Microwave Switching with Low-Pressure Arc Discharge

The characteristics of a low-pressure, hot cathode arc discharge have been studied and applied to microwave switching applications. The combination of rapid plasma build-up, low ignition voltage, and fairly rapid plasma decay, offers promise for the development of broad-band, high-power microwave switches which can be closed in tenths of microseconds and opened in a few microseconds or less. Experimental results on some particular switches are reported.