Heterodyne Radiometer Research Articles

Autonomous field measurements of CO2 in the atmospheric column with the miniaturized laser heterodyne radiometer (Mini-LHR).

We present column CO2 measurements taken by the passive miniaturized laser heterodyne radiometer (Mini-LHR) at 1611.51 nm at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii. The Mini-LHR was operated autonomously, during the month of May 2013 at this site, working in tandem with an AERONET sun photometer that measures aerosol optical depth at 15-min intervals during daylight hours. Laser heterodyne radiometry has been used since the 1970s to measure atmospheric gases such as ozone, water vapor, methane, ammonia, chlorine monoxide, and nitrous oxide. This iteration of the technology utilizes distributed feedback lasers to produce a low-cost, small, portable sensor that has potential for global deployment. Applications of this instrument include supplementation of existing monitoring networks to provide denser global coverage, providing validation for larger satellite missions, and targeting regions of carbon flux uncertainty. Also presented here are preliminary retrieval analysis and the performance analysis that demonstrate that the Mini-LHR responds extremely well to changes in the atmospheric absorption.

Status of the design of the ITER ECE diagnostic

The baseline design for the ITER electron cyclotron emission (ECE) diagnostic has entered the detailed preliminary design phase. Two plasma views are planned, a radial view and an oblique view that is sensitive to distortions in the electron momentum distribution near the average thermal momentum. Both views provide high spatial resolution electron temperature profiles when the momentum distribution remains Maxwellian. The ECE diagnostic system consists of the front-end optics, including two 1000 K calibration sources, in equatorial port plug EP9, the 70-1000 GHz transmission system from the front-end to the diagnostics hall, and the ECE instrumentation in the diagnostics hall. The baseline ECE instrumentation will include two Michelson interferometers that can simultaneously measure ordinary and extraordinary mode ECE from 70 to 1000 GHz, and two heterodyne radiometer systems, covering 122-230 GHz and 244-355 GHz. Significant design challenges include 1) developing highly-reliable 1000 K calibration sources and the associated shutters/mirrors, 2) providing compliant couplings between the front-end optics and the polarization splitter box that accommodate displacements of the vacuum vessel during plasma operations and bake out, 3) protecting components from damage due to stray ECH radiation and other intense millimeter wave emission and 4) providing the low-loss broadband transmission system.

Absolute intensity calibration of the 32-channel heterodyne radiometer on experimental advanced superconducting tokamak.

This paper presents the results of the in situ absolute intensity calibration for the 32-channel heterodyne radiometer on the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak. The hot/cold load method is adopted, and the coherent averaging technique is employed to improve the signal to noise ratio. Measured spectra and electron temperature profiles are compared with those from an independent calibrated Michelson interferometer, and there is a relatively good agreement between the results from the two different systems.

Design and characterization of a 32-channel heterodyne radiometer for electron cyclotron emission measurements on experimental advanced superconducting tokamak.

A 32-channel heterodyne radiometer has been developed for the measurement of electron cyclotron emission (ECE) on the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST). This system collects X-mode ECE radiation spanning a frequency range of 104-168 GHz, where the frequency coverage corresponds to a full radial coverage for the case with a toroidal magnetic field of 2.3 T. The frequency range is equally spaced every 2 GHz from 105.1 to 167.1 GHz with an RF bandwidth of ~500 MHz and the video bandwidth can be switched among 50, 100, 200, and 400 kHz. Design objectives and characterization of the system are presented in this paper. Preliminary results for plasma operation are also presented.

Characterization and calibration of 8-channel E-band heterodyne radiometer system for SST-1 tokamak.

An 8-channel E-band heterodyne radiometer system (74-86 GHz) is designed, characterized, and calibrated to measure the radial electron temperature profile by measuring Electron Cyclotron Emission spectrum at SST-1 Tokamak. The developed radiometer has a noise equivalent temperature of 1 eV and sensitivity of 5 × 10(9) V/W. In order to precisely measure the absolute value of electron temperature, a calibration measurement of the radiometer system is performed using hot-cold Dicke switch method, which confirms the system linearity.

