Yasuo Kuga - US grants

This Engineering Research Equipment Grant is for the acquisition of two major instruments, an HP8510B vector network analyzer system to be used for microwave and millimeter wave experiments, and a MicroVax 3500 computer system to be used for numerical studies of microwave and millimeter wave scattering. The PIs have been conducting extensive research supported by NSF in three major areas: imaging in random inhomogeneous media; microwave remote-sensing of geophysical media; and subsurface object scattering and detection. All of these areas require studies of the interactions of waves with random or inhomogeneous natural media. Major objectives are the development of basic information on imaging, remote-sensing, and detection in the geophysical media including hydrometeors, fog, hail, turbulent air, vegetation, soil, rock, snow, and ice where multiple scattering and scattering by complex objects are particularly important. The efforts have been directed by extensive theoretical investigations, numerical studies, and controlled experiments including optical and microwave scattering measurements. The proposed microwave and millimeter wave scattering systems should materially advance their ability to conduct the experiments and numerical studies and to develop theoretical models of wave interactions with geophysical media. It will also enhance their current and future research on imaging, remote-sensing, and detection.

Electromagnetic wave scattering by random media is important for many areas including remote sensing and target identification. Although considerable progress has been reported on the wave propagation and scattering in random media, there are many unanswered problems including the backscattering enhancement effect in the millimeter wave and microwave regions. To understand the interaction of the electromagnetic wave with medium, it is important to have experimental data obtained under controlled environments. We propose to conduct the carefully controlled experiments using random media of known statistical characteristics in the millimeter wave and microwave regions. In the surface scattering study we will construct surfaces of known mean heights and correlation distances and measure both bistatic and backscattering cross-sections. The backscattering enhancement effect by rough surface will be carefully investigated. In the imaging study we will build a special chamber and investigate the reconstructed image quality for different particle characteristics and distributions. The proposed project will enhance our understanding of how the electromagnetic wave is scattered by random media, and will have important practical applications in the microwave, millimeter wave, and sub-millimeter wave remote sensing.

The PI has been conducting extensive research supported by NSF in three major areas: millimeter- wave remote sensing of geophysical media; bistatic scattering from rough surfaces; and modeling of forest canopy at the microwave region. All three areas require studying interaction of waves with random or inhomogeneous natural media. Major objectives are the development of basic information on microwave and millimeter-wave remote sensing. Thus far efforts have been directed to extensive experimental and theoretical investigations. Over the past 10 years, the PI has developed a mobile truck mounted radars at L, C, X, and millimeter-wave frequency bands. Experimental studies, however, have been limited by the speed and reliability of the data acquisition system and controllers. The fast data acquisition system and computers provided in this NSF Engineering Research Equipment Grant should advance the ability to conduct experiments in situ and to develop theoretical models of wave interactions with geophysical media.

9311274 Kuga The Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Washington will purchase millimeter wave (MMW) equipment which will be dedicated to support interdisciplinary research in engineering. The equipment will be used for several projects, including (i) bistatic scattering from rough surfaces, (ii) localization of MMW in disordered media, (iii) coherent reflectivity of densely distributed particles, and (iv) characterization of composite materials and photon gap materials. Under NSF sponsorship, we have been conducting extensive experimental, numerical and theoretical studies on wave propagation and scattering in disordered media. These studies have potential applications in many engineering problems including localization of waves, photon gap materials, remote sensing and monitoring of environments, communications, imaging of biological media, and characterization of composite materials. Our main objective is to understand the interactions of waves with random or inhomogeneous media with the aim of applying the results to various engineering problems. We have emphasized the importance of combining analytical studies, controlled experiments, and numerical simulations. However, our MMW experiments are inadequate for our present and future studies because of the limited bandwidth available. The proposed wide band MMW will significantly expand the scope of our research to include short pulses in disordered media and material characterizations. ***

Basic research activities are proposed to develop analytical combined with numerical and experimental approaches to the study of wave propagation through random media. Optical, acoustical, and micro- waves propagating through random media experience random fluctuations and these interactions between the waves and the scattering media affect a broad range of sensing problems. Random media are common to many materials systems: snow, fog, atmospheric turbulence, vegetation, and biological systems. The proposed research is fundamental in nature and general in applicability. The proposed research focuses on development of multiple scattering theories as applied to generalized space-time interferometry and imaging in random media. Four topic areas are proposed for investigation: (1) Ultra-wideband scattering by random media (2) Angular memory signature and generalized polarization signature (3) Enhanced backscattering with emphasis on clarifying the relationship between volume and surface scattering especially when particle sizes are in the resonant region. and (4) Imaging of objec ts in random media. Possible synergism exists within the above topic areas.

