain the array can produce. As a consequence, for forward scattering in the limiting case of zero spacing between the elements,A_{sr} = n^{4}.