Uncertainty analysis for the miniaturized laser heterodyne radiometer (mini-LHR) for the measurement of carbon dioxide in the atmospheric column

Presented here is a sensitivity analysis for the miniaturized laser heterodyne radiometer. This passive, ground-based instrument measures carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmospheric column and has been under development at NASA/GSFC since 2009. The goal of this development is to produce a low-cost, easily-deployable instrument that can extend current ground measurement networks in order to (1) validate column satellite observations, (2) provide coverage in regions of limited satellite observations, (3) target regions of interest such as thawing permafrost, and (4) support the continuity of a long-term climate record. In this paper an uncertainty analysis of the instrument performance is presented and compared with results from three sets of field measurements. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and corresponding maximum uncertainty for a single scan are calculated to be 329.4 ± 1.3 by deploying error propagation through the equation governing the SNR. Reported is an absorbance noise of 0.0024 for six averaged scans of field data, for an instrument precision of 0.14 ppmv for CO2.

Miniaturized laser heterodyne radiometer for measurements of CO2 in the atmospheric column

We have developed a low-cost, miniaturized laser heterodyne radiometer for highly sensitive measurements of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmospheric column. In this passive design, sunlight that has undergone absorption by CO2 in the atmosphere is collected and mixed with continuous wave laser light that is step-scanned across the absorption feature centered at 1,573.6 nm. The resulting radio frequency beat signal is collected as a function of laser wavelength, from which the total column mole fraction can be de-convolved. We are expanding this technique to include methane (CH4) and carbon monoxide (CO), and with minor modifications, this technique can be expanded to include species such as water vapor (H2O) and nitrous oxide (N2O).

High Temperature 2-D Millimeter-Wave Radiometry of Micro Grooved Nuclear Graphite

ABSTRACTA dual 137 GHz heterodyne radiometer system was used to study grooved nuclear grade graphite (SGL Group NBG17) inside an electric furnace from room temperature to 1250°C. The millimeter wave radiometer views were collinear with the electric field of one polarized parallel, and the other perpendicular, to the grooves. The anisotropic emissivity was readily detected for 100 μm wide grooves of various depths with a spacing period of 0.76 mm. The emissivity in the 500 – 1250°C temperature range was found to be 5.1 ± 0.5% when the E-field was parallel to the grooves and a factor of 2 – 4 higher, depending on groove depth, in the perpendicular direction. The parallel surface emissivity which was identical to ungrooved surface emissivity corresponded to a 137 GHz surface resistance of 5.3 Ohms, which is about 2.5 times higher than the value predicted from frequency scaling dc surface resistance. The perpendicular emissivity had a modulation with groove depth at odd integral multiples of ¼λ, predicted by electromagnetic finite difference time domain analysis.

Atmospheric vertical profiles of O3, N2O, CH4, CCl2F2, and H2O retrieved from external-cavity quantum-cascade laser heterodyne radiometer measurements

Atmospheric vertical profiles of ozone, nitrous oxide, methane, dichlorodifluoromethane, and water are retrieved from data collected with a widely tunable external-cavity quantum-cascade laser heterodyne radiometer (EC-QC-LHR) covering a spectral range between 1120 and 1238 cm(-1). The instrument was operated in solar occultation mode during a two-month measurement campaign at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire, UK, in winter 2010/2011, and ultrahigh-resolution (60 MHz or 0.002 cm(-1)) transmission spectra were recorded for multiple narrow spectral windows (~1 cm(-1) width) specific to each molecule. The ultrahigh spectral resolution of the EC-QC-LHR allows retrieving altitudinal profiles from transmission spectra that contain only few (1-3) significant absorption lines of a target molecule. Profiles are validated by comparing with European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts operational atmospheric profiles (ozone and water), with other data in the literature (nitrous oxide, methane, dichlorodifluoromethane), and with retrievals from a lower resolution (600 MHz or 0.02 cm(-1)) Fourier transform spectroscopy data that were also recorded during the measurement campaign.

Note: Cryogenic microstripline-on-Kapton microwave interconnects

Simple broadband microwave interconnects are needed for increasing the size of focal plane heterodyne radiometer arrays. We have measured loss and crosstalk for arrays of microstrip transmission lines in flex circuit technology at 297 and 77 K, finding good performance to at least 20 GHz. The dielectric constant of Kapton substrates changes very little from 297 to 77 K, and the electrical loss drops. The small cross-sectional area of metal in a printed circuit structure yields overall thermal conductivities similar to stainless steel coaxial cable. Operationally, the main performance tradeoffs are between crosstalk and thermal conductivity. We tested a patterned ground plane to reduce heat flux.

