The ElectroScience Laboratory

The ElectroScience LaboratoryRichard W. Ridgway, Ph.D.

ESL Director

June 2019

2ELECTROSCIENCE LABORATORY

The ElectroScience Laboratory

The ElectroScience Laboratory (ESL) is one of the nation’s premier electromagnetics centers of excellence solving some of the most daunting problems.


• Global Warming is Changing our Environment• ESL uses Microwave Radiometers to measure ice temperatures in Greenland and Antarctica

• Information from our Weather Satellites is Corrupted by Radio Frequency Emissions• ESL launched a CubeSat to study methods for removing RFI from radiometry data.

• NASA Would like to Monitor Ocean Surface Winds During Hurricanes• ESL is supporting the development and data processing of Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite Systems (CYGNSS)

that measures the bistatic scatterometry of GPS signals.

• Antennas Limit the Frequency Response of Systems• At ESL, we believe antennas can be an enabler• ESL is developing broad-band, highly-efficient antennas that enable performance that could not be considered

previously.• ESL is developing small, flexible, optimized antennas for all types of applications.

• Global Positioning Systems are Fragile • ESL is working to improve the susceptibility of navigation systems to interference and severe multipath through signal

processing, adaptive antennas and leveraging signals of opportunity.

Understanding the Problem


• The Wireless Spectrum is Crowded • ESL is developing reconfigurable antennas and RF integrated circuits that operate in the millimeter-wave spectrum for 5G

and wireless data transport applications.• ESL is developing the materials, components and measurements at THz frequencies • ESL is developing passive radar systems that use signals of opportunity.

• Laser-based Imaging Systems Are Challenged by Fog and Rain• ESL is working on millimeter-wave antennas and radar to provide high-resolution imaging under all environmental

conditions.

• The “Internet-of-Things” is Dependent on Batteries• ESL is developing energy harvesting and wireless power transport techniques to eliminate batteries in IoT devices and

systems.

• Components Costs Limit Photonics to High-End Applications (i.e. Telecommunications)• ESL is working to provide highly integrated photonic components to lower costs for communications, biomedical and signal

processing applications



• Autonomous Vehicles Have No Standards• As experts in radar cross section analysis and measurements, ESL is working to provide standards for rating

autonomous systems.

• Amazon (and others) Will Soon Deliver Packages by Drone• ESL is working with ODOT and FAA to develop passive radar systems that can track the location of the drones using

signals of opportunity.

• Radars for Autonomous Vehicles Must Anticipate Change• ESL is developing cognitive radars that adjust the pulse width and repetition rate to optimize the operation at various

velocities and distances.

• Integrated Circuits Produced Overseas Can Be Vulnerable to Exploit• ESL is playing a leading role in building “Trust” and Assurance in microelectronics.

• Phase Noise on Voltage Controlled Oscillators (VCOs) Limits the Resolution of mmWave Radars • ESL is developing mmWave VCOs (f = 30 GHz) in mixed-signal ASICs with exceptionally low phase noise (-100

dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset)



• Electromagnetics• Computational Electromagnetics• Antennas and Propagation• Biological Electromagnetics

• Mixed-Signal and Assured Microelectronics• Microelectronics Trust and Assurance• Fast A/Ds and D/As• Mixed-signal Application Specific Integrated

Circuits (ASICs)

• Remote Sensing and Spectroscopy• Microwave Radiometry• GNSS Reflectrometry• Oceans and Physical Oceanography• mmWave and IR Spectroscopy

Core Competencies of ESL• Radar Systems

• Passive Radar• Cognitive Radar• Antennas and Propagation

• Navigation Systems and Signal Processing• GNNS/GPS• Adaptive Antennas• Interference Suppression• Encryption

• mmWaves, THz and Photonics• Integrated Photonics• THz Generation and Imaging• MEMS and Microfabricated Components• Microwave-Photonic Components and Systems


• Faculty: 15• Research-Track Faculty: 6• Research Scientists: 5• Senior Research Associates: 2• Research Associates: 3• Research Assistants: 1• Post Docs: 3• Visiting Scholars: 2• Graduate Students: 86

• US Citizens: 41 (47%)• Undergraduate Students: 9

ESL - By the Numbers

Facilities 60,000 sq ft. research facility

Faculty, Researchers and Students

15 Faculty (9 Tenure-Track Faculty, 6 Research Faculty)11 Researchers (5 Research Scientists)3 Post Docs2 Visiting Scholars86 Graduate Students9 Undergraduate Students52% of our students are US Citizens

