A Study of Microfluidic Reconfiguration Mechanisms Enabled by Functionalized Dispersions of Colloidal Material for Radio Frequency Applications

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dc.contributorHuff, Gregory H.
dc.creatorGoldberger, Sean A.
dc.date.accessioned2010-07-15T00:12:34Z
dc.date.accessioned2010-07-23T21:44:00Z
dc.date.accessioned2017-04-07T19:57:08Z
dc.date.available2010-07-15T00:12:34Z
dc.date.available2010-07-23T21:44:00Z
dc.date.available2017-04-07T19:57:08Z
dc.date.created2009-05
dc.date.issued2010-07-14
dc.description.abstractCommunication and reconnaissance systems are requiring increasing flexibility concerning functionality and efficiency for multiband and broadband frequency applications. Circuit-based reconfiguration mechanisms continue to promote radio frequency (RF) application flexibility; however, increasing limitations have resulted in hindering performance. Therefore, the implementation of a "wireless" reconfiguration mechanism provides the required agility and amicability for microwave circuits and antennas without local overhead. The wireless reconfiguration mechanism in this thesis integrates dynamic, fluidic-based material systems to achieve electromagnetic agility and reduce the need for "wired" reconfiguration technologies. The dynamic material system component has become known as electromagnetically functionalized colloidal dispersions (EFCDs). In a microfluidic reconfiguration system, they provide electromagnetic agility by altering the colloidal volume fraction of EFCDs - their name highlights the special considerations we give to material systems in applied electromagnetics towards lowering loss and reducing system complexity. Utilizing EFCDs at the RF device-level produced the first circuit-type integration of this reconfiguration system; this is identified as the coaxial stub microfluidic impedance transformer (COSMIX). The COSMIX is a small hollowed segment of transmission line with results showing a full reactive loop (capacitive to inductive tuning) around the Smith chart over a 1.2 GHz bandwidth. A second microfluidic application demonstrates a novel antenna reconfiguration mechanism for a 3 GHz microstrip patch antenna. Results showed a 300 MHz downward frequency shift by dielectric colloidal dispersions. Magnetic material produced a 40 MHz frequency shift. The final application demonstrates the dynamically altering microfluidic system for a 3 GHz 1x2 array of linearly polarized microstrip patch antennas. The parallel microfluidic capillaries were imbedded in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Both E- and H-plane designs showed a 250 MHz frequency shift by dielectric colloidal dispersions. Results showed a strong correlation between decreasing electrical length of the elements and an increase of the volume fraction, causing frequency to decrease and mutual coupling to increase. Measured, modeled, and analytical results for impedance, voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR), and radiation behavior (where applicable) are provided.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/ETD-TAMU-2009-05-535
dc.language.isoeng
dc.subjectArray
dc.subjectBarium Strontium Titanate
dc.subjectCoax
dc.subjectColloidal
dc.subjectDispersion
dc.subjectEFCDs
dc.subjectFrequency Reconfiguration
dc.subjectImpedance Transformer
dc.subjectMagnetodielectric
dc.subjectMicrofluidic
dc.subjectMicrostrip Patch Antenna
dc.subjectNon-aqueous
dc.subjectPDMS
dc.subjectPerturbation
dc.subjectReconfigurable
dc.subjectReconfigurable Antenna
dc.subjectReconfiguration Mechanism
dc.subjectRF
dc.subjectRadio Frequency
dc.subjectStrontium Hexaferrite
dc.subjectStub
dc.subjectSurfactant
dc.subjectTransmission Line
dc.subjectVascular
dc.titleA Study of Microfluidic Reconfiguration Mechanisms Enabled by Functionalized Dispersions of Colloidal Material for Radio Frequency Applications
dc.typeBook
dc.typeThesis

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