High Temperature Millimeter Wave Radiometric and Interferometric Measurements of Slag-Refractory Interaction for Application to Coal Gasifiers

Millimeter wave (MMW) radiometry can be used for simultaneous measurement of emissivity and temperature of materials under extreme environments such as in slagging coal gasifiers, where sensors have been identified as a key enabling technology need for process optimization. We present a dual-channel MMW heterodyne radiometer with active interferometric capability that allows simultaneous measurements of sample temperature, emissivity, and flow dynamics. Interferometric capability at 137 GHz is supplied via a probe signal originating from a local oscillator allowing monitoring of sample dynamics such as volume expansion and thickness change. This capability has been used to monitor characteristic behavior between refractories and slag such as slag infiltration, slag melting, viscous flow, foaming, and crucible corrosion by the molten slag. These results show the promise of the MMW system for extracting process parameters from operating slagging coal gasifiers, providing valuable information for process efficiency, control, and increased productivity.

Present Status of the Electron Cyclotron Emission Measurements on HT-7 and EAST

Present status of the diagnostics for electron cyclotron emission measurements on both HT-7 and EAST is reported. A 16-channel heterodyne radiometer system and a 20-channel grating polychromator, have been installed on HT-7 and EAST. A 32-channel heterodyne radiometer system, with a wider frequency coverage and better spatial resolution, is being built. In order to provide a reliable electron temperature profile, an in-situ absolute calibration system is currently being built. With the ECE measurements, study on the electron heat transport and the anomalous Doppler resonance is conducted.

Atmospheric observations of multiple molecular species using ultra-high-resolution external cavity quantum cascade laser heterodyne radiometry

We demonstrate a widely tunable laser heterodyne radiometer operating in the thermal IR during an atmospheric observation campaign in the solar occultation viewing mode. An external cavity quantum cascade laser tunable within a range of 1120 to 1238 cm(-1) is used as the local oscillator (LO) of the instrument. Ultra-high-resolution (60 MHz or 0.002 cm(-1) transmission spectroscopy of several atmospheric species (water vapor, ozone, nitrous oxide, methane, and dichlorodifluoromethane) has been demonstrated within four precisely selected molecule-specific narrow spectral windows (∼1 cm(-1). Atmospheric transmission lines within each selected window were fully resolved through mode-hop-free continuous tuning of the LO frequency. Comparison measurements were made simultaneously with a high-resolution Fourier transform spectrometer to demonstrate the advantages of the laser heterodyne system for atmospheric sounding at high spectral and spatial resolutions.

Characteristics and control of the type I edge localized mode in JT-60U

The detailed characteristics of the precursor of the type I edge localized mode (ELM) have been studied in JT-60U using diagnostics with high temporal and spatial resolution such as a microwave reflectometer, electron cyclotron emission (ECE) heterodyne radiometer and grating polychromator. Coherent density and temperature precursors have been observed before the collapse phase of type I ELM. The growth rate of the precursor is evaluated to be γ/ωA ∼ 10−3 for several edge pedestal conditions. From the phase delay between ECE signals measured at two toroidal locations and the frequency of the precursor, the toroidal mode number is experimentally evaluated as n = 8–10 or 14–16 assuming that the precursor rotates toroidally with the same toroidal rotation speed of carbon impurity. It is found that the dominant n varies with each ELM under the same plasma condition. The ratio of the pressure gradient inside the pedestal (∇pin) to the pressure gradient within the pedestal (∇pped) has been confirmed as an important parameter in determining the ELM energy loss (ΔWELM) normalized to the pedestal stored energy (Wped), ΔWELM/Wped. From the comparison of the reduction rate in the ion temperature profile due to ELMs, a larger reduction rate within the pedestal and a wider ELM affected area are observed in the plasma with larger ∇pin/∇pped. When the plasma near the top of the pedestal on the high-field side is heated by an electron cyclotron wave (ECW) power of 1.57 MW, the ΔWELM/Wped is reduced by ∼35%, together with an increase in the ELM frequency. The increasing rate of the ELM frequency with the heating power is about four times larger in the ECW injection case than the natural power dependence observed in the neutral beam injection case.

Broadband Multichannel Radiometer for ECE Measurements on KSTAR

A broadband heterodyne radiometer system has been developed and installed on KSTAR to measure second harmonic electron cyclotron emission (ECE) at the magnetic field of 3 T. The system consisting of two radiometers (110-162 GHz and 164-196 GHz) can cover a frequency range of 110-196 GHz. The unique and key components to construct this ECE diagnostic instrument are specially-designed detector modules and a diplexer for splitting ECE radiation with high efficiency. The minimum detectable electron temperature with a time response of 1 µs is about 0.23 eV. The observed signal intensity is roughly consistent with the value estimated by using characteristics of various components (waveguide components, sub-harmonic mixers, amplifiers, and intermediate frequency detectors). In this article, design considerations and preliminary ECE measurements will be described.

