Far-field Research Articles

Two-Dimensional Scanning of Circularly Polarized Beams via Array-Fed Fabry–Perot Cavity Antennas

In this paper, we present an array-fed Fabry–Perot cavity antenna (FPCA) based on a partially reflecting sheet (PRS) capable of generating a circularly polarized (CP), highly directive, far-field radiation pattern in the 27–28.5 GHz frequency range. The PRS, the cavity, and the array of feeders serve to different purposes in this original structure. The PRS is engineered to produce a circular polarization from a linearly polarized source placed inside the cavity. The cavity is optimized to obtain a directive conical beam from the dipole-like pattern of the simple source, and allows for a frequency scan of the beam along the elevation plane. The array of feeders is designed to obtain a pencil beam whose azimuthal pointing direction can be controlled by properly phasing the sources. The radiation performance is studied with a specific application of the reciprocity theorem in a full-wave solver along with the pattern multiplication principle. A number of array-pattern configurations in terms of operation frequency and phase shift are investigated and presented to show the potential of the proposed solution in terms of design flexibility and radiation performance.

Guided and Space Waves Multiplexed Metasurface for Advanced Electromagnetic Functionalities in Microwave Region.

Nowadays, metasurfaces have attracted considerable attention due to their promising and advanced control of electromagnetic (EM) waves. However, it is still challenging to shape guided waves into desired free-space mode, while simultaneously manipulating spatial incident waves using a single metasurface. Herein, a class of metasurfaces capable of multiplexing guided and space waves is proposed to achieve advanced EM functionalities in microwave regions, which can find great application potentials in radar systems, wireless communications, and wireless power transfer (WPT). The proposed metasurface, composed of specially designed meta-atoms with polarization-dependent radiation and reflection properties, provides the capability to fully manipulate complex amplitude of guided waves and reflection phase of space incident wave independently and simultaneously, thus enabling arbitrary radiation and reflection functionalities without encountering crosstalk issues. As examples of potential applications, three advanced EM functionalities operating in both far-field and near-field regions are presented: low-sidelobe microwave antenna with reduced radar cross section (RCS), multifunctional WPT, and feed multiplexed holograms, respectively. The far-field characteristics of the low sidelobe level antennas showing radiated beams at ±30° together with RCS reduction under arbitrarily polarized incidences are validated by both simulations and measurements. A good agreement between experiments and simulations is also observed for the near-field intensity distribution of the hologram, which further validates the feasibility of near-field shaping. The findings significantly expand the capabilities of metasurfaces in manipulating EM waves and stimulate advanced multifunctional metadevices facing more challenging and diversified application demands.

Theory of molecular emission power spectra. III. Non-Hermitian interactions in multichromophoric systems coupled with polaritons.

Based on our previous study [Wang et al., J. Chem. Phys. 153, 184102 (2020)], we generalize the theory of molecular emission power spectra (EPS) from one molecule to multichromophoric systems in the framework of macroscopic quantum electrodynamics. This generalized theory is applicable to ensembles of molecules, providing a comprehensive description of the molecular spontaneous emission spectrum in arbitrary inhomogeneous, dispersive, and absorbing media. In the far-field region, the analytical formula of EPS can be expressed as the product of a lineshape function (LF) and an electromagnetic environment factor (EEF). To demonstrate the polaritonic effect on multichromophoric systems, we simulate the LF and EEF for one to three molecules weakly coupled to surface plasmon polaritons above a silver surface. Our analytical expressions show that the peak broadening originates from not only the spontaneous emission rates but also the imaginary part of resonant dipole-dipole interactions (non-Hermitian interactions), which is associated with the superradiance of molecular aggregates, indicating that the superradiance rate can be controlled through an intermolecular distance and the design of dielectric environments. This study presents an alternative approach to directly analyze the hybrid-state dynamics of multichromophoric systems coupled with polaritons.

