An ac-primed quartz—chlorine stage for X-band receiver protectors

A gas discharge waveguide limiter in X-band with relatively fast recovery characteristics is discussed. The problem of supplying priming electrons at a sufficiently high rate to the microwave gap (to ensure first pulse breakdown at the beginning of the pulse) in a halogen-gas quartz system is overcome by using an ac ignitor. The ac ignitor voltage is coupled through the gas reservoir wall to maintain a weak discharge whose free electrons diffuse toward the microwave gap.