Electron cyclotron emission diagnostics on KSTAR tokamak

A new electron cyclotron emission (ECE) diagnostics system was installed for the Second Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) campaign. The new ECE system consists of an ECE collecting optics system, an overmode circular corrugated waveguide system, and 48 channel heterodyne radiometer with the frequency range of 110-162 GHz. During the 2 T operation of the KSTAR tokamak, the electron temperatures as well as its radial profiles at the high field side were measured and sawtooth phenomena were also observed. We also discuss the effect of a window on in situ calibration.

Developments of Electron Cyclotron Emission Spectroscopy and Microwave Reflectometry on LHD

Several types of microwave diagnostics, in the category of electron cyclotron emission (ECE) spectroscopy and reflectometry, have been developed on the Large Helical Device (LHD). Since LHD has a complicated magnetic configuration, the polarization effects have been studied for optimization of the microwave passive and active diagnostics. It was found that if the density is sufficiently high, the effect of mode conversion is negligible and the local polarization angle can be estimated as the angle at the plasma boundary. Three types of ECE spectroscopy, which are the heterodyne radiometer, the Michelson spectrometer, and the grating polychromator, have been optimized and operated routinely in order to measure radial profiles of electron temperature and its fluctuations in the frequency range 50 to 500 GHz. Several types of microwave reflectometers have also been utilized for measurements of the electron density profile and fluctuations. Two ultrashort pulsed radar reflectometers for density profile measurements, a V-band frequency-hopping reflectometer for density fluctuation profile measurements, and a fixed-frequency three-channel homodyne reflectometer for the interlock system of the neutral beam injection have been routinely operated. Also, an advanced diagnostic, which uses an imaging technique, has been developed to study the two- or three-dimensional structure of temperature and density fluctuations.

Inboard and outboard electron temperature profile measurements in JET using ECE diagnostics

In this paper a novel use of the heterodyne radiometer in JET is presented. The operation of the diagnostic has been extended to allow simultaneously measurement of the pedestal temperature profile at the inboard and outboard midplane with high spatial and temporal resolution. Access to the inboard midplane region is obtained by measuring ordinary mode electron cyclotron emission (ECE) (no harmonic overlap) using an antenna located on the low-field side of the torus. To assess the potential of the ECE temperature measurements in the inboard pedestal region, a detailed analysis of ECE spectrum will be discussed. The measured electron temperature profiles are presented, including a discussion of the main uncertainties in the analysis. The comparison of inboard and outboard temperature pedestal profiles in a variety of H-mode plasmas shows a reasonable agreement in both shape and magnitude.

Observations and modeling of the electron cyclotron emission background in the Levitated Dipole Experiment

Hot electron cyclotron emission (ECE) measurements and modeling calculations have been carried out for the Levitated Dipole Experiment (LDX)5. Heterodyne radiometers at 110, 137 and 165 GHz have been used to view the plasma from bottom and midplane locations. An intense environment of harmonic ECE of up to 1 keV at 110 GHz and afterglow decay times of up to 6.9 seconds were observed at lower pressures. Interpretation of the emission levels in terms of hot electron parameters requires integrating modeled emission over a large magnetic field range of 0.09 to 3.2 Tesla and a k to B angular view range of 0 to 90° within the field of view of each receiver as the hot electron density peak is followed around a given flux contour. Hot electron temperatures of the order of 100 keV, depending on knowledge of the electron density peak location, were determined by taking the ratio of radiometer signals at different frequencies. Abrupt radial movements of the highly peaked hot electron density where evident, particularly with ECRH turn on and turn off.

Electron Temperature Measurement in IR-T1 Tokamak by ECE Diagnostic

A suitable instrument for electron temperature measurement in Tokamak is electron cyclotron emission diagnostic. We used a heterodyne radiometer in Iran-Tokamak-1 (IR-T1) to measure this parameter. This 5 channel system works in Kα-band and has a very fast response time and good resolution frequency for IR-T1 tokamak. This receiver was used outside the Tokamak, perpendicular to Bt, and with second harmonic of X-mode, variation of electron temperature was measured.