System for "Smart" Microwave Energy Delivery
Abstract
We propose a unique smart microwave energy delivery system that will quickly anddefinitely test new ideas for directed energy del ivery to objects of interest at unknown locationsinside complex electrically-large enclosures. Examples of complex enclosures inclu de buildings,aircraft, ships, vehicles, computers, engines, etc. A number of theoretical proposals have beenput forward in the ope n literature, and will continue to be put forward, about howelectromagnetic energy can be efficiently, skillfully, or elegantly, de livered to a target in acomplex setting (aka smart microwave energy delivery). At the moment there is no way toquickly and defin itively evaluate these schemes as to their efficacy and utility in real life.Our objective is to demonstrate that these methods wor k experimentally, understand theirrobustness in realistic noisy environments, quantitatively measure their effectiveness, and toex plore new ideas beyond those suggested by theory. The core system will consist of anarbitrary waveform generator, high-speed sampli ng oscilloscope, up/down converters to movethe time-domain signals into the mm-wave range, and an upgraded existing network analyze r.This will be used for the development of advanced time-reversed waveforms, new coherentperfect absorber waveforms, waveforms wit h enhanced targeting capabilities, and to test newpredictions for energy delivery in the time-domain generalization of the random c oupling model(RCM). The system will be augmented with equipment (I/Q modulators, splitter, amplifiers,antennas, variable attenuato rs and phase shifters, computers) to enable multi-channel (4) sourcesfor these complex waveforms for the first time. In addition we will utilize existing wall- orceiling-mounted spatial microwave modulators that will be used to perform wavefront shaping totarge t arbitrary locations inside a complex enclosure with intense electromagnetic energy. Thesystem will also utilize up- and down-conv erters to translate the time-domain signals into themm-wave range and integrate with the University of Maryland DURIP14 Scaled Str ucturesElectromagnetic Test Facility. The equipment will be utilized by graduate students and postdocsfor basic research, and the outcomes will be published in peer-reviewed journals and Ph.D.theses. All of this work will take place in collaboration with Naval Research Laboratoryresearchers, and technical achievements will be transferred directly to NRL. The outcome willallow development of smart, effective and efficient directed energy and counter directedenergystrategies of utility to the entire DoD.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 22, 2021
- Source ID
- N000142112924
Entities
People
- Steven M Anlage
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Maryland