A mobile Pulsed Ring Down source array using low power solid state radiators

Current work at Texas Tech University is focused on enabling technologies for a mobile Pulsed Ring Down Array. A Monte Carlo Simulation was developed to evaluate the potential performance of an array using current capabilities and to determine the future requirements to achieve the desired system performance. Error sources included are the position error of each element, the jitter of the closing switch, and the synchronization error between elements. Error distributions for the simulation are based on device testing. The array is tested by adding an artificial delay that represents an error source. The simulation is verified by running each error source independently and comparing the results to the experimental data. A system of low power radiators based on stacked MOSFET switches were built to simulate the Pulsed Ring Down Source (PRDS) elements for testing purposes. The testing methodology and results are presented.