Proposal Number: ECS-9622471 Principal Investigator: Yasuo Kuga/University of Washington Title: Research Equipment Grant: Instrumentation for Space-time Interferometry and Imaging in Composite Materials and Random Media Abstract This is a Research Equipment Grant for purchase of optical and microwave equipment which will be used for development of experimental techniques and systems for generalized space-time interferometry. This includes the time-frequency correlation for pulse, spatial interference for angular and polarization correlations, and coherent interference for backscattering. The PI's present systems are inadequate for present and future needs because of limited signal to noise ratio, unavailability of key components, and lack of modulation capability in the optical systems. The requested equipment, a general purpose wideband microwave amplifier, microwave components and an optical EO amplitude modulator, will remove these restraints and will great enhance the PI's NSF sponsored research effort in remote sensing. Especially the optical EO modulator is essential for converting the present system for space-time interferometry. Several projects will utilize the enhanced experimental capability: (i) ultrawideband scattering by random media (ii) angular polarization correlations and imaging of objects in random media (iii) enhanced backscattering and resonant location and (iv) characterization of composite materials. The equipment will also be used by several multidisciplinary research groups in collaboration with the Electromagnetic and Remote Sensing Laboratory, which has 6 faculty members and more than 20 graduate students.

EEC-9700705 ABSTRACT This award provides funding to the University of Washington, under the direction of Dr. Minoru Taya, for the support of a Combined Research-Curriculum Development project entitled, "Electronic Packaging and Materials." This project's goals are to establish an interdisciplinary research-curriculum on electronic packaging and materials (EPM) at the University of Washington. A curriculum of four courses with materials supplemented by new research results will be designed for teaching advanced undergraduate and first-year graduate students as well as engineers from local and regional industries as a part of the existing Televised Instruction in Engineering (TIE) system.

During the past 5 years, a tremendous growth of the wireless communications technology has been fueled by a widespread use of cellular phone and GPS (global positioning system). Wireless communications is a highly interdisciplinary area that requires a coverage of subjects from communications, electromagnetics, and digital and analog electronics. It has become apparent that the traditional electromagnetics and communication courses are not adequate to teach the wireless technology within one-quarter period, and a new course has been developed. The purpose of the proposed Wireless Lab is to introduce measurement techniques, simulations, and hardware design in the new wireless communications course. This is implemented by creating new laboratory projects and improving those offered in the experimental course EE400. In the new wireless communications course, a teaching method is employed that emphasizes the combination of theory, simulations, and hands-on experiments. *

9908849
Ishimaru

Many natural and man-made media vary randomly in space and time and are
called "random media." Examples are atmospheric turbulence, ocean waves,
rain, fog, snow, vegetation, terrain, biological media, and disordered
media. Optical and acoustical waves and microwaves propagating through
these media experience random fluctuations, and these interactions between
the waves and the random media affect a broad range of practical problems
such as detection, identification and imaging of objects, remote sensing of
media, and communications through such media. In this project, The PI's
emphasize the development of theories to deal with realistic problems which
involve both deterministic objects and random media, rather than ideal
homogeneous random media. Practical applications include imaging in
clutter environment, medical imaging, and sensing of buried objects. The PI's
stress the development of generalized space-time correlation techniques,
polarization correlations, and stochastic Green's functions for the purpose
of detection and imaging of objects in random media. Specific topics to be
investigated include (1) Generalized space-time correlation techniques for
imaging in random media, (2) Ultra-wideband vector radiative transfer, (3)
Sources and objects near rough surfaces and object-medium interactions and
(4) Applications to development of materials and techniques. They plan to
continue to emphasize human resource development and training of graduate
and undergraduate students in all three areas: analytical, numerical and
experimental. This work is directed to the basic research on the
development of theories of imaging and remote sensing of objects in
geophysical and biological media and applications to medical optics,
ultrasound imaging, radars and lidars, remote sensing, and inverse
scattering theories.
***

