Optical fiber up-tapers with index perturbations-performanceanalysis

The performance of step index up-tapers subjected to certain index perturbations in investigated by computer simulation. Concentric symmetric and asymmetric index profile perturbations as well as localized spherical, called regions bubbles, having a different index are studied. It is found that some low-valued perturbations of small scale size (less than a wavelength) do not alter the optical fiber performance. However, the amount of beam expansion in the up-taper may be ultimately limited by such perturbations. Excessive magnification in the presence of perturbations can cause a distortion of the quasi-Gaussian shape and symmetry of the pure step-index fundamental mode as well as increase the excess loss and degrade the lateral and axial displacement tolerance improvements of the up-tapers. For example, an index variation of Δn≈10^-5 in conjunction with a perturbation scale size of 40 μm can be detrimental. Bubble-type perturbations could also cause similar problems. A single 12.8-μm-diameter bubble with a relative index of -0.02, embedded in a 128-μm-diameter step index core with relative index of 0.5%, produced a 0.3-dB excess loss     

Characteristics of dielectric loaded and covered circular waveguide phased arrays

The use of dielectric materials for the hardening and matching of phased-array antennas in recent years has shown that a more complete understanding of the effects of these materials upon the array performance is necessary. The characteristics of fully loaded, plugged, and sheath covered circular waveguide phase arrays are analyzed and discussed. Numerical solutions of the boundary-value problem are verified by experimental and convergence tests. Particular emphasis is placed on the study of (forced) surface wave resonance effects. Three different cases for surface wave resonances were obtained. These include the case in which surface wave resonances are present in the absence of dielectrics, the case in which they are trapped by the presence of dielectric plugs, as well as the case in which waves are trapped by the presence of a dielectric sheath. The surface wave resonance due to the plug is shown to vanish for certain "bandpass" ranges of plug thickness which repeat periodically for a single trapped waveguide mode. On the other hand, the surface wave trapped in the sheath exhibits no "bandpass" characteristics. Instead, multiple surface wave resonances occur with increasing sheath thickness. Finally, the surface wave resonances observed here appear at isolated points in the scan plane.     

Propagation results at 11 GHz for microcellular radio

Given the limited spectrum allocated to cellular mobile radio, the authors consider the use of microwave frequency bands where larger bandwidth allocations may be feasible. A radio network of 'microcells' has been proposed for such bands. They have conducted a propagation experiment at 11 GHz to characterise such communication channels in various environments. Results are given for rural and semi-urban environments, where propagation is found to be dominated by interference between the direct ray and a roadway-reflected ray.<>     

Microcells in personal communications systems

Research projects involving fiber-connected microcell base units, measurements and models of propagation in urban microcells, and radio link performance in urban microcells are summarized. Developments in microcell system issues, such as channel assignments and handoff in microcells and architectures for combining microcells with traditional macrocells, are discussed. Research on both indoor radio propagation and wireless indoor systems is reviewed     

Propagation measurements for fixed wireless loops (FWL) in asuburban region with foliage and terrain blockages

We present the results of propagation measurements at 2.485 GHz for fixed wireless loops. Path loss measurements were performed and characterized at 43 subscriber locations around a base station antenna located on top of Crawford Hill in Holmdel, NJ. This suburban location is characterized by rolling hills, foliage, and terrain blockages. Temporal and horizontal motion path loss fluctuations were found to be uncorrelated, each characterized by a different Ricean distribution. Lower r.m.s. delay spreads were obtained with directive subscriber antennas than with omni-directional antennas. No substantial gain loss (less than 2 dB) of subscribers' directive antennas was observed. The effects of trees, with foliage, surrounding the base station upon the path loss and the ratio of scattered power to specular power are also examined. The distance exponent of path loss versus distance (about 1.5) was observed to be less than free-space. Diffraction loss from hilltop trees, shadowing the base station, are suspected to be the cause. This loss decreases as the remote moves further away and comes out of the shadow. Scattered power from directions other than line-of-sight was observed to be as high as one half of the specular contribution when tree scattering near the base station was significant     

Modeling and computer simulation of wave propagation in linealline-of-sight microcells

The model and implementation principles governing the computer simulation of line-of-sight (LOS) microcell wave propagation are presented. Multiray propagation above a plane earth constitutes the basic model. For rural microcells, two rays are used while, for urban microcells, 10 rays are used propagating in a dielectric canyon. The model is applied to two relevant problems. In the first, control of electric field falloff with distance, r, is studied. ln the second, the advantages of switched transversal antenna diversity are demonstrated. Power falloff rates of 1/r⁴ and 1/r⁶ were obtained for simple two-element array structures. This may provide an additional interference control tool in the layout and design of microcells. The interference between the various rays propagating in lineal urban microcells results in deep nulls at various locations. The deleterious effects of these nulls can be eliminated by employing simple switched transverse antenna diversity     

Improvement of planar array match by compensation through contiguous element coupling

In this paper, a method is introduced for determining the practically realizable matching characteristic of a given array radiating element configuration over an assignable scanning region. The matching scheme assumes that a simple impedance change and a reactive element may be introduced in each channel, andpi-type reactive networks may interconnect adjacent element channels. A computer program has been developed to optimize the network components and evaluate the array match. Numerical results for a square waveguide array are presented. The method developed here provides a practical guideline in the evaluation and development of physically realizable array element configurations. The effects of this matching scheme on the radiation pattern and polarization characteristics of a single excited element in the array are discussed as well.     

Wind tunnel quantification of dynamic stall on an S817 airfoil and its control using synthetic jet actuators

Wind tunnel experiments were performed to quantify the aerodynamic characteristics of the S817 airfoil in dynamic stall conditions, and the subsequent application of active flow control to modify the manner by which dynamic stall incepts. Both quasi‐2D and cantilevered finite span configurations were tested. Surface pressure, six‐component force‐torque sensor, and stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (SPIV) were used to quantify the baseline flow and the benefits of actuating synthetic jets (installed at x/c = 0.35, angled 45° into the flow, and at a momentum coefficient C_μ = 0.012). The airfoil was pitched at reduced frequencies of k_f = 0.025 and 0.05 and at shallow and deep stall. Vortex induced lift from dynamic stall was observed and was eliminated by the use of synthetic jets for nearly all conditions; pitching moment deviation was also observed to be significant, and was eliminated at shallow stall and significantly reduced during deep dynamic stall when the synthetic jets were actuated. Moreover, the activation of synthetic jets resulted in significant reduction in the hysteresis (area within the pitching up and pitching down load history) of the lift and pitching moment through all experimental conditions, as much as 41% and 85%, respectively. SPIV flow fields in shallow dynamic stall demonstrated that actuation of synthetic jets confined the separated region to the trailing edge, in both the instantaneous and time averaged sense. To further reduce the lift and pitching moment hysteresis at high angles of attack, a pulse modulation technique was used and showed a marked increase in synthetic jet performance compared with the continuously actuated case and achieved this result with approximately 65% less power consumption.     

Co-channel interference in high capacity fixed wireless loops (FWL)

The importance of the incident power density pattern (IPDP) for future fixed wireless loop (FWL) systems is discussed. Also an investigation into some of the important S/I implications of the IPDP for proper system capacity simulations is presented