Dynamically tunable localized surface plasmons using VO2 phase transition

The control of light with plasmonic devices in practical applications require dynamic tunability of localized surface plasmons. Employing phase change materials in plasmonic structure enables it to respond to light dynamically depending the external stimulate. This study investigates the response in presence of vanadium dioxide (VO2) phase transition for numbers of novel and classic problems. To illustrate the significance of optical spectrum tunability by VO2 two important functionalities for the phenomenon have been introduced. In the first application, a compact and ultrathin plasmonic metasurface is suggested for an ultra-short pulse shaping of transmitted pulse based on linear filtering principle of electromagnetic wave. It is demonstrated that the tunable optical filter by VO2 phase transition can compensate realtime input carrier frequency shifts and pulse span variations to stabilize the output pulse. Second application is dedicated to the field of intrachip optical communication which shows how VO2 phase transition can effectively switch a communicating antenna on and off. A substantial directional gain switching is obtained by employing VO2 phase transition to alternate resonances of a Yagi-Uda antenna elements. VO2 scattering functionality in absence of localized surface plasmons is studied to illustrate their promising performance in light reflection. Finally the behavior of localized surface plasmon resonators is studied and chimera stats which are the concurrent combination of synchronous and incoherent oscillations in a set of identical oscillators is shown for the first time in the optical regime. The effect of coupling strength on the phase scape/synchronization of the spaser-based devised oscillators is investigated

Design and Characterization of Dual-Matrix Composite Deployable Space Structures

Dual-matrix composites are a promising approach to deployable high performance antennas for small satellites. Several techniques exist for packaging large antenna apertures. Assemblies of rigid bars and hinges obtain high deployed precision but are heavy and mechanically complex. Thin shell structures deployed using stored strain energy are a lightweight alternative offering efficient packaging but reduced surface precision. Moreover, elastomer composites shells attain even smaller fold radii upon packaging but are limited by the deployed structure's stiffness. Dual-matrix composites combine the advantages of several of these approaches to enable larger antenna apertures. They consist of a continuous woven fiber reinforcement with an elastomer matrix embedded in localized hinge regions and a stiff epoxy resin elsewhere. Such structures can achieve small fold radii, are strain energy deployable, and promise high deployed stiffness. This research demonstrates the capabilities of the proposed dual-matrix structures through direct comparison to existing antenna designs. Analytic scaling relations between structural and electromagnetic performance of various deployable antenna designs are developed. These are used to rapidly predict achievable antenna performance as a function of a common set of antenna geometric parameters. Plotting of this data on a coordinated set of 2D design plots enables the direct comparison of antenna concepts and the selection of specific designs meeting all requirements. This methodology was used to design a deployable dual-matrix composite conical log spiral (CLS) antenna for use on CubeSats which outperformed existing off-the-shelf designs through higher gain, higher bandwidth, and more efficient packaging. Starting from this initial design, the antenna is tuned to maximize performance and an assembly including the CubeSat, dual-matrix antenna, dual-matrix hinge for antenna deployment, and a flexible feeding network is developed. All portions of the assembly are prototyped and tested. The antenna electromagnetic performance is predicted using ANSYS HFSS and verified by testing in an anaechoic chamber with antenna gains predicted within 4% of measured values. Structural stiffness is characterized through the antenna's fundamental frequency with simulated performance in the Abaqus finite element software within 6% of measured values. Comparison of antenna performance before and after packaging and deployment shows the structural frequency, antenna gain, and antenna bandwidth are unaffected by folding, demonstrating that dual-matrix composites are appropriate for use as deployable structures. Techniques for the quasi-static deployment of dual-matrix composites are presented. An analytic minimum energy method, which accounts for fiber microbuckling in regions of high curvature, is used to predict the folded shape and deployment moments of a dual-matrix hinge. The model shows excellent agreement with LS-Dyna finite element simulations for a variety of material properties. Comparison with experimental characterization demonstrates the capability of the models to predict folded radii and deployment moment of a prototype hinge withing 5% of measured values. The developed analysis tool-set enables a design of deployment restraints and mechanisms. The woven elastomer composites forming the fold regions in dual-matrix composites have been the subject of very few studies. Existing methods for predicting the stiffness of woven epoxy composites are applied to elastomer composites here and show poor agreement with measurements. A novel approach is presented for the prediction of tow stiffness in elastomer composites using a semi-empirical approach. The reinforcing efficiency parameter in the well-established Halpin-Tsai model for tow homogenization is estimated using experimental measurements of stiffnesses of several laminates. It is shown that for elastomer composites, the parameter values are orders of magnitude higher than the heuristic values used for epoxy composites. The method is used to predict the stiffness of woven epoxy and elastomer composites making up the dual-matrix structures studied in this work showing agreement withing 15% of experimental measurements for arbitrary layups. The method is extended to the prediction of viscoelastic behavior of dual-matrix structures to enable investigation of deployment reliability after long storage times.</p

