Abstract: A system for in-situ heating of a subsurface formation for the extraction of hydrocarbons in underground deposits is disclosed. The system is configured to heat the underground deposit of hydrocarbons to facilitate fluid flow and hydrocarbon recovery from the underground deposit. The system has an antenna formed from a coaxial transmission line having an annular space between the transmission line outer conductor and the inner conductor and having one or more periodic aperture arrangements along the axial length of the outer conductor. A method for in-situ heating of a subsurface formation for recovering hydrocarbons contained therein is also disclosed. The method comprises: providing an antenna in the subsurface formation; providing electromagnetic RF power to the antenna for heating at least a portion of the subsurface formation.

Abstract: A system for in-situ heating of a subsurface formation for the extraction of hydrocarbons in underground deposits is disclosed. The system is configured to heat the underground deposit of hydrocarbons to facilitate fluid flow and hydrocarbon recovery from the underground deposit. The system has an antenna formed from a coaxial transmission line having an annular space between the transmission line outer conductor and the inner conductor and having one or more periodic aperture arrangements along the axial length of the outer conductor. A method for in-situ heating of a subsurface formation for recovering hydrocarbons contained therein is also disclosed. The method comprises: providing an antenna in the subsurface formation; providing electromagnetic RF power to the antenna for heating at least a portion of the subsurface formation.

Abstract: Embodiments of endfire aperture-based traveling-wave antennas are described. For example, an embodiment, including a Vivaldi antenna, may have a director incorporated into the aperture region of the antenna to provide enhanced radiation directivity. The director may be a shaped dielectric that interacts with an electromagnetic field to reduce the divergence of the resultant beam as it exits the antenna. Additional dielectric substrate layers may be stacked on both sides of the antenna in order to balance the dielectric loading between the different conductors. The dielectric substrates may also eliminate contact between the antenna metallization and the lossy environment. Certain disclosed Vivaldi antennas may be used in tissue screening applications.

Abstract: Embodiments of endfire aperture-based traveling-wave antennas are described. For example, an embodiment, including a Vivaldi antenna, may have a director incorporated into the aperture region of the antenna to provide enhanced radiation directivity. The director may be a shaped dielectric that interacts with an electromagnetic field to reduce the divergence of the resultant beam as it exits the antenna. Additional dielectric substrate layers may be stacked on both sides of the antenna in order to balance the dielectric loading between the different conductors. The dielectric substrates may also eliminate contact between the antenna metallization and the lossy environment. Certain disclosed Vivaldi antennas may be used in tissue screening applications.

Abstract: A balun, generally including a substrate, a microstrip conductor, and a parallel strip conductor is described, where a characteristic impedance of the balun is substantially constant at each cross-sectional point along a length of the balun. A transverse electromagnetic horn antenna can transmit and receive ultra-wide band pulses, and includes a first metal conductor and a second metal conductor, where a characteristic impedance of the first and second conductor varies over a length of the antenna in a controlled means.

Abstract: A tissue-sensing adaptive radar method of detecting tumours in breast tissue uses microwave backscattering to detect tumours which have different electrical properties than healthy breast tissue. The method includes steps for reducing skin reflections and for constructing a three-dimensional image using synthetic focusing which shows the presence or absence of microwave reflecting tissues.

Abstract: A tissue-sensing adaptive radar method of detecting tumours in breast tissue uses microwave backscattering to detect tumours which have different electrical properties than healthy breast tissue. The method includes steps for reducing skin reflections and for constructing a three-dimensional image using synthetic focusing which shows the presence or absence of microwave reflecting tissues.

Abstract: An electro-optic modulator structure for particular use in narrowband optical subcarrier systems. A traveling wave is established across the active region of the device, instead of a standing wave. This is accomplished through the use of a directional resonator structure that prevents reverse-traveling waves from being established within the resonator. Hence, the electric field is applied to the traveling optical wave in a similar fashion to a traveling-wave modulator, except that the traveling wave has a much greater amplitude due to the build-up of energy inside the resonator. Since the modulator is operated in a traveling-wave fashion, it can be tuned to operate at any frequency using tuning elements, regardless of the length of the active region. Furthermore, the microwave and optical signals can be velocity-matched to mitigate optical transit time effects that are normally associated with a resonant modulator utilizing a standing-wave electrode structure.

Abstract: A finite-difference time domain (FDTD) accelerator includes a hardware circuit such as an FPGA having a plurality of one-dimensional bit-serial FDTD cells, a memory and a memory manager.

Abstract: An electro-optic modulator structure for particular use in narrowband optical subcarrier systems. A traveling wave is established across the active region of the device, instead of a standing wave. This is accomplished through the use of a directional resonator structure that prevents reverse-traveling waves from being established within the resonator. Hence, the electric field is applied to the traveling optical wave in a similar fashion to a traveling-wave modulator, except that the traveling wave has a much greater amplitude due to the build-up of energy inside the resonator. Since the modulator is operated in a traveling-wave fashion, it can be tuned to operate at any frequency using tuning elements, regardless of the length of the active region. Furthermore, the microwave and optical signals can be velocity-matched to mitigate optical transit time effects that are normally associated with a resonant modulator utilizing a standing-wave electrode structure.