Adjustment of fracture network geometry during temporary plugging and diverting fracturing in deep coalbed methane reservoirs: An experimental study

Deep coalbed methane reservoirs generally exhibit characteristics such as extremely low permeability, significant heterogeneity, high in situ stress, and dense geological discontinuities. Notably, these geological discontinuities cleats, bedding planes, and natural fractures, as mechanically weak planes, significantly contribute to the creation of extremely complex and tortuous hydraulic fracture (HF) networks near the wellbore, but impede the propagation of HFs to the far-field region. This will lead to insufficient stimulated reservoir volume, thereby limiting the CBM production. Under this background, a series of physical simulation experiments of temporary plugging and diverting fracturing (TPDF) were carried out on large-size coal blocks under true triaxial stress conditions. Combining high-energy industrial computed tomography scanning technology, first, the morphology of fracture propagation of the sample before TPDF is divided into two fracture propagation modes. Then, TPDF experiments were conducted to analyze the behavior of fracture propagation under different modes. Finally, a mode of TPDF tailored for adjusting the HF network geometry in deep CBM reservoirs was explored innovatively. The effects of concentration and particle size of the temporary plugging agent (TPA) on pressure increment, plugging location and fracture diversion behavior during TPDF were examined in particular. Experimental results indicate that optimizing the concentration and particle-size of TPA based on the resulting fracture geometry is crucial for adjusting the fracture network geometry (simplifying the growth behavior of HF near the wellbore while increasing fracture complexity in the far-field region) during conventional fracturing (before using the TPA). When a complex fracture network is created under the condition of formation with high-dense natural fractures (NFs) near the wellbore region, using small-particle-size TPA (e.g., 70/140 mesh) is optimal for adjusting the fracture geometry, as it can effectively plug the NFs and allow them to continue extending toward the far-field region. Meanwhile, a higher concentration of TPA is beneficial for plugging the interval of HF closer to the wellbore, and then causing the creation of complex fracture networks. When a long single HF is generated under the condition of a formation with low-dense NFs, using the medium-particle-size TPA (e.g., 40/70 mesh) is optimal for enhancing the fracture complexity near the wellbore region. Using TPA of excessively large particle sizes (e.g., 20/40 mesh) tends to plug the HFs at their entrances, causing HFs to be reinitiated from the unstimulated segment of the wellbore. This study can provide crucial theoretical guidance for optimizing the scheme design of TPDF in deep CBM reservoirs.

A Novel Theoretical Modeling of the Received Power for Phased Array-Based Wireless Power Transfer System in the Near-Field Region

A Novel Theoretical Modeling of the Received Power for Phased Array-Based Wireless Power Transfer System in the Near-Field Region

Electromagnetic side-channel attack risk assessment on a practical quantum-key-distribution receiver based on multi-class classification

While quantum key distribution (QKD) is a theoretically secure way of growing quantum-safe encryption keys, many practical implementations are challenged due to various open attack vectors, resulting in many variations of QKD protocols. Side channels are one such vector that allows a passive or active eavesdropper to obtain QKD information leaked through practical devices. This paper assesses the feasibility and implications of extracting the raw secret key from far-field radiated emissions from the single-photon avalanche diodes used in a BB84 QKD quad-detector receiver. Enhancement of the attack was also demonstrated through the use of deep-learning model to distinguish radiated emissions due to the four polarized encoding states. To evaluate the severity of such side-channel attack, multi-class classification based on raw-data and pre-processed data is implemented and assessed. Results show that classifiers based on both raw-data and pre-processed features can discern variations of the electromagnetic emissions caused by specific orientations of the detectors within the receiver with an accuracy higher than 90%. This research proposes machine learning models as a technique to assess EM information leakage risk of QKD and highlights the feasibility of side-channel attacks in the far-field region, further emphasizing the need to utilise mechanisms to avoid electromagnetic radiation information leaks and measurement-device-independent QKD protocols.

Microfacies Characteristics of Late Pennsylvanian Cyclothems on the Carbonate Platform Margin in Guizhou, South China.

