Design Concepts for High-Power PIN Diode Limiting

Experimental data and discussion are presented which show the desirability of using thick punch-through PIN diode for high-power limiting. The slower speed of response sets an upper limit on thickness. Data are presented on the maximum thickness allowable as a function of frequency. Results are given for a high-peak-power narrow-pulsewidth receiver protector, and for a high-average-power wide-pulsewidth balanced duplexer. These devices are compared to conventional gas T-R tubes and results suggest that the use of multiple PIN diodes in limiters and duplexers can offer significant improvements in some RADAR applications.