Cumulative index to NASA Tech Briefs, 1970-1975

Tech briefs of technology derived from the research and development activities of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration are presented. Abstracts and indexes of subject, personal author, originating center, and tech brief number for the 1970-1975 tech briefs are presented

NASA Tech Briefs, April 1994

Topics covered: Advanced Composites and Plastics; Electronic Components and Circuits; Electronic Systems; Physical Sciences; Materials; Computer Programs; Mechanics; Machinery/Automation; Manufacturing/Fabrication; Mathematics and Information Sciences; Life Sciences; Books and Reports

Advanced Energy Harvesting Technologies

Energy harvesting is the conversion of unused or wasted energy in the ambient environment into useful electrical energy. It can be used to power small electronic systems such as wireless sensors and is beginning to enable the widespread and maintenance-free deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) technology. This Special Issue is a collection of the latest developments in both fundamental research and system-level integration. This Special Issue features two review papers, covering two of the hottest research topics in the area of energy harvesting: 3D-printed energy harvesting and triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). These papers provide a comprehensive survey of their respective research area, highlight the advantages of the technologies and point out challenges in future development. They are must-read papers for those who are active in these areas. This Special Issue also includes ten research papers covering a wide range of energy-harvesting techniques, including electromagnetic and piezoelectric wideband vibration, wind, current-carrying conductors, thermoelectric and solar energy harvesting, etc. Not only are the foundations of these novel energy-harvesting techniques investigated, but the numerical models, power-conditioning circuitry and real-world applications of these novel energy harvesting techniques are also presented

NASA thesaurus. Volume 3: Definitions

Publication of NASA Thesaurus definitions began with Supplement 1 to the 1985 NASA Thesaurus. The definitions given here represent the complete file of over 3,200 definitions, complimented by nearly 1,000 use references. Definitions of more common or general scientific terms are given a NASA slant if one exists. Certain terms are not defined as a matter of policy: common names, chemical elements, specific models of computers, and nontechnical terms. The NASA Thesaurus predates by a number of years the systematic effort to define terms, therefore not all Thesaurus terms have been defined. Nevertheless, definitions of older terms are continually being added. The following data are provided for each entry: term in uppercase/lowercase form, definition, source, and year the term (not the definition) was added to the NASA Thesaurus. The NASA History Office is the authority for capitalization in satellite and spacecraft names. Definitions with no source given were constructed by lexicographers at the NASA Scientific and Technical Information (STI) Facility who rely on the following sources for their information: experts in the field, literature searches from the NASA STI database, and specialized references

Aeronautical engineering: A cumulative index to a continuing bibliography (supplement 248)

This publication is a cumulative index to the abstracts contained in Supplements 236 through 247 of Aeronautical Engineering: A Continuing Bibliography. The bibliographic series is compiled through the cooperative efforts of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Seven indexes are included -- subject, personal author, corporate source, foreign technology, contract number, report number and accession number

NASA patent abstracts bibliography: A continuing bibliography. Section 2: Indexes (supplement 45)

A subject index is provided for over 5600 patents and patent applications for the period May 1969 through June 1994. Additional indexes list personal authors, corporate authors, contract numbers, NASA case numbers, U.S. patent class numbers, U.S. patent numbers, and NASA accession numbers

NASA patent abstracts bibliography: A continuing bibliography. Section 2: Indexes (supplement 42)

A subject index is provided for over 4900 patents and patent applications for the period May 1969 through December 1992. Additional indexes list personal authors, corporate authors, contract numbers, NASA case numbers, U.S. patent class numbers, U.S. patent numbers, and NASA accession numbers

NASA patent abstracts bibliography: A continuing bibliography. Section 2: Indexes (supplement 46)

A subject index is provided for over 5600 patents and patent applications for the period May 1969 through December 1994. Additional indexes list personal authors, corporate authors, contract numbers, NASA case numbers, U.S. patent class numbers, U.S. patent numbers, and NASA accession numbers