Advanced MST Automated Electromagnetic Field Probe for Anechoic Chamber Testing

This exploratory development program is devoted to the development of an automated electromagnetic field probe to measure the electromagnetic fields in an anechoic chamber. The approach is based on the use of SATIMO's innovative rapid electromagnetic field measurement technique that scans large test areas or volumes in a few seconds or minutes, compared to the hours of measurement time required for conventional mechanical scanning. This novel technique is referred to as the Advanced Modulated Scattering Technique (A-MST), and employs arrays of modulated scattering elements to provide electromagnetic field measurements at Nyquist sampling rates. The richly sampled measured field data allows accurate processing by advanced imaging codes such as SATIMO's Augmented Diffraction Tomography (ADT) algorithm or the MUSIC algorithm to determine the relative strengths and locations of chamber reflections. The customized A-MST Automated Electromagnetic Field utilizes a linear array fo dual-polarized modulated scattering probes to provide the requisite Nyquist-samples measurements of the scattered microwave fields at sampling rates of 2,000 to 20,000 points per second. Module simulations and proof of principle measurements will be performed 1) to demonstrate the basic operating principles of the A-MST Automated Electromagnetic Field Probe and the ADT and MUSIC imaging codes and 2) to determine critical design parameters and expected performance envelopes for the Phase II prototype system. One of SATIMO's existing A-MST electromagnetic field probles will be used to conduct the anechoic chamber reflection measurements.