Late Pennsylvanian cyclothems are documented from the carbonate platform margin in Guizhou, South China, providing a unique opportunity to study glacio-eustatic fluctuations and their impact on reef development. This paper focuses on a shallow-water, reef-bearing succession and a deep-water succession in the Houchang area of Guizhou. Fourteen microfacies, grouped into seven associations, represent distinct depositional environments. These microfacies associations exhibit vertical cyclicity, interpreted as cyclothems, similar to those observed globally, which are attributed to the waxing and waning of the Gondwana ice sheet. The cyclothems are primarily composed of sediments below the wave base within a shallow-water platform margin and deep-water settings. Those cyclothems show strong correlations with those observed in South China, Ukraine, and the North American Midcontinent, suggesting a potential connection to global glacio-eustatic processes. A brief and rapid sea-level rise during the late Kasimovian may correspond to a recently recognized global warming event. A microfacies analysis indicates that these cyclothems reflect glacial-type sea-level fluctuations ranging from 15 to 35 m. Notably, the reef-bearing cyclothems correspond to intermediate, major cyclothems identified in South China and the Midcontinent from the late Moscovian to early Kasimovian stages. The global cyclothem correlations and reef development patterns in South China suggest that intermediate, major cycles were the primary controls on reef growth and demise, while minor cycles influenced biostromes and community succession within the reefs. These findings underscore the pivotal role of the Late Paleozoic Ice Age (LPIA) in shaping reef development in far-field regions during the Late Pennsylvanian.

Exploring Ground Reflection Effects on Received Signal Strength Indicator and Path Loss in Far-Field Air-to-Air for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Enabled Wireless Communication

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-enabled wireless communications are becoming increasingly important in applications such as maritime and forest rescue operations. UAV systems often depend on wireless networking and mobile edge computing (MEC) devices for effective deployment, particularly in swarm UAV-enabled MEC configurations focusing on channel modeling and path loss characteristics for air-to-air (A2A) communications. This paper examines path loss characteristics in far-field (FF) ground reflection scenarios, specifically comparing two environments: FF1 (forest floor) and FF2 (seawater floor). LoRa modules operating at 868 MHz were deployed for communication between a transmitting UAV (Tx-UAV) and a receiving UAV (Rx-UAV) to conduct this study. We investigated the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and path loss characteristics across channel bandwidths of 125 kHz and 250 kHz and spread factors (SF) of 7, 9, and 12. Experimental results show that ground reflection has minimal impact in the FF1 scenario, whereas, in the FF2 scenario, ground reflection significantly influences communication. Therefore, in the seawater environment, a UAV-enabled LoRa MEC configuration using a 250 kHz bandwidth and an SF of 7 is recommended to minimize the effects of ground reflection.

Antenna pattern reconstruction for mid-band massive antenna array based on a single-cut field transformation algorithm in a compact multi-probe anechoic chamber setup

ABSTRACT It has become a common challenge on how to measure radiation patterns of massive antenna arrays working at high frequency with high efficiency and accuracy, which has attracted huge interest from both academia and industry. In this paper, a highly accurate and efficient far field (FF) pattern reconstruction strategy through conducting single cut near field (NF) to FF transformation algorithm based on spherical wave expansion (SWE) is proposed for fast measurements of large base stations (BSs) operating at mid-band. Our objective is to design a compact multi-probe setup to measure key radiation parameters of the massive array, with low-cost and high-efficiency. A BS of 16 × 16 elements operating at mid-band is adopted as the device under test (DUT) in this paper. Analysis is conducted on the impact of measurement distance, sampling range and sampling density on the reconstruction accuracy of the algorithm in the compact multi-probe anechoic chamber setup, demonstrating that the required key information of the main lobe of the DUT can be accurately reconstructed when the measurement range R = 1/20 FF distance, sampling resolution ∆θ = 3°, and sampling range θ ∈ [75°, 105°] are selected, respectively. The impact of phase center offset on the accuracy of FF pattern reconstruction is analyzed when only one sub-array is enabled, demonstrating the effectiveness of the algorithm for sub-array measurements.

