Abstract: An axially-fed RF power combiner combines a plurality of input signals to generate a single fundamental-mode transverse electromagnetic (TEM) output. The combiner comprises a vacuum coaxial transmission line having a plurality of coaxial vacuum feedthroughs configured to receive the input signals. The feedthroughs are arranged axially around the vacuum coaxial transmission line. An increasing gap is provided between the inner conductive surface and the outer conductive surface of the vacuum coaxial transmission line to gradually transition the input signals from each coaxial vacuum feedthrough to quasi-TEM mode signals within the vacuum envelope of the vacuum coaxial transmission line. In some conductive-ridge embodiments, the inner conductive surface of the vacuum coaxial transmission line may comprise a cylindrical conductive base and a plurality of radially-aligned conductive ridges azimuthally distributed within a vacuum envelope of the vacuum coaxial transmission line.

Abstract: A radially-fed RF power combiner combines a plurality of input signals to generate a single fundamental-mode transverse electromagnetic (TEM) output. The combiner comprises a vacuum coaxial transmission line having a plurality of coaxial vacuum feedthroughs configured to receive the input signals. The feedthroughs are arranged radially around the vacuum coaxial transmission line. The inner conductive surface of the vacuum coaxial transmission line may comprise a cylindrical conductive base and a plurality of radially-aligned conductive ridges azimuthally distributed within a vacuum envelope of the vacuum coaxial transmission line. Each of the conductive ridges may be coupled to a center conductor of a corresponding one of the coaxial vacuum feedthroughs. The conductive ridges may have a taper to provide an increasing gap between the top of the conductive ridges and an outer conductive surface of the vacuum coaxial transmission line.

Abstract: A waveguide-to-waveguide power combiner/divider including a waveguide including a first opening at a first end of a first section of the waveguide in a first plane and n openings of n sections at n other ends of the waveguide, wherein n is a positive integer. At least one of the n sections is bent in at least one plane different from the plane of first section, and the first section and n sections each have at least two sides that are broader than at least two other sides; and n?1 walls within waveguide configured to divide a height of first section into n heights. Each of n sections has a height equal to one of the n heights, wherein the n?1 walls are located at a junction of the first section and the n sections and extend toward the first opening of the first section.

Abstract: A wavefront transformer for reflecting and transforming an incident electromagnetic wavefront includes an electrically-conductive substrate with spaced perforations (cavities), which may have uniform spacing and varying depth. The perforations may have a radius that is close to and greater than a cutoff radius for one or more intended incident frequencies of the incident wavefront. The spaced perforations may be filled with air or may be filled with a dielectric solid material. The substrate may be covered with a cover made of a dielectric solid material. The transformer may be made by drilling holes in the substrate. Alternatively a plate having protrusions on it corresponding to the desired perforations may be used to form the perforations on the substrate. The plate may be removed or left in place after the formation of the perforations.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a containment vessel having an interior space configured to be sealed. The interior space is configured to receive at least one reservoir of liquid to be vaporized during a decontamination process. The apparatus also includes a base configured to be inserted into the interior space. The base is configured to receive one or more pieces of personal protection equipment to be heated and decontaminated within the interior space during the decontamination process. The base is configured to hold the one or more pieces of personal protection equipment above the at least one reservoir of liquid. The apparatus further includes a pressure-relief valve configured to be opened to release a pressure within the interior space. In some cases, the apparatus may include a filter configured to filter material passing through the pressure-relief valve.

Abstract: A method includes receiving electromagnetic signals containing pulses. The method also includes converting the pulses contained in the electromagnetic signals into an electrical signal that identifies at least some of leading or trailing edges of the pulses. The method further includes repeatedly (i) accumulating the electrical signal to generate a voltage using an integrating circuit and (ii) resetting the integrating circuit in response to the voltage of the integrating circuit meeting or exceeding a threshold voltage. In addition, the method includes providing a count value identifying a number of times that the voltage of the integrating circuit meets or exceeds the threshold voltage. Each time the voltage of the integrating circuit meets or exceeds the threshold voltage is representative of a specific number of pulses received in the electromagnetic signals.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of a coaxial-to-waveguide power combiner/divider. The apparatus includes a single-fin coaxial-to-waveguide power combiner/divider, including a waveguide having one open end, one closed end, and two sides that are broader than two other sides; two fins in a plane within the waveguide, wherein the plane is configured to be parallel to the broader sides of the waveguide; and at least one coaxial input joined to each of the two fins. Signals may be applied to the at least one coaxial input joined to each of the two fins are in phase with each other, and a number of the at least one coaxial input joined to each of the two fins may include one of a same number and a different number.