0218805
Kuga

Despite the economical and technical problems with the current Iridium and GlobalStar and proposed Teledesic satellite systems, it is expected that a high-speed satellite-based internet will become practical in the near future. Iridium and GlobalStar do not have sufficient bandwidth to accommodate high-speed transmission of data. It is undeniable that the future anywhere-anytime high-speed internet access requires low-earth-orbit K or Ka-band satellite systems similar to the one proposed by Teledesic.

One of the major problems with the proposed Teledesic system is the cost of the ground station antenna and control system. Unlike a geo-synchronous satellite, the low-orbit satellites move from horizon to horizon in 10 to 20 minutes. The antenna must be able to keep track of one or more satellite locations in order to obtain an uninterrupted connection. This is usually performed using phased array or mechanically steerable antennas. Unfortunately, the mechanically steerable antennas which use electro-mechanical actuators are usually bulky and prone to mechanical failures. The electronic phased array antennas are fast and no moving parts are involved, but they are very expensive.

Their objective is to develop a low-cost steerable antenna using a novel phase shifter and electro-active polymer (EAP) actuators. In order to achieve this objective, the PIs propose the following four tasks.
Task 1: Develop a low-cost phase shifter for a phased-array antenna using EAP.
Task 2: Design a practical, low-cost phased-array antenna.
Task 3: Develop a variable reflector surface antenna with EAP actuators.
Task 4: Develop reliable and practical EAP materials and actuators.

The phase shifter consists of a tiny mechanically movable dielectric element on
transmission lines. To move the dielectric block, they will use a newly developed EAP actuator which requires only 1-2V. An EAP actuator can also be used as a microwave switch to create a controllable delay line. The whole unit can be integrated with the patch antennas on a multi-layer PCB. The proposed antenna does not contain any solid state microwave switches or electromechanical devices. It can be fabricated inexpensively. They have already conducted the numerical simulations and results were obtained for several TL configurations. Another application of the EAP actuator is for a mechanically steerable antenna. A profile of a flexible membrane or plates can be controlled accurately with an array of EAP actuators. A desired radiation pattern can be quickly created by adjusting the surface profile. There are many technical challenges to realize the EAP-based antenna. To achieve their objective, they must develop reliable EAP materials and actuators.

The PIs believe that the proposed low-cost antenna will be one of the key components to realize the "Internet-in-the-Sky". Although many aspects of this antenna have been tested and verified, they still need to work on several details. An EAP actuator is still in an infant state. To design the proposed antenna, they need a close collaboration between a material scientist who can design the EAP actuator and electrical engineers who can utilize the EAP actuator for the antenna applications.

This award provides funding for a three-year Combined Research-Curriculum Development (CRCD) program, entitled, "A Research-Based Electromagnetics-Circuits Curriculum for Giga-Scale Microelectronics," at the University of Washington, under the direction of Dr. Vikram Jandhyala. The overall objective of this project, which aims at a dramatic paradigm shift, is to combined electromagnetic (EM) and circuits principles in a unified, hierarchical manner in order to target high-technology areas.

0424414
Kuga


The objective of this research is to develop practical microwave devices based on EAP actuators. The PIs have conducted preliminary experiments using Flemion and the results are very encouraging. To achieve their objective, they propose the following four tasks. Task 1: Complete the self-assembly process to create gold electrodes on Flemion and fabricate a practical actuator. Task 2: Develop a Flemion micro-actuator for microwave devices and MEMS. Task 3: Complete the development of a low-cost phase shifter for steerable antennas. Task 4: Design a practical, low-cost phased-array antenna for satellite communications.

The proposed activity is centered on new material development and device fabrications. Because the actuator performance depends on the interface between membrane and electrodes, the nanotechnology and self-assemble will be an essential part of their project. In addition, the small low-power microwave devices have tremendous applications for wireless communications. Polymer-based microwave and optical devices are mentioned as one of the most important technologies in the future. Although they are focusing on the microwave applications of EAP actuators in this proposal, these actuators can be applied for many different applications. Education and training of students are always their primary goals.