Sparsity-based direction-of-arrival estimation in the presence of near-field and far-field interferences for small-scale platform sonar arrays.

For the sonar arrays mounted on an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), the direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation of the far-field (FF) weak sources is influenced by the near-field (NF) interferences generated from the radiated self-noise of the UUV and the FF interferences simultaneously. To address the problem, a sparsity-based DOA estimation method resistant to the NF and FF interferences is proposed in this paper. This method isolates the FF signals from the NF signals by sparse reconstruction. Additionally, subspace projection is applied to address the masking problem of the weak target signal by the strong interferences in the spatial domain, effectively enhancing the capacity of estimating the DOA of the weak target signal in the presence of strong interferences. Numerical simulations and experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Compared to other advanced DOA estimation methods, the proposed method exhibits better DOA estimation performance in the presence of strong NF and FF interferences.

Laser Thomson scattering measurements indicate non-isothermal magnetic field lines in magnetically shielded Hall effect thrusters

Expected high electron mobility and low resistivity along magnetic field lines—as compared to across magnetic field lines—have led to the assumption, or the reproduction through a solution to the electron energy equation, that magnetic field lines are isothermal in typical plasma simulations for Hall effect thrusters (HETs). However, the inaccessibility of the near-field plasma region and perturbative nature of electrostatic probes have prevented validation of these assumptions in HETs. This manuscript presents non-intrusive measurements of the electron number density and electron temperature along two distinct magnetic field lines in the near-field discharge of a magnetically shielded HET operating at 150 V and 40 A on krypton based on incoherent laser Thomson scattering. The resulting electron temperature and density profiles indicate that the magnetic field lines are not isothermal or isopotential, with percent changes exceeding 100% of the channel centerline electron temperature along each magnetic field line. This observation brings into question the current state of electron models in simulations and what physics are included, or neglected, to produce isothermal magnetic field lines in certain regions.

Optimized spherical near-field to far-field transformations algorithm based on outlier retrieval and repair

Abstract In this paper, a spherical near-field to far-field transformation algorithm based on outlier retrieval and repair is proposed to solve the problem of obtaining inaccurate transformation results when the near-field data contains outliers due to probe anomalies. The transformation algorithm adopts the inverse matrix construction method to compute the transmission coefficients of the antenna for far-field reconfiguration with high precision. In addition, the local outlier factor algorithm is employed to fast retrieve the outliers in the input data and repair them according to the spline interpolation principle. By inputting the repaired near-field data into the transformation program, the derived far-field radiation patterns are in high agreement with the theoretical values obtained from the electromagnetic simulation, which can verify the efficiency and rationality of the proposed algorithm.

Hybrid Near-Far Field Channel Estimation for Holographic MIMO Communications

Hybrid Near-Far Field Channel Estimation for Holographic MIMO Communications

Optimal design of antenna arrays for microwave power transmission with multiple receiving targets in the radiative near-field

This study proposes a method for maximizing the beam collection efficiency (BCE) for a microwave power transmission system with multiple receiving targets in the radiative near-field region. The electric and magnetic fields of the transmitting array are calculated via the superposition principle. Through theoretical derivation, the BCE maximization problem is simplified into finding the maximum ratio of two real quadratic forms. Based on the theory of matrices, the optimal BCE and its corresponding excitations of the transmitting array can be determined by finding the largest characteristic value and its associated characteristic vector. In practice, the required power for multiple receiving targets may be different. To meet this requirement, a BCE optimization model is established, considering the constraints of the problem of allocable power for each receiving target. A hybrid grey wolf optimizer and Nelder–Mead simplex method is adopted to address the optimization problem. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, numerical experiments on focusing the power radiated on two parallel receiving targets are conducted first. Then, two rotating receiving targets are employed to show its universality. Finally, three and four receiving targets are adopted to further evaluate the validity of the proposed method.