Research Productivity $10 million annual research expenditures137 research publications per year

Employment Metrics for Recent ESL Graduates

78% employed by Industry or Government Labs22% employed by AcademiaTop Industry Employers: Apple, Intel, ANSYSTop Government Labs Employers: Sandia, AFRL, NASA JPL


ESL Facilities

Hyperspectral Engine Lab for Integrated Optical Systems (HELIOS)

Anechoic Chamber

Mixed-Signal Microelectronics Laboratory

Radar Systems Laboratory


ElectromagneticsESL Principal Investigators:• Prof. Jin-Fa Lee• Prof. Chi-Chih Chen• Prof. Fernando Teixeira• Prof. Robert Burkholder• Prof. Rob Lee• Prof. Asimina Kiouti• Dr. Teh-Hong LeeCurrent Research Includes:• Radiation from antennas on platforms • Wideband frequency selective radomes• Inverse methods for imaging through walls,

under ground, and inside pipeline• Electronically-scanned arrays

Computational Electromagnetics On-chip antenna array

Since its inception in 1942, ESL has been focused on electromagnetics, including antenna design, radar-cross-section control and computational fundamentals.

Ultra-wideband arrayTextile antenna


THz and mmWave Sensing, Spectrometry and Imaging

ESL Principal Investigators:• Prof. Niru Nahar• Prof. Kubilay Sertel• Prof. Fernando Teixeira• Prof. Nima Ghalichechian• Dr. Chris Ball

Current Research Includes:• Component Characterization • THz Imaging• Compressive Imaging• Biomedical Imaging• Non-contact Probing of Components• Spectroscopy at mmWave and THz• mmWave Antennas and Arrays

The Hyperspectral Engine Lab for Integrated Optical Systems (HELIOS) Laboratory is focused on exploring the uncharted THz spectrum.


Remote SensingESL Principal Investigators:• Dr. Chris Ball• Prof. Robert Burkholder• Prof. Joel Johnson• Dr. Andrew O’Brien• Prof. Fernando Teixeira• Prof. Caglar Yardim

Current Research Includes:• Microwave Radiometry• GNSS Reflectometry (CYGNSS)• Snow and Ice Thickness in Greenland• Ice Temperatures in Antarctica• Soil moisture and Vegetation Sensing from Space

RF and microwave remote sensing uses active and passive RF and microwave systems to observe the ocean, atmosphere, terrain and other environments.


NASA-Funded CYGNSS - GPS Reflectometry

• CYGNSS – Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System• CYGNSS is primarily used to monitor ocean winds during hurricanes

• Low-cost satellite constellation. Eight small (<5 foot) satellites launched for total cost $150M. Launched in December 2016.

• Monitors the L1 frequency of up to four (4) of the seven (7) to eleven (11) visible GPS satellites. (4 receivers/satellite x 8 satellites = 32 measurements per)

• CYGNSS is on a 90 minute orbit (12 hour orbit for GPS)

• Operates at L-Band (1.575 GHz) which is propagates through clouds, rain and foliage.• Monitors direct path and specular reflected signal• Specular reflection occurs when the water is smooth to less than 5

cm.• Normal operation does not use phase information.• Under special conditions, phase information can be made available

and coherent measurements between the direct and reflected signals can be made.

ESL uses GPS as a signal of opportunity to monitor inland water bodies by receiving the specular reflection of the GPS signal. When coherent detection is used, rivers as small at 5 m can be identified.

Bistatic radar image of the Amazon River Basin using GPS-Reflectometry


Radar SystemsESL Principal Investigators:• Prof. Graeme Smith• Prof. Joel Johnson• Dr. Chris Neese

Key areas of focus:1. Cognitive Radar Systems

• Perception-action, memory, attention, intelligence and knowledge can be exploited.

• Bio-inspired cognitive approaches

2. Passive Radar Systems• Precisely locating a target using signals-of-opportunity

as transmit signals.

ESL develops bio-inspired cognitive concepts to reduce the processing burden without compromising range and resolution.


Passive Radar Systems

ESL is using passive radar to form ISAR images of airplanes landing at John Glenn Airport.

ISAR: Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar


Global Navigation Satellite SystemsESL Principal Investigators:• Prof. Inder “Jiti” Gupta• Dr. Andrew O’Brien

Current research includes:• Software defined GNSS receiver• Interference suppression,• Multipath characterization and mitigation• Platform induced effects• Electronic support with GNSS antennas

ESL’s GNSS efforts focus on precise navigation in electromagnetically-challenged environments.


