Experimental 6-GHz frozen wave generator with fiber-optic feed

Author

Thaxter, J. Bruce ; Bell, Richard E.

Author_Institution

Electromagn. & Reliab. Directorate, Rome Lab., Hanscom AFB, MA, USA

Volume

43

Issue

8

fYear

1995

fDate

8/1/1995 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1798

Lastpage

1804

Abstract

Experimental results from an optically activated 6 GHz frozen wave generator (FWG) test device are presented. The several system components needed to produce a low-cost monolithic pulsed power source suitable for large phased arrays are demonstrated. Static electric energy stored in 50 ohm microstrip transmission lines is released by fast GaAs photoconductive (PC) switches activated by 50 picosecond laser pulses distributed over fiber-optics. The present device is of hybrid construction, using commercial fiber-optic pigtailed integrated optic couplers and semi-insulating (SI) GaAs metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photoconductive switch chips bonded into microstrip. However, exclusive of the laser, the design lends itself to monolithic microwave and integrated optic techniques especially at high frequencies. Experimental test results compare well with circuit simulation predictions, showing that hybrid techniques introduce negligible parasitics at the design frequency. Lower resistance PC switches are needed to fully demonstrate the high power performance capabilities of this type of device

Keywords

microstrip components; microwave generation; optical fibre couplers; photoconducting switches; 50 ps; 6 GHz; GaAs; circuit simulation; fiber-optic feed; frozen wave generator; hybrid techniques; integrated optics; laser pulses; microstrip transmission lines; monolithic microwave circuits; monolithic pulsed power source; parasitics; phased arrays; pigtailed couplers; semi-insulating GaAs MSM photoconductive switch; Feeds; Fiber lasers; Gallium arsenide; Microstrip; Optical fiber couplers; Optical fiber devices; Optical fiber testing; Optical pulses; Optical switches; Phased arrays;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Microwave Theory and Techniques, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9480

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/22.402262

Filename

402262