1. A TECHNICAL BRIEFING FOR AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS
“How to See Radio Frequency (RF) Waves: the Carbon Magic”
PRESENTED TO:
ARASWF
NAPLES, FL 34119
FEBRUARY 2017
PRESENTED BY:
DR. AL TORRES
KP4AQI

2. January 2017: “Vertical Collinear Antennas: Better than a Dipole?”
For Year 2017
January 2017: “Vertical Collinear Antennas: Better than a Dipole?”
February 2017: “How to See Radio Frequency (RF) Waves: the Carbon Magic”
March 2017: “ Classical Modulations: The New Zero Bandwidth Concept ”

3. PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Introduction
Carbon Principle Patent
Torres Carbon Concept
Antenna Radiation Regions
Kapton Carbon Loaded Screen
Initial Testing
Raw Image from the Thermo-Imager
Measured Data
APG-63 Radar Antenna
Liquid Crystal to Replace IR Thermo-imager
Making the RF Viewer
Summary

4. INTRODUCTION
The concept for “seeing” RF waves is based on a patented principle which uses “carbon” as the radiating agent
The concept is based in observing the radiation from the Near-Field and transforming such radiation to the Far-Field
This transformation is done by the use of a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) in a two dimensional plane
The Far-Field radiation distributions are identical to the distributions performed in the Far-Field pattern inside an anechoic chamber

5. CARBON PRINCIPLE, PATENT

6. TORRES CARBON CONCEPT

7. ANTENNA RADIATING REGIONS
Reactive Near Field : the region immediately surrounding the antenna where the reactive field (stored energy-standing waves) is dominant [ 0.62(D3/)0.5]
Near-Field (Fresnel Region): the region between the reactive near field and the far field where the radiation field (propagating waves) is dominant and the field distribution is dependent on the distance from the antenna (2D2/)
Far-Field (Fraunhofer Region): the region farthest away from the antenna where the field distribution is essentially independent of the distance from the antenna (propagating waves)(> 2D2/)

8. ANTENNAS RADIATING REGIONS

9. KAPTON CARBON LOADED SCREEN
The screen for viewing the RF waves is made from Dupont Carbon Loaded Kapton
The material comes in various “resistivity” levels; the higher the resistance, the less absorption. The lower the resistance, the more RF waves absorption
The carbon embedded in the Kapton has no place to radiate the RF energy absorbed, so it gets “hot”
Once it is hot, a profile of the antenna spatial radiation can be observed by an IR Thermoimager or a Liquid Crystal material of the right temperature profile

10. DUPONT KAPTON 200 OHMS

11. CARBON LOADED KAPTON IN A FRAME

12. INITIAL TESTING OF THE CARBON SCREEN WITH SGH HORN ANTENNA AND IR THERMO-IMAGER
IR Camera
Back of IR
Screen
Antenna
Under
Test (AUT)

13. RAW IMAGE FROM IR THERMO-IMAGER

14. 11 GHz Measurement Comparison
MEASURED DATA
11 GHz Measurement Comparison

15. APG-63 RADAR ANTENNA (TOP)

16. IR IMAGE OF THE APG-63 RADAR ANTENNA

17. IR MEASURED PATTERN COMPARED TO RF CHAMBER MEASURED PATTERN (IR DOTTED LINE)

18. LIQUID CRYSTAL TO REPLACE IR THERMO-IMAGER

19. MAKING THE RF VIEWER
Buy some Carbon Loaded Kapton from Dupont
Buy a Liquid Crystal Sheet (20-25 C)
Use some spray adhesive to bond the Kapton to the Liquid Crystal (Elmers Spray Adhesive)
You can now use it to test small antennas e.g. rubber ducks, RF Coils, WIFI Monopoles, and others

20. Now you can see RF SUMMARY We have defined how you can see RF Waves
The RF Waves impact a Carbon Loaded Kapton screen which becomes the viewing energy source
The Carbon follows the principle of conservation of energy; it cannot dissipate the RF energy so it gets hot
The IR Thermo-imager views the hot areas spatially; they can also be viewed with less dynamic range by using a Liquid Crystal Sheet
Making a viewer is relatively simple with the use of Carbon Loaded Kapton and a Liquid Crystal Sheet
Now you can see RF

21. MORE INFORMATION or COPY OF PRESENTATION
SEND AN TO THE FOLLOWING URL:
CONTACT ME AT:
AL TORRES
KP4AQI
P. O. BOX 24283
DAYTON, OH