Calibration of the Reynolds stress model for turbulent round free jets based on jet half-width

Reynolds stress model (RSM) turbulence models are expected to yield more accurate numerical results for flows with strong anisotropy, such as round free jets, because they directly solve Reynolds stresses rather than modeling them. However, when computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses were performed at moderate jet Reynolds numbers using the isotropization by production (IP) RSM model, it was observed that the calculated jet half-widths, decay constants, and spreading rates differed from experimental results due to uncertainties inherent in the turbulence model. In this study, the closure coefficients of the IP RSM turbulence model were calibrated using a variant of the Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm based on jet half-width data obtained experimentally in the near-field region of the jet. With the use of appropriate discretization schemes and computational grids, the calibrated coefficient combination for the IP RSM turbulence model showed improved accuracy in modeling jet half-widths at Reynolds numbers of 10 000 and 20 000, reducing the errors of calculated decay constants and spreading rates approximately from 2% to 1% and from 16% to 5%, respectively. A detailed examination of the turbulence budget along the longitudinal axis in the self-similar region revealed that the new model coefficients enhanced the modeling of diffusion term but compromised the advection term. As a result of the altered advection term, increased error margins were observed in turbulence intensity (TI) and velocity distribution along the jet centerline, although dissipation along the axis was improved. Consequently, the modeling error in jet half-width calculations using the CFD method was decreased, enhancing the computational cost-effectiveness of the RSM turbulence model compared to more complex turbulence models.

TE-polarized leaky-wave beam launchers: Generation of Bessel and Bessel–Gauss beams

The generation of focused beams in the millimeter- and submillimeter-wave ranges, with transverse-electric (TE) polarization, is investigated in the radiative near-field region. The desired field distribution is achieved through a leaky-wave beam launcher consisting of a grounded dielectric slab with an annular strip grating on top excited by a circular slot on the bottom ground plane. The latter is fed by a Marié transducer, which converts the input, fundamental TE10 mode of a standard rectangular waveguide into the higher-order TE01 mode propagating in the circular waveguide connected to the device. The generation of TE-polarized diffraction-limited Bessel and Bessel–Gauss distributions is achieved by suitably synthesizing the annular strip grating. Simulated results are in excellent agreement with those predicted by leaky-wave analysis providing a proof-of-concept for the generation of TE-polarized Bessel and Bessel–Gauss beams at 300 GHz with a beam size of 1.7 and 1.9 mm up to the nondiffractive range of about 25 and 15 mm from an aperture plane with radius of 12.75 mm, respectively.

A multi-level Stress–Strain relationship and hydraulic characteristics for supporting grain-porous rock fracture system

Fracturing technology, essential for enhancing permeability within oil and gas reservoirs, relies on supported particles to maintain fracture conductivity. A comprehensive understanding of the stress-strain relationships and hydraulic properties of Supported Grain-Porous Media Fracture System (SG-PMFS) is crucial for optimizing hydrocarbon extraction and advancing geomechanical modeling. In this study, we introduced a multilevel spring compression deformation model that categorized SG-PMFS deformation into an equivalent tensile component in matrix pores of the far-field region, equivalent compressive components in matrix pores of the near-field region and fractures, and multilevel compressive components in supporting grains. We derived distributed uniaxial/triaxial stress-strain relationships to quantitatively characterize these multilevel deformation behaviors across distinct characteristic regions. Digital image correlation strain measurement was employed for experimental validation, confirming the model's accuracy. The experimental results identified five distinct characteristic regions within SG-PMFS, with the distribution factors of each deformation component decreasing with distance from the fracture. Self-supported grains significantly enhanced the correlation coefficient of experimental data, reducing the fracture-related bulk modulus from 11.99 MPa to 1 MPa. The degree of grain crushing was directly proportional to the bulk modulus of the corresponding multilevel compressive component. Furthermore, we established constitutive relationships between stress and key hydraulic properties: fracture aperture, compressibility, and porosity. The model predictions and experimental results consistently characterized the relationship between hydraulic properties and stress across different regions. The hydraulic behavior of SG-PMFS under stress was segmented into three stages: porous rock fracture-dominated deformation (0–2.2 MPa), first-level particle crushing (2.2–4.6 MPa), and second-level particle crushing (4.6–25 MPa). The contribution of grain crushing to porosity changes consistently exceeded 50%, making it the dominant factor in the porosity variation of SG-PMFS.

