Chevron detector design study

Abstract

Results obtained in a design study which has attempted to optimize the detector chevron and interconneetion geometry are reported. The detector waveform with interconnections between chevrons placed at alternating ends of the chevrons is redundant, with the second half cycle largely repetitious of the first as the domain traverses the detector. The present designs attempt to select the first half cycle by placing the second set of interconnections asymmetrically, near the center of the chevron column. The selected signals are then enhanced by narrowing the chevron linewidth on the incoming side where the serpentine current path is defined. Detector waveforms obtained with such designs have a high resistance state, when a bubble is present, which peaks just before a rapid change into a low resistance state such that the maximum excursion can be used with conventional clamp and strobe sense amplifiers. The dependence of the output on linewidth, garnet thickness, and static in-plane offset field are investigated experimentally. Detector figures of merit, i.e., signal voltage divided by dc voltage, of 0.5% have been observed and appear robe obtainable in a practical sense.