High power X-band fast ferroelectric switch

Summary form only given. The initial tests of an active high-power X-band microwave switch are planned. The switch is designed to be the key element of either a Resonant Delay Line Pulse Compression System or a Delay Line Distribution System. The device works at a frequency of 11.4 GHz and is designed to handle peak power levels of up to ~ 500 MW. It employs ultra-fast, electrically-controlled ferroelectric elements that are fabricated from the recently developed BST (M), ver. 3 ceramic, whose intrinsic response time is ~10-30 nsec. In the tests, the switch will be part of an active pulse compressor fed by ~10 MW pulses provided by the X-band Magnicon operated at NRL. The pulse compressor is designed to deliver a power gain of ~10, and thus should be capable of generating up to 100 MW at its output. The results of the tests and related issues will be presented.