Mixed Signal and Assured Microelectronics

ESL Principal Investigators:• Prof. Waleed Khalil• Dr. Shane Smith• Dr. Eslam Yahya

Current research includes:• Direct Digital-to-RF circuits• High-resolution GHz DACs and ADCs• High-performance Mixed-Signal ASICs• High-efficiency Transmitters (GaN,CMOS)• Low Phase Noise VCOs• Architectures and Sensors for Ultra-Wideband

Receivers• Trusted electronics

Circuit Lab for Advanced Signals and Systems (CLASS) forms the intersection of RF systems and digital signal processing to construct frequency agile systems.


Mixed Signal and Assured Microelectronics

Current research includes:• Direct Digital-to-RF circuits• High-resolution GHz DACs and ADCs• High-performance Mixed-Signal ASICs• High-efficiency Transmitters (GaN, CMOS, SiGe, SOI)• Low Phase Noise VCOs• Architectures and Sensors for Ultra-Wideband

Receivers• Hardware Security and Trusted microelectronics

ESL is building mixed-signal application specific integrated circuits (ASIC) with a focus on phase noise, trust, dynamic range, frequency response and sampling rates

Dual channel 12-bit 2.8 GS/s ADC

Rate converter IC


Integrated PhotonicsESL Principal Investigators• Prof. Ron Reano• Prof. Niru Nahar• Prof. Fernando Teixeira• Prof. Kubilay Sertel

Current research includes:• Silicon photonic modulators and devices• Lithium niobate modulators and devices• Applications include sensors, communications

and signal processing• RF Photonics

Integrated photonics involves the convergence of microfabrication techniques with optical waveguide confinement and control.


Radio Frequency MeasurementsESL Principal Investigators• Prof. Chih-Chi Chen• Prof. Inder “Jiti” Gupta• Dr. Teh-Hong Lee

Current Research Includes:• Antenna measurements from 200 MHz to

110 GHz.• Radar Cross Section measurements from

500 MHz to 110 GHz• Compact Range Design and Development

ESL has the largest academic anechoic chamber capable of measuring scattering and radiation characteristics for objects as large as 8 feet and as small as a pin.


Radio Frequency MicrosystemsESL Principal Investigators• Prof. Nima Ghalichechian

Current Research Includes:• Phase change materials• High-Q paraffin-based variable

capacitor.• 3D Printed mmWave antennas and

systems• Ultra-wide-band antennas

Radio frequency microsystems is found at the intersection of microfabrication and electromagnetics.

Reconfigurable mmW Antennas

3D-printed Scanning Arrays

3D-printed mmW Lens60 GHz 4-bit phase shifter

Ultra-wideband Antennas

Heater

SiO2 membrane

Substrate

14.4 mm

3.6 mm1 mm

-40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40

Theta (degrees)

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

Rea

lized

Gai

n (d

B)

12 GHz13 GHz15 GHz18 GHz

mmW Suspended Arrays


Medical Sensing and ImagingESL Principal Investigators• Prof. Asimina Kiourti• Prof. Niru K. Nahar• Prof. Kubilay Sertel• Prof. Fernando TeixeiraCurrent Research Includes:• Embedded wireless sensors for

monitoring epilepsy, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer and brain injuries.

• THz imaging for Alzheimer and cancer detection

• Bayesian Inverse Scattering at microwave frequencies

ESL is working with the OSU Medical School on methods for sensing and imaging cancer, epilepsy, brain injuries as well as Parkinson's and Alzheimer disease.

Breast cancer detection using Bayesian Inversion at 1 to 7.5 GHz


Consortiums at ESL

Electromagnetics (EM) and radio frequencies (RF) circuits and systems are the backbone of all modern communication, radar, telemetry, remote

sensing and navigation systems. The faculty and researchers at the Ohio State ElectroScience Laboratory share their expertise with the US-based EM/RF industry through the Consortium on Electromagnetics and

Radio Frequencies (CERF).

One of the main goals of ESL CERF is to support industry professionals at the leading edge of their fields and to provide them with access to

world-class research and potential workforce talent in EM and RF areas.

Under this consortium, member companies have access to state-of-the-art facilities, faculty and student researchers as well as specialty training courses that are tailored to member needs. Annual technical meetings are held to further cultivate research relationships and share the latest

research findings with ESL CERF members.