Abstract: Method and system for directing RF energy from an active retrodirective antenna array including moving elements onto a target includes: receiving a beacon from the target by each element, the scattered beacon including an RF pilot signal imposed thereon, extracting the RF pilot signal from the received scattered optical beacon, dynamically measuring a distance to an area of optical beacon illumination on the target, calculating a phase utilizing the measured distance to the area of the target and a frequency of the extracted RF pilot signal, phase conjugating the RF pilot signal based on the calculated phase, and transmitting the phase conjugated RF signal towards the target; by each element, where the phase conjugated RF signal transmitted by each element add coherently at the area of optical beacon illumination on the target to enhance power density on the target.

Abstract: A radially-fed RF power combiner combines a plurality of input signals to generate a single fundamental-mode transverse electromagnetic (TEM) output. The combiner comprises a vacuum coaxial transmission line having a plurality of coaxial vacuum feedthroughs configured to receive the input signals. The feedthroughs are arranged radially around the vacuum coaxial transmission line. The inner conductive surface of the vacuum coaxial transmission line may comprise a cylindrical conductive base and a plurality of radially-aligned conductive ridges azimuthally distributed within a vacuum envelope of the vacuum coaxial transmission line. Each of the conductive ridges may be coupled to a center conductor of a corresponding one of the coaxial vacuum feedthroughs. The conductive ridges may have a taper to provide an increasing gap between the top of the conductive ridges and an outer conductive surface of the vacuum coaxial transmission line.

Abstract: An axially-fed RF power combiner combines a plurality of input signals to generate a single fundamental-mode transverse electromagnetic (TEM) output. The combiner comprises a vacuum coaxial transmission line having a plurality of coaxial vacuum feedthroughs configured to receive the input signals. The feedthroughs are arranged axially around the vacuum coaxial transmission line. An increasing gap is provided between the inner conductive surface and the outer conductive surface of the vacuum coaxial transmission line to gradually transition the input signals from each coaxial vacuum feedthrough to quasi-TEM mode signals within the vacuum envelope of the vacuum coaxial transmission line. In some conductive-ridge embodiments, the inner conductive surface of the vacuum coaxial transmission line may comprise a cylindrical conductive base and a plurality of radially-aligned conductive ridges azimuthally distributed within a vacuum envelope of the vacuum coaxial transmission line.

Abstract: A system includes a containment vessel configured to receive and retain equipment to be decontaminated. The system also includes a solar reflector configured to reflect solar energy towards the containment vessel in order to heat the containment vessel. The system further includes end supports configured to receive and retain the solar reflector and the containment vessel. The system also includes a base having or coupled to multiple side supports, where each side support is configured to contact and support a corresponding one of the end supports. In addition, the system includes one or more semi-transparent solar shades configured to reduce the solar energy reaching the solar reflector and the containment vessel.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an isolation barrier configured to absorb electromagnetic energy. The isolation barrier includes multiple layers stacked on one another. Each of the multiple layers includes at least one dielectric material, at least one thin-film resistive material carried by the at least one dielectric material, and conductive strips in electrical contact with the at least one thin-film resistive material. The isolation barrier also includes vias through the multiple layers. Multiple ones of the vias are positioned along each of the conductive strips, and the vias electrically couple the conductive strips in the multiple layers to one another. The isolation barrier is configured to guide the electromagnetic energy through the multiple layers to enable absorption of the electromagnetic energy by the at least one thin-film resistive material.

