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The conventional way of expressing poer loss in dB/meter for a multimode waveguiding system with finite wall condcutivity (such as a beam-waveguide system with protective shroud) can be incorrect and misleading. The power loss (indB) for a multimode waveguiding system is, in general, not linearly proportional to the length of the waveguide.

This article presents a set of theoretical and measured zenith-antenna noise temperatures at 8.45 GHz for the DSS-13 34-m beam-waveguide antenna when horns of different gains are installed at F1. The methodology for calculations is shown in detail. The major differences between calculated and measured values are attributed to changes in subreflector support leg scattering when illuminated by the various horns.

The shroud on the beam-waveguide (BWG) antenna at DSS 13 is made from highly magnetic American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) A36 steel. Measurements at 8.42 GHz showed that this material (with paint) has a very poor electrical conductivity that is 600 times worse than aluminum. In cases where the BWG mirrors might be slightly misaligned, unintentional illumination and poor electrical conductivity of the shroud walls can cause system noise temperature to be increased significantly. This potential increase of noise temperature contribution can be reduced through the use of better conductivity materials for the shroud walls. An alternative is to attempt to improve the conductivity of the currently used ASTM A36 steel by means of some type of plating, surface treatment, or high-conductivity paints. This article presents the results of a study made to find improved materials for future shrouds and mirror supports.

A recent discovery shows that a high-dielectric constant, low-loss, solid material can be made into a ribbon-like waveguide structure to yield an attenuation constant of less than 0.02 dB/m for single-mode guidance of millimeter/submillimeter waves. One of the crucial components that must be invented in order to guarantee the low-loss utilization of this dielectric-waveguide guiding system is the excitation coupler. The traditional tapered-to-a-point coupler for a dielectric rod waveguide fails when the dielectric constant of the dielectric waveguide is large. This article presents a new way to design a low-loss coupler for a high- or low-dielectric constant dielectric waveguide for millimeter or submillimeter waves.

This article presents an analytical method for determining the exact distance a load is required to be offset from a passive two-port network to obtain maximum or minimum return losses from the terminated two-port network. Equations are derived in terms of two-port network S-parameters and load reflection coefficient. The equations are useful for predicting worst-case performances of some types of networks that are terminated with offset short-circuit loads.

When radiometric equipment is available, noise temperature measurement techniques provide a convenient and accurate means for determining the dissipative component of the insertion loss of a two-port network. It is increasingly becoming the practice to ignore mismatch errors caused by multiple reflections between the source, the receiver, and the component whose dissipative loss is being measured. Mismatch errors are difficult to determine in practice because of the requirements of having full knowledge of the magnitudes of reflection coefficients and S-parameters. This article shows it is permissible to neglect the effects of mismatch errors if special conditions are met. These special conditions only require that the reflection coefficients of the source and load be made negligibly small and that the two-port network being evaluated has reciprocal and symmetrical properties.

A need arose in the NASA Deep Space Network, a worldwide tracking system, for a dichroic plate that would be transparent at two desired frequency bands in the X-band region and be totally reflective at S-band. The dual-passband dichroic plate that was developed to meet the technical requirements is a thick metallic plate having an array of periodic round holes filled with Teflon plugs. Test results on an experimental prototype plate indicate that it is technically possible to design a dielectrically filled dichroic plate that meets all of these technical requirements.

Measurements made on the frequency stability of the DSS-13 34-m diameter Beam Waveguide (BWG) antenna showed that at 46.5 and 37 deg elevation angles, the BWG antenna stability at 12.2 GHz was between 1.3 and 2.2 x 10(exp -15) for tau = 1024 sec and good weather conditions. These frequency stability values apply to the portion of the antenna that includes the main reflector, subreflector, tripod legs, and the six BWG mirrors. The test results reported are believed to be the first known successful measurements of the stability of the microwave optics portion of a large antenna to a level of 1 or 2 parts in 10(exp 15).

A method for modeling discontinuities in a coaxial transmission line is presented. The methodology involves the use of a nonlinear least-squares fit program to optimize the fit between theoretical data (from the model) and experimental data. When this method was applied to modeling discontinuities in a slightly damaged Galileo spacecraft S-band (2.295-GHz) antenna cable, excellent agreement between theory and experiment was obtained over a frequency range of 1.70-2.85 GHz. The same technique can be applied for diagnostics and locating unknown discontinuities in other types of microwave transmission lines, such as rectangular, circular, and beam waveguides.

