Multipactor breakdown and passive intermodulation in microwave equipment for stellite applications

The phenomena of multiplication and passive intermodulation (PIM) as applied to passive microwave equipment for satellite applications is addressed. A brief summary of PIM and ways to prevent it are given. High-power measured data for a range of microwave equipment and subsystems is included. The measured power levels represent the state-of-the-art for high-power output circuits required for communications and remote-sensing satellites. A discussion on the subject of design margins in specifying high-power equipment for space applications is given. The most cost-effective approach to protect against multipaction breakdown and passive intermodulation is to force a set of guidelines to be followed at all stages of a satellite program. A summary of these guidelines is included