Abstract: A planar conductive millimeter-wave lens includes: a planar conductive plate with a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is parallel to the second surface; a plurality of openings from the first surface through the planar conductive plate to the second surface, where an axis of each opening is perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface. A size of each opening is a function of a position of said each opening on the planar conductive plate such that an insertion phase collectively imposed by the openings on an incident wave causes the incident wave to pass through the first surface and the planar conductive plate, exit from the second surface and to focus at a predetermined distance from the second surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of a coaxial-to-waveguide power combiner/divider. The apparatus includes a single-fin coaxial-to-waveguide power combiner/divider, including a waveguide having one open end, one closed end, and two sides that are broader than two other sides; two fins in a plane within the waveguide, wherein the plane is configured to be parallel to the broader sides of the waveguide; and at least one coaxial input joined to each of the two fins. Signals may be applied to the at least one coaxial input joined to each of the two fins are in phase with each other, and a number of the at least one coaxial input joined to each of the two fins may include one of a same number and a different number.

Abstract: A waveguide-to-waveguide power combiner/divider including a waveguide including a first opening at a first end of a first section of the waveguide in a first plane and n openings of n sections at n other ends of the waveguide, wherein n is a positive integer. At least one of the n sections is bent in at least one plane different from the plane of first section, and the first section and n sections each have at least two sides that are broader than at least two other sides; and n?1 walls within waveguide configured to divide a height of first section into n heights. Each of n sections has a height equal to one of the n heights, wherein the n?1 walls are located at a junction of the first section and the n sections and extend toward the first opening of the first section.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an isolation barrier configured to absorb electromagnetic energy. The isolation barrier includes multiple layers stacked on one another. Each of the multiple layers includes at least one dielectric material, at least one thin-film resistive material carried by the at least one dielectric material, and conductive strips in electrical contact with the at least one thin-film resistive material. The isolation barrier also includes vias through the multiple layers. Multiple ones of the vias are positioned along each of the conductive strips, and the vias electrically couple the conductive strips in the multiple layers to one another. The isolation barrier is configured to guide the electromagnetic energy through the multiple layers to enable absorption of the electromagnetic energy by the at least one thin-film resistive material.

Abstract: A dielectric encapsulated metal lens includes a planar conductive plate with a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is parallel to the second surface; a plurality of openings from the first surface through the planar conductive plate to the second surface, wherein a longitudinal axis of each opening is perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface, wherein a size of each opening is a function of a position of said each opening on the planar conductive plate; and a dielectric material encapsulating the planar conductive plate and filing the plurality of openings, where the dielectric material forms a top surface and a bottom surface for the metal lens to reduce reflected energy.

Abstract: A planar conductive millimeter-wave lens includes: a planar conductive plate with a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is parallel to the second surface; a plurality of openings from the first surface through the planar conductive plate to the second surface, where an axis of each opening is perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface. A size of each opening is a function of a position of said each opening on the planar conductive plate such that an insertion phase collectively imposed by the openings on an incident wave causes the incident wave to pass through the first surface and the planar conductive plate, exit from the second surface and to focus at a predetermined distance from the second surface.

Abstract: A system includes a containment vessel configured to receive and hold one or more pieces of personal protection equipment to be heated and decontaminated during a decontamination process. The system also includes a solar collection device configured to heat the containment vessel based on received solar energy. The solar collection device includes a body having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a solar aperture configured to receive the solar energy. The second portion is configured to receive the containment vessel within the body of the solar collection device. The solar collection device also includes louvered slats across the solar aperture. The louvered slats are configured to be rotated in order to control an amount of solar energy passing through the solar aperture into the body of the solar collection device.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a containment vessel having an interior space configured to be sealed. The interior space is configured to receive (i) liquid to be vaporized during a decontamination process and (ii) one or more pieces of personal protection equipment to be heated and decontaminated during the decontamination process. The apparatus also includes one or more flameless heaters configured to generate heat without a flame when activated. The apparatus further includes a thermal pouch configured to enclose the containment vessel and the one or more flameless heaters such that the heat from the one or more flameless heaters heats the containment vessel during the decontamination process.