Experimental studies on the electronic and mechanical tuning properties of resonant-cap IMPATT oscillators

Abstract

A detailed experimental investigation has been made on the electronic tuning of resonant-cap IMPATT oscillators at the X-band. The investigation is extended to include mechanical tuning properties, i.e. studies on the dependence of the tuning properties on the resonant-cap diameter and the cap height. The study of electronic tuning gives an interesting insight regarding tuning behaviour for various ranges of d.c. bias current. From the study of these tuning properties the optimum size of the resonant-cap cavity for realizing maximum power output and electronic tunability for a given IMPATT diode can be obtained, which would be useful in the design of resonant-cap IMPATT oscillators.