Microwave radiation from a SiC PCSS driven gyromagnetic NLTL

Abstract

An all solid-state high power microwave system comprised of a photoconductive semiconductor switch (PCSS) and nonlinear transmission line (NLTL) is presented. A single 50 kV 4H-Silicon Carbide (SiC) PCSS switches 7 ns (FWHM) pulses with 2 ns risetime into the gyromagnetic NLTL. The PCSS achieves sub-ohm resistance when illuminated by approximately 3 mJ of laser energy emitted from a tripled Nd:YAG laser (355 nm). Utilizing a fiber optic based optical triggering system enabled generating a train of laser pulses, and burst-mode operation with 65 MHz pulse repetition frequency was achieved. The NLTL sharpens the fast rising pulse from the PCSS and produces MW-class rf power levels at 2-4 GHz. Microwave generation is achieved through stimulation of damped gyromagnetic precession when the static and pulsed external magnetic fields interact with the magnetic moments of the nonlinear ferromagnetic material. The acting nonlinear material is a NiZn composite with dimensions 3 mm × 6 mm (ID × OD). The system is terminated with a wideband antenna consisting of a coaxial to parallel-plate conversion balun which is then immediately flared to provide a linearly-flared TEM horn antenna. The entire length of the compact HPM system measures 1.15 m. Radiation results for single shot and burst-mode operation are presented as well as demonstration of operational frequency control.