A 12-GHz fiber-optic system is a critical part of a test configuration that was proposed for measuring the fractional frequency stability of the Deep Space Station (DSS)-13 beam-waveguide (BWG) antenna. This fiber-optic system is used to carry Ku-band (12-GHz) signals from a reference antenna to the DSS-13 BWG pedestal room. Tests performed only on the fiber-optic system portion of the overall test configuration showed that the 12-GHz fiber-optic system (installed at DSS-13) has a frequency stability of about 1.1 x 10(exp -16) for sampling time tau = 1000 sec for a nighttime run. This preliminary result establishes the lowest noise floor that can probably be achieved for the test configuration that will be used to measure the frequency stability of the DSS-13 BWG antenna.

A significant amount of noise temperature can potentially be generated by currently unknown dissipative losses in the beam waveguide (BWG) shroud. The amount of noise temperature contribution from this source is currently being studied. In conjunction with this study, electrical conductivity measurements were made on samples of the DSS-13 BWG shroud material at 8.420 GHz. The effective conductivities of unpainted and painted samples of the BWG shroud were measured to be 0.01 x 10(exp 7) and 0.0036 x 10(exp 7) mhos/m, respectively. This value may be compared with 5.66 x 10(exp 7) mhos/m for high conductivity copper.

A method for measuring the frequency stability of the beam-waveguide (BWG) antenna at Deep Space Station 13 is presented. This method is relatively inexpensive and primarily utilizes equipment that is already available. Another desirable feature of the method is that a far-field signal will be used for the measurement. In concert with the goal of employing new technology developments, a fiber optic system will be used at 12 GHz to carry a reference antenna signal to the BWG antenna Ku-band test-package location in the pedestal room.

A 34-m beam-waveguide (BWG) antenna has been built a Deep Space Station 13 (DDS 13) in the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex. This antenna is designed to be efficient at X-, Ku-, and Ka-bands, and it is the first NASA tracking antenna to use a BWG design. The design of a Ku-band test package for the new BWG antenna at 11.7-12.2 GHz is presented. Results of linear polarization measurements with the test package on the ground are also presented. This report is the fifth in a series of articles concerned with test package design and performance.

Efficiency measurements at 8.45 and 32 GHz (X and Ka bands, respectively) were carried out on the new 34 m diameter beam waveguide antenna now in use at the NASA Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex. The use of portable test packages enabled measurements at both the Cassegrain and beam waveguide focal points. Radio sources (quasars and Venus) were used as calibrators, and updated determinations of flux and source size correction were made during the period of the measurements. Gain and efficiency determinations as a function of elevation angle are presented, and the effects of the beam waveguide system and antenna structure are clearly seen. At the beam waveguide focus, an 8.45 GHz peak efficiency of 72.38 pct. was measured; at 32 GHz, 44.89 pct. was measured.

Results are given for an X-band (8.45 GHz) test package for testing the new 34-m beam-waveguide antenna at Goldstone in an 'on-the-antenna' configuration. Included are X-band zenith noise temperature values and tipping-curve data obtained at the Cassegrain focal point F1 as well as at the pedestal room focal point F3. Subreflector Z-defocus test results for both F1 and F3 are also presented. The X-band test package operated well in all of the different test configurations and exceeded expected performance.

The results of X-band noise temperature tests on two types of antenna surface panels are presented. The first type tested was a solid antenna panel, while the second type was a perforated panel with 3/16-in.-diameter holes. Measurements were made at 8.45 GHz using an X-band radiometric system. Included in this article are measured noise temperature contributions from: (1) thermal diffusive white paint on solid and perforated panels, and (2) water sprayed on both painted and unpainted perforated panels. Experiments on perforated panels were restricted to the 3/16-in.-diameter hole panels formerly used on Deep Space Network 64-m antennas. Rigorous calibration equations, applicable to a variety of antenna panel and dichroic plate test configurations, are presented. It was demonstrated that an accurate, stable radiometric measurement system of the type used for the results of this research makes it possible to obtain information that would be much more difficult to obtain using other techniques.

