Project Title:
A Frequency-Tunable, Three-Octave Radar to Monitor Vehicle Exhaust Plumes and Toxic
13.01-0655
911250
A Frequency-Tunable, Three-Octave Radar to Monitor Vehicle Exhaust Plumes and Toxic
Substances
American Research Corporation of Virginia
P.O. Box 3406
Radford
VA
24143-3406
M.G.
Niimura
703-731-0655
KSC
NAS10-11854
261
13.01-0655
911250
Abstract:
A Frequency-Tunable, Three-Octave Radar to Monitor Vehicle Exhaust Plumes and Toxic
Substances
Techniques for sensing electrical characteristics of vehicle exhaust plume and forecasting
diffusion of toxic substances are required. This project suggests the use of a frequency-tunable,
extremely wideband radar that is operable even during the precipitation period and
gives excellent spatial resolution. Neither conventional microwave radar nor lightwave
radar (LIDAR) can achieve these two features at the same time. This project's innovation
is the use of the multi-frequencies available from a novel high-power radar that
measures electrical as well as physical characteristics of the light-emitting (plasma-state)
exhaust. The novel radar will be based on the orbitron maser whose frequency is voltage
tunable for three-octaves (1 GHz-1 THz). The output power is significantly higher
than solid-state sources and multi-channelization is straight forward. The device
is rugged, battery-powered, and field-usable, making it suitable for monitoring vehicle
exhaust from the liftoff to ascent phases. The Phase I objective is to establish
the feasibility of the novel radar as an ionized plume and toxic substances monitor.
Anticipated results include correlations between the electrical characteristics of
ionized plumes and lightning threat, a multi-channel radar system with pertinent
signal processing electronics, and a family of data from simulated plumes and toxic
substances.
The hand-held, frequency-scannable, rugged radar system will find commercial applications
in areas such as airport and harbor surveillance and control; precision geological
mapping; traffic safety; remote sensing of clouds, smoke, pollutants, toxic substances,
precipitation, and snow and ice thickness; mm-wave scattering; spectroscopy experiments
in the laboratory; short-range communication; and NDE of structural integrity.
millimeterwave radar, vehicle exhaust plume, toxic substance monitor