Abstract
ECS-0601394
Y. Kuga, University of Washington


This proposal is directed to the development of new technologies making use of our recent study of time-reversal techniques, correlation imaging techniques, and array coherence tomographic imaging. We propose to develop an array network system of multiple sensors which transmit spatially and temporally modulated signals. The received signals are correlated and adapted in space and time in order to obtain high-resolution images. Signals are distorted due to the intervening medium, but we make use of our recent studies on correlation imaging through multiple scattering random media and array tomographic imaging technique to obtain improved image resolution, together with our recent studies on time-reversal, imaging, communication, and super-resolution in random media. This study is aimed at the development of generalized theories of space-time-polarization wave interactions with complex media, both deterministic and stochastic.

Intellectual Merit
Intellectual Merit of the Proposed Activity: This proposal addresses the development of theories of the interaction of waves with a complex environment, the use of distributed sensors, and the unified treatment of all information including space, time, frequency, and adaptive systems. This unified approach has not been fully explored in the past and is expected to lead to important advances in imaging and communication technologies. The goals of this study will be the development of a new discipline encompassing electromagnetic wave propagation, communication, detection, and signal processing.

Broader Impacts
Broader Impacts Resulting From the Proposed Activity: The training and education of students is one of our priorities. We have an undergraduate microwave laboratory, and we employ undergraduate and graduate students for conducting experiments in microwave measurements and verification of our proposed studies. This will help students appreciate the importance of integrating experiment, theory, statistical considerations, sensors, and signal processing. Collaboration with other researchers in academia and industry is also important and it will be pursued.

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).

The objective of this research is the development of new generalized integrated imaging and communication technologies making use of recent studies on several techniques such as time-reversal imaging, correlation imaging, and array coherence tomographic imaging. These integrated techniques offer new areas of research with a potential for practical applications. The approach is the combined use of analytical, numerical and experimental studies for the specific topics of: (i) information fusion of multiple imaging sensors; (ii) coherent passive radars making use of angle-of-arrival estimation and ambiguity function; and (iii) research on communications through complex environments unifying propagation research and signal processing. Theories and computations are often based on assumptions and approximations and it is important to verify the results by experiments. This research includes experiments using the proposed methods to verify the theories and to point to new improvement of theories.

The intellectual merit of this research is new theoretical foundations which unify propagation and scattering theories and signal processing research. These two areas are largely separately developed. This research, therefore, intends to focus on the unified treatment of space-time wave propagation and scattering, multiple imaging sensors, and signal processing.

The broader impacts are the creation of new technologies which should help expand wireless communication and imaging in complex environments. The training and education of students is a priority. The dissemination of the results through classes helps students to understand new areas of integrated theories and measurement, statistical considerations, fusion of multiple imaging sensors, and signal processing.

The objective of this EFRI-SEED project is to develop a set of new switchable dyes and polymers as the basis for electrochromic windows (ECWs) and energy-harvesting (EH) ECWs which substantially reduce cooling/heating loads and increase human comfort. An secondary objective is to develop a partner methodology for moving towards the design of zero-energy buildings that transfers this new technology into educational programs for both the academic and building design communities. The project will develop EH-ECW technology by combining the merits of electrochromic window and dye-sensitized solar cell technologies for dimming control and to generate power to operate not only the ECWs but also other electrical systems. The researchers will study the fundamentals of sensor/controller systems for optimal use of the EH-ECWs in a given room, and the consideration of environmental life cycle impact into EH-ECW technology development and dissemination. The integration of EH-ECW systems into an autonomous building system is the basis for a new concept called "locally harvesting and locally used." The material systems studied promise substantial improvements over existing systems and will parallel component development with the use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The LCA will form an overall framework to bring together the research and expertise of an interdisciplinary team including technology development and educational integration. The researchers will develop models to forecast environmental impacts for scaled fabrication sequences, performance for a variety of building types with the proposed ECW/EH-ECW systems and locations, and demolition systems.