A need arose in the Deep Space Network for a dichroic plate that would simultaneously pass two desired frequency bands in the X-band region. In addition, the plate must be totally reflective for S-band frequencies. A dielectrically loaded dichroic plate is described that was developed to meet this need. The unique microwave properties that the new dichroic plate had to possess were: (1) insertion losses of less than 0.04 dB for X-band uplink frequencies centered at 7167 MHz and for X-band downlink frequencies centered at about 8425 MHz; (2) insertion losses that met the low loss requirements at 30 deg incidence angle simultaneously for both parallel and perpendicular polarizations; (3) total reflectivity at S-band frequencies; and (4) ability to maintain these electrical characteristics while passing 100 kW of CW power at X-band or while reflecting 100 kW of CW power at S-band. The dual passband dichroic plate is a thick metallic plate having an array of periodic round holes filled with Teflon plugs. Test results on an experimental prototype plate indicate that it is technically possible to design a dielectrically filled dichroic plate that meets all of the technical requirements.

In a previous article, the results of frequency stability tests at DSS 13 were presented in table form for tau = 1000 s for the test period May 1985 through March 1986. This article is a continuation of that initial report and presents specially selected Allan sigma (square root of variance) plots of each of the subsystem test previously reported. An additional result obtained from tests performed during July 1986 was included for completeness. The Allan sigma plots are useful in that frequency stability information is not only given for tau = 1000 s, but for tau values in the regions of 1, 100, 500, and 2000 s as well.

Results of station frequency stability testing performed at DSS 13 (Deep Space Station) during May 1985 through March 1986 are presented. The testing was done on X-band uplink and X- and S-band downlink subsystems as well as on end-to-end systems. The subsystem test data are useful for assessing the frequency stability of various prototype X-band uplink or downlink subsystems for purposes of making design improvements. Information derived from extensive testing at DSS 13 will be useful in the preparation of an X-band Uplink Demonstration Experiment to be conducted at DSS 13, and will also be valuable in the preparations of gravity wave experiments to be conducted at other DSN stations in the future.

A need for an accurate but inexpensive method for measuring and evaluating time delays of large ground antennas for VLBI applications motivated the development of the collimation tower technique. Supporting analytical work which was performed primarily to verify time delay measurement results obtained for a large antenna when the transmitter was at a collimation distance of 1/25 of the usual far field criterion is discussed. Comparisons of theoretical and experimental results are also given.

A need for an accurate but inexpensive method for measuring and evaluating time delays of large ground antennas for VLBI applications motivated the development of the collimation tower technique. Supporting analytical work which was performed primarily to verify time delay measurement results obtained for a large antenna when the transmitter was at a collimation distance of 1/25 of the usual far field criterion is discussed. Comparisons of theoretical and experimental results are also given.

Structural deformations primarily occur as functions of antenna elevation angle due to gravity loading. For a Cassegrain antenna, one of the major effects of structural deformation on measured VLBI time delays are those delay changes associated with axial subreflector displacement from its nominal position. Two types of time delay changes that occur when the subreflector is axially defocused are: a change which is a linear function of subreflector defocus position; and a cyclical change caused by multipath. Test results show that for the 64-m DSN antenna, the linear change is 1.8 times the subreflector defocus position, while the peak-to-peak change in cyclical variation is about + or - 3 cm when a spanned bandwidth of 38 MHz at 2290 MHz is used.

Subreflectors on DSN antennas have historically been of formed and welded sheet metal construction, which is quite costly. Flame-spray metallized fiberglass-epoxy offers an alternative technique at much lower cost. Results of a study to show that system noise temperature would be increased about 0.3 K at X-band when using the alternate material is presented.

Some of the useful formulas and methods for determining antenna beam solid angle are presented. The applicability of these formulas in evaluating radiometric systems performance is illustrated.

Water-cooled coupler installed in S-band polarization diversity (SPD) cone is used to calibrate receiving-station relay. Coupler operates without arcing at 400 kw and permits accurate calibration of entire system below antenna feed horn. Device has good directivity, contributes less than 0.01 K to system noise temperature, and eliminates saturation of ground station and spacecraft receivers during high-power operation.

Instrument is calibrated using back-to-back method. In comparison standard, S-X isolators are opposite from device being tested to permit signal flow in reverse direction. After calibration portable zero-delay assembly (PZDA) is used to set time delays of deep-space network ground-station ranging systems. Approach is also used to calibrate microwave links in other communications systems.

The problem is considered of the effect of reflections from discontinuities at each end of a transmission line on the group delay at microwave frequencies. Previous work is briefly reviewed and a general analysis is made. Graphical data are presented based upon the formulas developed. Experimental results are given which confirm the theory.