MEDEA: A New Model for Emulating Radio Antenna Beam Patterns for 21 cm Cosmology and Antenna Design Studies

In 21 cm experimental cosmology, accurate characterization of a radio telescope’s antenna beam response is essential to measure the 21 cm signal. Computational electromagnetic (CEM) simulations estimate the antenna beam pattern and frequency response by subjecting the EM model to different dependencies, or beam hyperparameters, such as soil dielectric constant or orientation with the environment. However, it is computationally expensive to search all possible parameter spaces to optimize the antenna design or accurately represent the beam to the level required for use as a systematic model in 21 cm cosmology. We therefore present the Model for Emulating Directivities and Electric fields of Antennas (MEDEA), an emulator that rapidly and accurately generates far-field radiation patterns over a large hyperparameter space. MEDEA takes a subset of beams simulated by CEM software, spatially decomposes them into coefficients on a complete, linear basis, and then interpolates them to form new beams at arbitrary hyperparameters. We test MEDEA on an analytical dipole and two numerical beams motivated by upcoming lunar lander missions, and then employ MEDEA as a model to fit mock radio spectrometer data to extract covariances on the input beam hyperparameters. We find that the interpolated beams have rms relative errors of at most 10−2 using 20 input beams or less, and that fits to mock data are able to recover the input beam hyperparameters when the model and mock are derived from the same set of beams. When a systematic bias is introduced into the mock data, extracted beam hyperparameters exhibit bias, as expected. We propose several extensions to MEDEA to potentially account for such bias.

Marine predator’s algorithm-based linear and elliptical antenna array design for 5G communication

The highly efficient linear and elliptical antenna array design presented in this article is intended to synthesize far-field radiation patterns for 5G communication. The objective is to achieve the best possible radiation pattern, which includes a lower side lobe level (SLL) and a narrower half-power beam width (HPBW). A low SLL is crucial to minimize intervention in the entire side lobe region, whereas long-distance communication requires a low HPBW. The marine predator’s algorithm (MPA) is used here to determine the optimal feeding currents to each array element to reduce the SLL and HPBW values. Two linear antenna array (LAA) design examples and the three elliptical antenna array (EAA) design examples are discussed in this article which are achieved using the optimal current excitations to each array element. Two well-established evolutionary optimization techniques, namely the genetic algorithm (GA) and the differential evolution (DE) technique, are also employed for comparison to demonstrate the superiority of the MPA optimization-based technique. The results achieved utilizing the MPA show the improvement of SLL contraction compared to the uniform antenna array and the methods affirmed in the recently published article.

Acoustic radiation of a fluid-saturated microperforated plate

It is known that fluid-saturated microperforated plates (MPP) dissipate energy and are substantially damped through thermoviscous dissipation taking place in the thermoviscous skin on the solid wall of the perforations. The aim of this work is to explore the acoustic radiation of a microperforated periodic cell to investigate the intercellular coupling and the complexity of near-field radiation, and to derive a criterion related to the near-field far-field transition. A numerical modeling using the finite element method is developed to solve the elastic and thermo-visco-acoustic (TVA) multiphysics problem. The TVA calculates explicitly the thermoviscous losses on the acoustic wave in the periodic cell studied. Numerical results show that the distance of the near-far field transition is significant at low frequencies, passing through a minimum for a frequency depending on perforation parameters (diameter and ratio) before increasing again as a frequency function. The radiated acoustic power and radiation efficiency are compared with those derived from the theoretical MPP vibration model. It is found that the microperforations and resulting added damping, around a characteristic frequency, reduce the acoustic radiation efficiency of the MPP compared to the corresponding non-perforated plate.