The research will investigate the use of EH-ECWs to generate a substantial portion of the energy used by buildings, thus reducing the impacts of central energy generation, and to increase visual comfort and building envelope performance resulting in healthier, more productive indoor environments, as well as to smooth the transfer of the above integrated technology to residential and commercial building design and the construction industry, targeting the $20B window market. This team plans to interact with the existing NSF centers, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, UW laboratories, a local architectural group and window company, the Seattle Science Center, and the University of Ulster (UU) as a foreign collaborator.

The FY 2010 EFRI-SEED Topic that supports this project was sponsored by the US National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorates for Engineering (ENG), Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) and Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE), and Computer & Information Science and Engineering in collaboration with the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Nanohelix is considered a new and attractive building block element for designing a set of new synthetic nano-actuators and -sensors and combination of them, namely nanorobotics which has broader applications; biomedicine, nanomedicine, key catalyst for synthesis of pharmaceutical medicine, key electrodes for energy devices (battery, solar cells, etc), and proximity tactile sensor of soft-matter robotic hands. If the nanohelix is mechanically flexible and made of magnetically active material, which is controlled under applied magnetic field, such magnetically active nanohelix can be designed into a new robotics system for diagnosis and treatment of difficult-to-treat cancers. The proposed nanorobotics can have multi-functions; (i) swimming under magnetic guidance, thanks to the shape of "helical spring", (ii) mechanical vibrations of the nanorobotics with flexible nanohelix under applied magnetic field and gradient, thus, killing cancer cells due to mechanical stress loading, and (iii) magnetically active material for nanorobotics plays also as a magnetic resonance imaging enhancer, thus, accurate locations of the nanorobots if they are attached to cancer cell sites, can be identified by the magnetic resonance imaging.

We recently synthesized iron-palladium alloy nanohelices by using chemistry processing route; alumina-silica template and electroplating to make solid-state iron-palladium alloy nanohelices. This iron-palladium alloy nanohelix is down-sizing from our previous design of macro-iron-palladium alloy spring which exhibited the fast vibrations under applied magnetic gradient. The key scientific mechanism associated with the macro-iron-palladium alloy spring, which we discovered is a new actuation mechanism (hybrid mechanism), a set of chain-reactions; applied magnetic gradient, magnetic force, stress induced martensite phase from austensite phase, resulting in fast-actuation within a very short time. We recently made molecular dynamics modelling to simulate another actuator mechanism of iron-palladium alloy nanohelices under applied "constant" magnetic field. We also synthesized another nanorobot which is composed of iron-palladium alloy cylindrical head (head) and nanohelix where we can replace the iron-palladium alloy head by an iron head, thus, the nanorobot based on the combination of iron head and iron-palladium alloy helix may serve more effective nanorobot concept.
The goals of the proposed NSF project are multi-fold: (1) to prove the hypothesis driven mechanical stress-induced apoptosis of cancer cells by using the nanorobots under magnetic field, (2) to establish the optimum navigation control of the magnetic nanorobots and (3) to demonstrate the effectiveness of the nanorobots for cancer diagnosis and treatment using in vitro experiment. To achieve the above goals, we propose the following five tasks over a three-year period:

Task-A: High-yield processing of magnetic nanohelices and their nanorobots (Taya)
Task-B: Characterization of the nanostructure and properties of iron-palladium alloy nanohelices (Taya)
Task-C: Modeling work (Kuga/Taya)
Task-D: Production of nanorobots containing solution for apoptosis study (Takao/Taya)
Task-E: In vitro experiment for magnetic nanorobots under applied magnetic field/gradient (Lee/Kuga)

The broader impact of this proposal is that the proposed nanorobots based on magnetic nanohelices, leading to opening up new applications discussed above. We plan to incorporate the results into education,i.e., into the existing graduate course on active and sensing materials and their integrated systems and educational summer program at University of Washington.
The intellectual significances of this NSF project are: (i) to establish high-yield processing route for key building block element of nanorobots, i.e. iron-palladium nanohelices, and combined magnetic head and iron-palladium alloy nanohelix , (ii) to study if the hybrid mechanism of actuation in magnetic nanohelix is realized, (iii) to construct a cohesive model for an accurate control of nanorobots navigation, (iv) to test the hypothesis of mechanical stress loading-induced cell death and (v) to design Helmholtz coil system tailored for accurate navigation of nanorobots.