Pulse Compression by Quasi-Steady Propagation along Switch Lines

Abstract

The characterization of wave propagation on a switch line, which means a transmission line periodically loaded with electronic switches such as diodes, is discussed for the generation of ultrashort electrical pulses. Once the input pulse crosses the threshold voltage of loaded shunt switches, the exponential wave is developed at the voltage range where the switch is on, and the ordinary sinusoidal wave is coupled to it at the voltage range where the switch is off. The wave number of this exponential wave has to be much larger than those of the waves forming the input pulse, so we expect a significant compression of the input pulse after its propagation along a switch line.