Fabrication and electromagnetic characterization of novel self-metallized thin films
Unique, self-metallized films were investigated for deployable reflector antenna applications at L-band. Polyamic acid resins or soluble polyimides were doped with metal complexes, cast into films, and thermally cured. Each resulting film had a metallic layer on one side, adhering unfailingly to the polymer. Metallization was successful for silver or palladium in 3,3',4,4'-benzophenonetetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (BTDA) and 4,4'- oxydianiline and for gold in BTDA and 2,2-bis[4-(4- aminophenoxy)phenyl]hexafluoropropane (4-BDAF) or the space durable polyimide, 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)- hexafluoropropane dianhydride and 4-BDAF (LaRCCP1). Reflectivity, transmissivity, and emissivity were determined, using an HP 8510 Vector Network Analyzer, to within 0.001 precision and accuracy. A custom-made test fixture/positioner, a thru-reflect-line calibration, and calculated reflection coefficients were used. The Ag film proved most suitable for further study, with 0.9957 reflectivity and 0.0042 emissivity. The Pd films were 0.89 reflective and 0.11 emissive; both Au films tested entirely transmissive. Transmission and scanning electron micrographs, S-parameters, and power coefficients are shown.
Determination of Electromagnetic Properties of Mesh Material Using Advanced Radiometer Techniques
The need for a large diameter deployable antenna to map soil moisture with a 10 kilometer or better resolution using a microwave radiometer is discussed. A 6 meter deployable antenna is also needed to map sea surface temperature on the Navy Remote Ocean Sensor System (NROSS). Both of these deployable antennas require a mesh membrane material as the reflecting surface. The determination of the electromagnetic properties of mesh materials is a difficult problem. The Antenna and Microwave Research Branch (AMRB) of Langley Research Center was asked to measure the material to be used on MROSS by NRL. A cooperative program was initiated to measure this mesh material using two advanced radiometer techniques.
InTlP — a proposed infrared detector material
In1−xTlxP is proposed as a promising material for infrared detectors. A number of key optical and structural properties are studied within local density‐functional theory. In1−xTlxP at x=0.67 and In1−xTlxAs at x=0.15 are estimated to have a gap of 0.1 eV. Their binding energies are larger than that of InSb, and they are found to form stable zinc‐blende alloys for all x. In1−xTlxP nearly lattice matches to InP, and offers the potential to integrate detector array and read‐out circuit.