Our project page gives great detalied information about the different projects worked on in the branch. Along with these details are photos and examples. Here are brief descriptions of the objectives of each project worked on with in our branch.
(1) Left-handed Metamaterial Lens for Ultra-high Resolution Biomedical Imaging
Objective-
To bring radiation to a focus with a flat Left-handed metamaterials (LHM’s) lens. The advantage of a flat lens compared to a conventional curved lens is that the focal length could be varied simply by adjusting the distance between the lens and the electromagnetic wave source. Sub-wavelength resolution may also be possible.
(2) Angular Distribution of Elastically Scattered Electrons Determined and Its Effect on Collector Performance.
Objective-
Improve performance of the traveling-wave tube (TWT) collector.
(3) Robust Slow-Wave Circuits for High-Frequency Vacuum Electronic Communications Amplifiers
Objective-
The Micro-Electronic Fabrication Facility of the Communications Technology Division at NASA Glenn Research Center is a class 100 clean room. The facility is equipped to provide extensive material characterization studies as well as develop the current state-of-the-art thin film devices, passive or active.
(4) Carbon Nanotube Thermionic Generators for Aircraft APUs
Objective-
To produce a highly efficient thermionic generator that is suitable for waste heat recovery in aeronautical applications. We will overcome the inefficiency commonly associated with these devices through the use of nanostructured emitters in a composite thermionic vacuum diode arrangement. The materials employed will be thermally and structurally compatible with conventional aircraft such that they will be suitable for integration within a conventional engine nacelle. The conversion of waste heat from the engine to usable electricity will be directed towards supplementing and/or replacing some of the current electrical requirement placed on turbine auxiliary power units, as well as reduce the cooling requirements on the next-generation high operating temperature aircraft engines. A factor of 4 improvement in specific power over conventional APUs, as well as a reduction in overall aircraft noise, fuel consumption, and cost are targeted.
(5) High Temperature Wireless Electronics
Objective-
To reduce or eliminate the wire count of sensor instrumentation in high temperature aircraft engine applications through the use of innovative wireless communications techniques.
(6) Silicon Germanium on Sapphire for Ka-Band Communications Applications.
Objective-
Long term objective of the project is integration of digital and analog circuits for high frequency applications on a single chip. Specifically, it is the purpose of this research to grow, for the first time, SiGe films on sapphire suitable for electron conduction transistors and to evaluate whether or not the quality of these films will prove adequate for high frequency devices.
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