Abstract: A system and method for sending signals at temperatures associated with hypersonic speeds. A window system in a hypersonic aircraft is provided. The window system comprises a transmissive window in an aeroshell of the hypersonic aircraft, a thermal seal, a sensor, and a sensor housing assembly enclosing the sensor. The transmissive window comprises a facesheet and insulating material adjacent to the facesheet. The thermal seal surrounds a perimeter of the facesheet and seals the facesheet to the aeroshell. The window system is radio-frequency transparent at temperatures associated with hypersonic speeds. The window system is configured to operate at an insertion loss of less than one decibel at the hypersonic speeds.

Abstract: A system and method for sending signals at temperatures associated with hypersonic speeds. A window system in a hypersonic aircraft is provided. The window system comprises a transmissive window in an aeroshell of the hypersonic aircraft, a thermal seal, a sensor, and a sensor housing assembly enclosing the sensor. The transmissive window comprises a facesheet and insulating material adjacent to the facesheet. The thermal seal surrounds a perimeter of the facesheet and seals the facesheet to the aeroshell. The window system is radio-frequency transparent at temperatures associated with hypersonic speeds. The window system is configured to operate at an insertion loss of less than one decibel at the hypersonic speeds.

Abstract: Various techniques provide systems and methods for facilitating aperture protection. In one example, a system for facilitating aperture protection is provided. The system includes an optical limiter device. The optical limiter device includes a thermochromic material and a plurality of nanostructures, where each of the nanostructures is in contact with a portion of the thermochromic material. At least a subset of the nanostructures is configured to receive incident light and generate heat in response to the incident light. At least a portion of the thermochromic material is configured to transition from a first state to a second state in response to the heat and block the incident light when the portion is in the second state. The portion is configured to transition from the second state back to the first state when the portion cools, such as upon removal of the incident light. Related methods and products are also provided.

Abstract: Devices and methods for protecting electro-optical instruments includes a transparent substrate and a conductive film layer on the substrate. The film layer may be perforated with an array of holes and may be configured to attenuate RF/microwave electromagnetic radiation. The devices may include a plurality of optical waveguides having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each optical waveguide is disposed over the substrate and passes through a respective hole of the array of holes such that each hole includes at least one optical waveguide. The waveguide may be configured to capture incident light from the second end and guide the incident light to the first end through the hole.

Abstract: Devices and methods for protecting electro-optical instruments includes a transparent substrate and a conductive film layer on the substrate. The film layer may be perforated with an array of holes and may be configured to attenuate RF/microwave electromagnetic radiation. The devices may include a plurality of optical waveguides having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each optical waveguide is disposed over the substrate and passes through a respective hole of the array of holes such that each hole includes at least one optical waveguide. The waveguide may be configured to capture incident light from the second end and guide the incident light to the first end through the hole.

Abstract: A protection circuit configured to protect delicate electronics from high power signals is disclosed herein. To that end, the protection circuit includes a limiter circuit comprising a phase changing material to prevent high power signals from reaching one or more electronic circuits. The phase changing material assumes a limiting state automatically when an energy of an applied signal exceeds a threshold, which limits the energy of the signal passed on to any associated electronics.

Abstract: Various techniques provide systems and methods for facilitating aperture protection. In one example, a system for facilitating aperture protection is provided. The system includes an optical limiter device. The optical limiter device includes a thermochromic material and a plurality of nanostructures, where each of the nanostructures is in contact with a portion of the thermochromic material. At least a subset of the nanostructures is configured to receive incident light and generate heat in response to the incident light. At least a portion of the thermochromic material is configured to transition from a first state to a second state in response to the heat and block the incident light when the portion is in the second state. The portion is configured to transition from the second state back to the first state when the portion cools, such as upon removal of the incident light. Related methods and products are also provided.

Abstract: Various techniques provide optical limiters for facilitating aperture protection. In one example, a system includes an optical device. The optical device includes a photocathode configured to emit electrons in response to an applied voltage and an incident light. The optical device further includes a phase change material. At least a portion of the phase change material is configured to receive the electrons from the photocathode. The portion is further configured to transition from a first phase to a second phase in response to the electrons. The portion is further configured to reflect the incident light when the portion of the phase change material is in the second phase. Related methods and products are also provided.

Abstract: A protection circuit configured to protect delicate electronics from high power signals is disclosed herein. To that end, the protection circuit includes a limiter circuit comprising a phase changing material to prevent high power signals from reaching one or more electronic circuits. The phase changing material assumes a limiting state automatically when an energy of an applied signal exceeds a threshold, which limits the energy of the signal passed on to any associated electronics.

Abstract: A passively switched resonant chamber includes one or more conductive walls defining a resonant cavity configured to store energy in an electromagnetic field. The passively switched resonant chamber also includes a switching device that includes a first conductive wire having a first end extending into the resonant cavity. The switching device also includes a second conductive wire having a second end extending into the resonant cavity. The second end is separated from the first end by a gap. A phase change material in the gap is configured to switch from a non-conductive state to a conductive state in response to a strength of the electric field in the resonant cavity satisfying a threshold.