• Members:• Raytheon• Northrop Grumman• Lockheed Martin• BAE Systems• MIT Lincoln Labs• Bridgestone America• ARA/Berrie Hill

• Funded Projects• Short Courses – August 7-9, 2019• Annual Meeting and Affiliates Dinner

August 6, 2019• Newsletters

Consortium on Electromagnetics and Radio Frequencies (CERF)

To learn more, visit: electroscience.osu.edu/CERF


1. Low Loss Optical Waveguides in Ferroelectric Thin Films, R. Reano2. Bio-Matched Antennas, A. Kiourti3. Photonics-Based Interference Mitigation for Passive Radar, C. Neese and G. Smith4. Sensor to Detect Hand on Steering Wheel for Autonomous Vehicles, R. Lee5. Fabrication and Testing of a novel 1256-Element Circularly-Polarized Metal-Only Reflectarry, N.

Ghalichechian6. Phase-change Material Based FarIR Tunable Filter Fabrication and Measurement, N. Nahar7. Fully Conservative EM-PIC Algorithms on Unstructured Grids, F. Teixeira8. New methodologies to identify and remove Radio Frequency interference (RFI): Demonstration with

data from the Soil Moisture Active and Passive (SMAP) mission, A. Bringer

2019 CERF Projects


• Short Courses: August 7th – 9th, 2019

2019 CERF Short Courses

1. Cube Sats: Revolutionizing Access to Space-Based Research, Chris Ball2. Understanding Passive Radar: From Fundamental Theory to Advanced Applications, Graeme Smith3. Millimeter-wave Photonics, Dick Ridgway4. Chip-Scale Nonlinear Integrated Photonics, Ron Reano5. Switching Noise Mitigation in DC-DC Power Converters for RF, Analog, and Mixed-Signal System-on-Chip (SoCs),

Ayman Fayed6. Infrared Detectors: Physics, Technology and Recent Advances, Sanjay Krishna7. Body Area Sensing: from E-Textiles to Wireless Implants, Asimina Kiourti8. Anechoic Chamber Design for Direct Antenna Measurements, Teh-Hong Lee9. Atmospheric Electromagnetic Propagation, Caglar Yardim10.Analog Circuit Primitives, Waleed Khalil11.Adaptive Antennas for GNSS Receivers, Inder “Jiti” Gupta12. Introduction to Hardware Security: Trojans, Counterfeits, and Security in an Interconnected World, Brian Dupaix and

Jamin McCue


Consortiums at ESL

Precise navigation, accurate timekeeping, registration and geospatial technologies have become necessities for modern day warfare, commercial aviation, agriculture, banking, emergency rescue efforts, and more.

The Ohio State University, Ohio University, Air Force Institute of Technology at WPAFB, and Miami University train more students in these and related areas than any other regional group of universities in the U.S., and formed the Consortium of Ohio Universities on Navigation

and Timekeeping (COUNT) to share their expertise for further training of undergraduate and graduate students as well as employees of the US-based navigation industry.

Under the consortium, COUNT members hold annual informational meetings and deliver short courses providing system-level training to navigation professionals; to share their latest research findings, and to offer early industry exposure to graduating students.

Consortium of Ohio Universities on Navigation and Timekeeping (COUNT)

To learn more, visit: electroscience.osu.edu/education-outreach-partnerships/COUNT


• ESL Understands the Foundations of Electromagnetics, and the role of electromagnetics in lithography, antennas, measurements, radar systems, microelectronics, photonics, remote sensing, and global positioning systems.

• ESL Teaches the Next-Generation of electromagnetic, microwave, microelectronic, microfabrication and signal processing engineers.

• ESL’s Mix of Faculty and Researchers isn’t always tied to the academic calendar and can quickly staff up to take on large and diverse projects.

• ESL’s Ability to Handle Export-Controlled Technology allows us to take on sensitive programs that use the latest technology in challenging system developments.

• ESL is Embracing Collaboration between faculty, researchers, across the college and across the country.

ElectroScience Laboratory


ESL 2022

We aspire to be the leader in electromagnetics and its role in antennas, measurements, radar systems, microelectronics, photonics, remote sensing, and global positioning systems.

• Academic Excellence will continue to be our focus• ESL will continue to be PI centric• Increased Collaboration between PIs, ECE, the College, and external organizations• Grow our Consortium on Electromagnetics and Radio Frequencies (CERF)• Leverage our Research Diversity and our ability to handle export control• Develop and Deliver Systems with novel insights and capabilities• Grow our Research Expenditures while maintaining the unique culture of ESL

The ElectroScience Laboratory

Documents

Transcript of The ElectroScience Laboratory