Articles are presented which are concerned with the development of special test equipment and a dual-frequency zero delay device (ZDD) that were required for range tests and the measurement of ground station delays for the Mariner-Venus-Mercury 1973 S/X-band experiment. Test data obtained at DSS 14 after installation of the ZDD on the 64-m antenna are given. It is shown that large variations of range were observed as a function of antenna elevation angle and were sensitive to antenna location. A ranging calibration configuration that was subsequently developed and a technique for determining the appropriate Z-correction are described. Zero delay test data at DSS 14 during the Mariner 10 Venus-Mercury-Encounter periods (1974 days 12-150) are presented. The theoretical analysis and experimental verifications are included of the effects of multipath and effects of discontinuities on range delay measurements. A movable subreflector technique and the multipath theory were used to isolate principal multipath errors on the 64-m antenna and to enable a more accurate determination of the actual ground station range delay.

Delay-line standards have been tested by three independent laboratories using six different methods. Results are published in report showing delay values obtained from 15-, 30-, and 60-ns cables by different laboratories. Study of potential error sources indicates that reflection errors due to discontinuities at ends of cables are usually small.

A technique is presented in which the time an RF signal is delayed in propagating through a Cassegrain antenna is determined. The technique utilizes the group delay time and the envelope delay time as found from the antenna transfer function. The calculations show that a focused antenna is basically a nondispersive device whose delay time may be found from an optics formula. Small subreflector displacements result in significant delay changes requiring calibrations for many applications.

New Z-corrections which resulted from recent translator path delay calibrations made at DSS 14, 43, and 63 with newly developed DSN Portable Zero Delay Assemblies are presented. The test results indicate a successful transfer of technology from development to implementation and to the operations phase.

Design and test data on portable zero delay assemblies are reported. These assemblies are field-use delay standards to periodically calibrate the block 4 translator ranging paths at each 64-m antenna Deep Space Station.

A dual-directional loop coupler in WR 430 waveguide was installed at DSS 14 as part of the system to measure station range delay. This installation was necessary to provide special test translator signal injection ports for the Voyager near-earth calibration sequence, which required that the SPD maser be bypassed to prevent saturation of the receivers. The design of the dual coupler and testing of this device at high power is discussed.

A description is given of the dual coupler configuration which was installed at DSS 14 for station delay calibrations during the Voyager era. The Z correction values determined for these new and previous configurations are presented.

The techniques for calibrating the translator path by means of a portable zero delay device are described. In addition, some translator path data taken at DSS 14, Goldstone, over a period of about one year is presented.

A set of basic terminology related to deep space ranging measurements is proposed. Calibration equations are derived for the dish-mounted zero delay device method for 26-m antenna systems and the translator method for 64-m antenna systems.

A set of cable assemblies serving as group delay standards having nominal delays of 15, 30, and 60 nsec are described. Various types of measurements were performed on the cable standards, including impedance, microwave phase shift, RF pulse burst delay, modulation pulsed delay, and envelope phase shift measurements. The results of these tests are given, and various sources of error are discussed, in particular, dispersion and internal reflections.

Precision compact rotary vane microwave attenuator, presenting modified law to extend dynamic attenuation range and reduce rotor section length

Radiometric method accurately calibrates the principal line sections of an antenna, including the section which contains the antenna-feed component /mode generator and polarizer/. Precise knowledge of the absolute antenna temperature is not required.

Reduced multiport equivalent scattering parameters derivation by matrix method, determining load reflection coefficients effect on signal attenuation and phase shift

Analysis of errors on microwave noise-temperature measurements is important due to development of very low-noise antenna receiving systems and in the absolute accuracies to which the noise temperatures of these systems can be calibrated. Scattering parameters describe properties of the microwave network connected between noise source and receiver.

Radiometric method for calibrating loss of multimode antenna-feed components with linear or circular polarization, deriving calibration and error analysis equations

Mismatched errors associated with Y factor power ratio measurement effect on microwave noise- temperature calibrations

Ground instrumentation system for Mariner IV OCCULTATION experiment, using Doppler frequency perturbation method for Mars atmospheric parameters determination

Computing zenith antenna temperature from antenna radiation patterns and antenna environment brightness temperatures

Improved calibration techniques - weekly noise temperature calibrations for Mars and Venus Deep Space Stations

Deep Space Instrumentation Facility /DSIF/ GROUND receiver stations for Mariner IV space probe occulation experiment

Noise temperature calibrations of Venus Deep Space Station radio frequency cone antenna

General-case equations for application to mismatch errors in Y-factor measurements for calibration of receiver - radio frequency technique for noise temperature measurement errors