Abstract: Various techniques provide optical limiters for facilitating aperture protection. In one example, a system includes an optical device. The optical device includes a photocathode configured to emit electrons in response to an applied voltage and an incident light. The optical device further includes a phase change material. At least a portion of the phase change material is configured to receive the electrons from the photocathode. The portion is further configured to transition from a first phase to a second phase in response to the electrons. The portion is further configured to reflect the incident light when the portion of the phase change material is in the second phase. Related methods and products are also provided.

Abstract: A microwave device can include a printed circuit board substrate having a first microwave device subcircuit and a microdevice substrate having a second microwave device subcircuit. The first microwave device subcircuit may be formed at a low resolution and a low tolerance, while the second microwave device subcircuit may be formed at a high resolution and a high tolerance. The first microwave device subcircuit and the second microwave device subcircuit may be electrically coupled using a conductor.

Abstract: A passively switched resonant chamber includes one or more conductive walls defining a resonant cavity configured to store energy in an electromagnetic field. The passively switched resonant chamber also includes a switching device that includes a first conductive wire having a first end extending into the resonant cavity. The switching device also includes a second conductive wire having a second end extending into the resonant cavity. The second end is separated from the first end by a gap. A phase change material in the gap is configured to switch from a non-conductive state to a conductive state in response to a strength of the electric field in the resonant cavity satisfying a threshold.

Abstract: A microwave device can include a printed circuit board substrate having a first microwave device subcircuit and a microdevice substrate having a second microwave device subcircuit. The first microwave device subcircuit may be formed at a low resolution and a low tolerance, while the second microwave device subcircuit may be formed at a high resolution and a high tolerance. The first microwave device subcircuit and the second microwave device subcircuit may be electrically coupled using a conductor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are present for creating a negative index metamaterial lens for use with a phased array antenna. A design having a buckyball shape is created for the negative index metamaterial lens. The buckyball shape is capable of bending a beam generated by the phased array antenna to around 90 degrees from a vertical orientation to form an initial design. The initial design is modified to include discrete components to form a discrete design. Materials are selected for the discrete components. Negative index metamaterial unit cells are designed for the discrete components to form designed negative index metamaterial unit cells. The designed negative index metamaterial unit cells are fabricated to form fabricated designed negative index metamaterial unit cells. The negative index metamaterial lens is formed from the designed negative index metamaterial unit cells.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are present for creating a negative index metamaterial lens for use with a phased array antenna. A design having a buckyball shape is created for the negative index metamaterial lens. The buckyball shape is capable of bending a beam generated by the phased array antenna to around 90 degrees from a vertical orientation to form an initial design. The initial design is modified to include discrete components to form a discrete design. Materials are selected for the discrete components. Negative index metamaterial unit cells are designed for the discrete components to form designed negative index metamaterial unit cells. The designed negative index metamaterial unit cells are fabricated to form fabricated designed negative index metamaterial unit cells. The negative index metamaterial lens is formed from the designed negative index metamaterial unit cells.

Abstract: A method for providing a shock penetration resistant apparatus may include providing an item of protective gear to be positioned proximate to an object to be protected, and disposing a shock penetration resistant material proximate to the item of protective gear to attenuate or redirect shock pulses away from the object to be protected. An apparatus is also provided that may include an item of protective gear and a shock penetration resistant material. The item of protective gear may be configured to be positioned proximate to an object to be protected. The shock penetration resistant material may be disposed proximate to the item of protective gear to attenuate or redirect shock pulses away from the object to be protected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are present for creating a negative index metamaterial lens for use with a phased array antenna. A design having a buckyball shape is created for the negative index metamaterial lens. The buckyball shape is capable of bending a beam generated by the phased array antenna to around 90 degrees from a vertical orientation to form an initial design. The initial design is modified to include discrete components to form a discrete design. Materials are selected for the discrete components. Negative index metamaterial unit cells are designed for the discrete components to form designed negative index metamaterial unit cells. The designed negative index metamaterial unit cells are fabricated to form fabricated designed negative index metamaterial unit cells. The negative index metamaterial lens is formed from the designed negative index metamaterial unit cells.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are present for steering a radio frequency beam. The radio frequency beam is emitted from an array of antenna elements at a first angle into a lens at a location for the lens. The first angle of the radio frequency beam is changed to a second angle when the radio frequency beam exits the lens. The second angle changes when the location at which the radio frequency beam enters the lens changes. The second angle of the radio frequency beam is changed to a third angle when the radio frequency beam with the second angle passes through a negative index metamaterial lens located over the lens.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are present for steering a radio frequency beam. The radio frequency beam is emitted from an array of antenna elements at a first angle into a lens at a location for the lens. The first angle of the radio frequency beam is changed to a second angle when the radio frequency beam exits the lens. The second angle changes when the location at which the radio frequency beam enters the lens changes. The second angle of the radio frequency beam is changed to a third angle when the radio frequency beam with the second angle passes through a negative index metamaterial lens located over the lens.